Post: jilli's games
Posted by jilli, jillib5122@AOL.COM , on 6/09/99

Non-competive Games

1. Can-in-circle: Students sit in a circle. Starting with one student, they must pass the can all the way around the circle with their feet. If the can falls, the can goes back to the first student.

 
2. Without talking, line up: *Shortest to Tallest *From Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st (Birthdays) *Lowest street address to highest.

 
3. Pass the Pillow: Lay down shoulder to shoulder. Pass a pillow without using hands down the line.

 
4. Command Pairs: In groups of two, one is designated the leader, the other the follower. The leader tells the follower what to do (within reason). When teacher calls "Switch!", they switch roles. This students keep switching roles, but in the second round the leaders can't talk and in the third round, they can't talk and must have their hands behind their backs.

 
5. Hula Hoop Game: Students stand in a line holding hands. Without breaking hands, the students must jump through the hoop to get it to the end of the line. This game can be timed to see if they can decrease the time it takes.

 
6. In the Manner of the Word: Three empty chairs are facing the class. One student leaves the room. The other students decide on an emotion. The student reenters the room and asks three students to "Sit in the Chair in the Manner of the Word"(or to just go sit down). The students sit in the chair displaying the emotion so the other student can guess it. If they can't, more students can go up and help.

 
7. Draw Partners: Pairs sit with paper and coloring materials. Without talking and with soothing music in the background, they create a picture together.

 
8. The next three games are related.

 
1. Upside-Down Fruit basket: Students sit in chairs in a circle. Students count off to be one of three fruits. For example, "You're an apple, you're an orange, you're a kiwi, you're an apple..." One student stands in the middle of the circle and calls the name of one of those fruits. At this time all students identified as that fruit must SAFELY find another seat. The student in the middle also finds a seat, leaving one student with nowhere to sit. That student stands in the middle and calls out a fruit. If Upside-Down-Fruit-Basket is called, everyone find another seat.

 
2. All my Neighbours-Level One: Same as Fruit Basket but person in the middle calls out things about the students such as "all those wearing black" Or everyone who has brown eyes". If "all my neighbours is called, everyone moves.

 
3. All my Neighbours-Level Two: Same as Level One, but the caanot call out physical attributes. This might include "Everyone who likes pepperoni on their pizza" or "All those who plan what they are going to where the night before".

 
9. ABC Game: Students stand or sit in a circle. They must recite the alphabit with only one student calling out a letter at a time from A-Z. There are no patterns and if two students call out a letter at the same time, the game goes back to A. It helps if the teacher is always A. I believe this game could be played in a chatroom if you are confused.

 
10. Stop-Go: This is a good game at the end of the year or at the end of the unit. Students stand in a circle with the hands over each others' backs or holding hands. When the teacher says "GO", they shuffle clockwise until someone says "Stop". At that time, everyone stops, and the person who called "Stop" shares a memory of the class and activity and says :Go". The class shuffles until another person says "Stop".

Have Fun!!!!!

