The sixth graders’ second day of Intensive Learning centered around team building utilizing a variety of community games and activities. Students began the day discussing their feelings when they attempt a new challenge or difficulty in their lives. We then asked ourselves what types of support that would encourage us to persevere through the challenges. This was the foreshadowing for the games, and tomorrow’s trip to Princeton-Blairstown Center. At the end of each game, we reflected how each game utilized individual and collaborative ways of skill building and encouragement.
We gathered students in the Red Gym for a packed day of activities. Chicken Run asked students to simply steal a chicken from behind Mr. Matt. Students soon realized the challenge held many boundaries and re-starts. They learned to work together to finally get that chicken to their side of the gym. Other games centered around how we move or engage with each other as a group. Electricity askes youth to be moved by a person in the center, never to touch, but to follow hand-in-hand. In the reverse, the challenge of the Human Knot asked students to link arms and find a way to unravel themselves to victory.
Human Sculptures allowed students to become a work of art! Students guessed the answers and we all found the challenge of collaboration to become a team a rewarding experience. The loudest and most difficult challenge of the day was called Minefield. Pairs of students work together to get one blindfolded student across the gym full of obstacles. Outsiders might have thought it was just a gym full of yelling students, but actually, students listened closely to the sound of their partner’s voice to help them through the maze of mines. Hilarious to watch, difficult to accomplish!
We gathered to discuss how each activity brought awareness to being part of a group, and serving our needs, supporting each other in our goals together. And with that, we took a rainy walk for ice cream! We’re looking forward to the trip to PBC tomorrow!