Today Mustangs were involved in the healthy competition of running relays:  passing batons, cheering on teammates, sprinting fast!  As a group we discussed the differences of putting forth our best effort for ourselves in athletic events as opposed to doing this for our team.  We talked about what kinds of things contribute to team success.

     What is an initiative challenge?  - A set of stimulating activities that are ideal for developing teamwork and leadership growth, not designed to be competitive or to be a race against time, they emphasize important objectives of leadership, problem solving, communication, self-esteem, trust, decision making, and teamwork.

Mustangs were challenged with a teamwork initiative: ‘Helium Hoop’, a group activity that engages and entertains while contributing to the ‘teamwork’ necessary in reaching a group goal. 

-Students stand in a circle, hold their arms parallel to the ground and stick out their pointer fingers.  A large hula hoop is placed on their outstretched fingers.  The goal is to lower the hoop to the ground without their fingers losing contact.  It was surprising to all when the hoop would float upwards even though the group was working to will it down!  The group made different attempts with discussion in between tries and did succeed.

We finished class with a students’ choice game of sharks and minnows.

A fun warm up today for the group –‘Killer’ is a circle game that provides opportunities for non-verbal communication, concentration, decision making and dramatic play.  Mustangs also played the ever popular game – ‘Jewel Thieves’ which is a more complex version of freeze tag that incorporates props and quickly changing dynamics.  As students play hard during higher intensity games social learning opportunities arise and any conflicts or issues can be resolved through large and small group problem solving.

A new sensory and trust activity known by two titles:  ‘Hopping Grasshopper’ or ‘Army Tanks’ (I prefer Hopping Grasshopper J).  This activity involved partnering up- with one individual vocally guiding a blindfolded partner.  There are many soft balls (grasshoppers) strewn about the playing area and on his/her hands and knees, the blindfolded  partner follows directives of his/her guide with the goal of picking up a ball and throwing it toward the blindfolded person of another team.  If a grasshopper lands on a blindfolded individual, that team will then switch roles.  This proved a fun and engaging group activity with a focus on communication.

-Trust is an essential attribute that builds up a strong bond and is significant in the success of a team.  Trust building exercises in O.E. foster a feeling of comfort and safety in the group.  The development of trust and its presence in a group allows positive actions to occur.

The Mustangs also revisited the ‘Eagle Eye’ game first introduced last week.  We reviewed the results of our problem solving and with a bit of ‘tweaking’  played again with these changes, enjoying more optimal play.

Today a cardio warm-up – ‘Circle Run’ offered a mild competitive setting while providing for a lot of group support. 

An ‘Eagle Eye’ camoflauge game involved a short narrative on eagles, a set of directives, and a lot of fun playing this variation of ‘hide and seek’.  Afterward we discussed and offered ideas on how to make the game more successful.  We problem solved as a group!

In O.E., students can explore their natural world, develop a deeper appreciation of the environment, and build teamwork skills by working together through a series of sensory awareness exercises that incorporate hearing, touch, taste, smell, and intuition.

Today we learned to play ‘Bat and Moth’.  A discussion of nocturnal animals introduced us to the theory of echolocation.  This activity involves a bat (blindfolded) and a moth in the middle of a circle of trees (students).  The bat claps and the moth claps back.  The bat is trying to tag the moth while the trees support the bat in a safe environment.

Two other activities provided an opportunity to experience ‘camoflauge’.