Doug - Is anyone using non-competitive games in their classrooms?
Doug - Let's take tag for example.
Kathleen - Doug, Does "Doggie, Doggie, Who Has Your Bone?" qualify as noncompetitive? :-)
luv2tch - yes some
Djinn - Doug - could you define "non-competitive?"
Doug - if all kids participate and their are no losers or winners...perhaps that may qualify
luv2tch - I use them a lot especially during my ecolgy unit
Doug - Superman. two kids are taggers if they tag kids they freeze like sperman (or superwoman) and to unfreeze the kids who have bnnot been tagged go under their legs...all participate...no losers or winners
luv2tch - there are many non-comp games listed in the Project Wet etc books
Doug - Perhaps EPR techniques can be considered as non-competitive....Every Pupil Response activities
Kathleen - Should we discard all competitive games? Or try for a balance?
Karen - Are you targeting specific age groups in your discussion?
jilli - I think kids prefer non-competive games, but both should be included.
luv2tch - we should try for a balance- i think the penjulum (sp) should not swing all one way
Doug - Kathleen- I try to stick to non-competitive games because I feel competition leads to aggressiveness (I am not a utopian)
Djinn - I agree- I have had 5th graders so competetive that they would try to hurt each other to win!
luv2tch - Doug can you explain EPR please
jilli - It is part of our psyche to be the best, but rarely are we taught the skills to work together and those skills are vital!
Doug - using game theory most games...or variables within the game can be adjusted from competitive to non-competive
Kathleen - The concern seems to be that competiveness does not lead to being able to be a team "player"
Kathleen - I'm interested in hearing about some more specific games AND philosophy :-)
Doug - When I studied competition versus cooperation in Social Psychology...competion would give the players more but cooperation would be more consistant
Djinn - What about cooperative games/ beach blanket volleyball where everyone must hold onto the blanket and move together?
jilli - Djinn-That sounds like fun!
Doug - Kickball- instead of having a pitcher and a kicker have the whole team run around all 3 bases while the outfield pass the ball to each other...all participate
Kathleen - Doug, I don't understand: competion would give the players more but cooperation would be more consistent"
Djinn - How do you get children to play cooperative games - many older kids are on soccor, soft-ball, team sports and everything is geared twoards winning. some olderkids do not see the point if thye can't win
Djinn - can you suggest some resources for us?
jilli - Djinn, I teach eighth graders and they but into it because they win if they complete the task.
Kathleen - Djinn, I wonder if it would help to change the terminology, perhaps instead of "game" call it "exercise in cooperation"
Doug - in a prisoners dimlemma ( adevice used in basements of psychology builings) a player would be able to get more points if he wanted to work against other people trather than with people which would be cooperation
Kathleen - Is there any difference between noncompetitive games and cooperative games?
Doug - Sage publications has many books devoted to the topic
Doug - competitive has winners and losers
jilli - Kathleen, yes because there are games that are fun just to play.
jilli - Kat- Regarding what to call it, I call everything a game because kids buy into it then.
Kathleen - Alfie Kohn addresses the negative aspects of over-competitiveness in his book: No Contest : The Case Against Competition http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0395631254/teachersnet
Doug - partner tag- kids find a partner and are safe if holding hands. two kids are it and can tag out others if alone. If lazy and partners are not running. The two who are it can get together and tag the loafers...all participate..no "losers and winners"
Djinn - We called that centipede tag - lock arms and tag someone else and they lock arms with the group
Mary K&1 - Is it healthy to totally avoid competition? Shouldn't there be opportunity for both? Real life has it's competitions, kids should learn how to be healthy competitors, if we avoid competition all together they will never learn how to handle it when it does come their way. Balance the two ...
al-Ia - I am with middle school students. By the time I get them they are really into competiveness
Doug - 2 headed monster- two kids call out I am a two headed teacher/monster (LOL) and I will get you 1234. All run if tagged they join the monster on the next go round...I am a 9 headed monster...etc. untill all are tagged...again no losers all participate
jilli - Mary- I agree that there needs to be a balance, but what I see, everything revolves around competition.
Doug - Mary- in an ideal world we can't avoid competition..it is built into out economic system. I don't know the answer other than doing our best to avoid teaching taking, bullying, hoarding, etc
al-Ia - We have intra-district sports and even tho no scores are to be kept. Everyone knows the winners
jilli - Since I have started my classes with cooperative games, the classes tone has been different.
Doug - In student teaching I gave table points and the winning table got a treat at the end of the week. On friday, I watched the other groups and their faces and non-verbally I was teaching that you can get more than them
al-Ia - In 7 and 8 grade we have conference sports. A, B,C teams. They are not equal in talent. C team has to watch all games, but others don't
Kathleen - jilli, tell us about the differences you notice now
Doug - politically- perhaps we are favoring socialism...is this wrong?
Doug - when I studied cooperative groups...the concept of group interdependence leads to competition between groups...I say you can have cooperative groups without the structure of interdependence
al-Ia - What about essay contests and the like. That is competition.
jilli - As you know, in middle school, social status is vital. I teach drama where students have to work together. Students don't complain about who they have to work with now. I amazes me to see the unlikely friendships that develop.
Doug - al- can't all win? is my little speech
Kathleen - Journal Article: Do Classroom Games Improve Motivation and Learning?Author: Nemerow, Laurence G. Journal Citation: Teaching and Change, v3 n4 p356-66 Sum 1996 ISSN: 1068-378X Publication Year: 1996
al-Ia - jilli, how do you go about tryouts for your plays? that is competition, too.
jilli - al- I organize the essay contest at my school. I'm just sharing some ways for students to work together. It's fun!
Doug - Social Psychology truth- competion makes players want more and therefor some will have less
Mary K&1 - Where does "I Spy" and 20 questions fall? competitive or not?
Kathleen - PTA Today, v18 n7 p14-15 May 1993 Title: Even Up the Score with Noncompetitive Games. Author: Perry, Susan K. ISSN: 0195-2781 Publication Year: 1993
al-Ia - jilli, you have a group do they essay.? Sounds pretty good.
Doug - Mary- I spy has a place in my classroom i just like everyone to get a chance to say I spy with my little eyes something_________
jilli - Honestly, I look at the students who came to the most rehearsals before tryouts, so I can see committment. Two years ago I didn't take the most talented actor in my school because he thought he could skate on his talent.
Doug - perhaps cooperative teaching structures makes us more of facilitators rather than dictators....
al-Ia - jilli, I am so glad to hear that commitment statemaent.
jilli - al-I've been burned by primadonnas and blown away by hard workers.
Doug - should effort count as much as correctness?
al-Ia - Doug, sometimes more so
Mary K&1 - Doug, it depends upon your objective/s
Doug - Mary- yes, very true
Kathleen - Can a very competitive person overshadow another who has more talent?
Doug - Mary- in Reading Recovery we are not so concerned if they get the word right but the "reading work" the kid was using to solve the unknown word
al-Ia - Kathleen, I would say it depends on how hard that person works toward the goal
Debbie/PA - I hold morning meetings everyday in my classroom, part of the meeting is a noncompetitive game
al-Ia - Debbie, such as...
terri - What types of games? Grade level?
Doug - Kathleen- perhaps birth order, culture, etc may play a role. You have your dissertation lined up
Debbie/PA - well, I am here looking for new ideas (grade 4-5)
al-Ia - Even if a game is non-comp, do the same students seem to come out the "winners"
jilli - Kathleen, I know very competitive people with no talent! LOL
Kathleen - al, but as teachers, we would have to be careful not to miss out on opportunities to nurture talent that doesn't present itself in very competitive situations
al-Ia - Kathleen, agreed
Kathleen - Is competitiveness a talent?
Doug - Personally I am into this topic because our world is becomming over populated and there is increasing crime. I want a nicer world
al-Ia - Doug, you think competition leads to crime
jilli - Kat-The best actors are the quit ones.
Mary K&1 - It's a behavior or a way of thinking - but then again it is instinctive - very basic if in cases of survival
cofio - I am a substitute teacher and I like to use cooperative games with the kids. They need to learn to cooperate as well as compete
Doug - al- no just that competion may lead to things that I want them to avoid...I should also say that I teach Kindergarten in an area where many of the kids see drive-by shootings ,violence, etc and I want to make a difference
jilli - Think about ants.They survive because they cooperate.
Debbie/PA - our morning meetings are geared toward teamwork and a sense of community. Here is one "game" Have children sit in a circle. You need a ball of string. The children pass the string from one to another holding on to a section of it. It makes a gaint "web". The tricky part is going backwards to rewind the string.
al-Ia - Debbie, good one
Kathleen - cofio, would you tell us about one or more of the games you use with your students?
Doug - yes Debbie
Mary K&1 - jilli, yes, but if starvation is the option, they will compete
jilli - Debbie, you can also do that with the kids crossing arms.
Debbie/PA - tell me more jilli, not sure I understand
Kathleen - Is there a need in addition to fostering cooperation to teach children how to survive [unsuccessful] competition?
jilli - Considering the amount of ants I see, they work so well together, starvation is not an issue.
Mary K&1 - Kathleen, I think so
Doug - Huh- all kids are walking around the room with their eyes closed. One person is it and if they touch anyone else they are supposed to say huh. If no answer they open their eyes and join the end of the "it". All particiapate and if touched there is a role and no winner or loser is attached because there is a role
cofio - One game that I have used with is success is to have the kids form two lines and then one person goes to another and has to say something nice to them and then that person goes to another or say something they like about that person Depending on the age of the students I almost always have them tell me what they are going to say to make sure it is appropriate. I will be back with another one in just a few minutes as soon as I can type it. This one is Reversing the Plank
Mary K&1 - I think that's where problems arise - they don't know who to survive
Debbie/PA - yes, kathleen but I think they are two completely different issues and need to be taught in different ways
jilli - Debbie, the kids might hold a hand with a kid across the circle from them and another hand with a kid two people away. It's just like your game, but the kids are the string.
Debbie/PA - Great jilli, I wrote it down, will use it
Doug - When I was a student of social psychology- we learned that withholding reward is critical for people to get lots of things. Kids need to learn to withhold the quick reward for the bigger one later in the day, week, or life
Debbie/PA - another game we play... someone leaves the group and changes one thing about his/her appearance,. Child returns and others have to guess what has been changed
cofio - Another game is like Twister (can be adapted to any subject easily) For example have about 6 kids to a group, no more than eight and say something like Right Hand something Blue and they are to put their right hand on something blue (or whatever color) you've called on someone in their group. Keep up the pace and the object is for them to see which group can stand up the longest. For an academic subject use a tablecloth or old sheet and put what you want them to learn in different areas (make 9 areas on the sheet so they will have to stretch) Think of all the things that you can do for Social Studies (states, capitals, towns,) etc. The kids always seem to enjoy this one to
Kathleen - We've entered an age in which there is very little cooperation among people. The days when kids learned about cooperation in real life situations (ex: neighbors pitched in to help each other routinely, etc.) Does this create the need to provide that experience in simulations ("games")?
jilli - Debbie, I'm going to use that one. It also encourages concentration.
Doug - Kathleen- my wife right next to me is saying that it is not the schools job........I think it is
Debbie/PA - sounds great cofio, I can see amany adaptations with that one in reviewing facts
jilli - Kathleen, do you think we should teach morals in school?
abbypa - I don't think you can teach kids morals.
Mary K&1 - We have to do both with the kids who aren't getting these things at home
Kathleen - wow, jilli, do you ask that because it's related to competition?
Mary K&1 - If we don't, who will?
abbypa - I think you can teach kids about morals, but morals are taught at home.
Doug - Mary- yes
Doug - perhaps we teach morals even when we don't even know it
Kathleen - I don't see my point about lack of experiences and opportunities to practice cooperation being related to teaching morals. Cooperation is a necessary life skill, no?
Debbie/PA - I think we ae teaching morals everyday whether we call ist that or not. For e.g., no cheating, own up to your responsibility, respect and on and on
Mary K&1 - You can't lay out rules and expect them to be followed and say thay you are not teaching morals
jilli - Kathleen, I'm asking it because whenever something goes wrong, people ask why aren't the teachers teaching it.
abbypa - We're teaching ABOUT those things...we're not teaching those things.
Raichu - Oh I know. One kid goes off to the side, while the others pick a leader and sit in a circle. The leader starts doing a motion, and the other kids copy it. The kid not in the circle turns around, then watches the others.The leader changes motions once in a while and the kid not in the circle has to guess who is the leader. that's the game
jilli - I think cooperation is a moral just as honesty is.
jilli - Raichu-I love that game!
cofio - Being a sub I operate on three simple "rules" or "responsibilities" if you'd rather call them that. They are Be Responsible, Be Respectful and Follow all classroom responsibilities
Debbie/PA - I agree jilli, cooperating is a choice we make or don't make
Kathleen - I don't believe in Morals 101, but I believe we "teach" by modeling, and by the way we set up situations for students, by the rules we list and enforce
Debbie/PA - we actually teach morals in our school, we call them social skills, our principal has the whole school concentrating on one such skill for two eeks at a time.
jilli - Kathleen, I agree. Can cooperative games be a situation a teacher is setting up?
Kathleen - Yes, I see cooperative games as a situation the teacher sets up.
jilli - Then we agree.
CC - there are some standard... basic concepts to get along in society... I do not think that is morals
Mary K&1 - This has been good food for thought - thanks all and good night
Kathleen - Well, the hour is over (so quickly!). I think there are enough questions and interest to have another discussion about competition, cooperation.
Kathleen - Thank you to everyone who participated. Jilli, thank you for all of the prep you did to help make this another successful Teachers.Net resource!
jilli - Kathleen, thank you for organizing this.
Kathleen - Oh! Please share your games by posting them in the Lessons collection at http://teachers.net/lessons Thanks!