Rotation Eleven
Game 1 - High Five/Ankle Shake
Number of Players: 2 or more
Explanation
A combination greeting that requires players to cooperate with one another in order to make the movements successful. It also mixes up the seating order in the meeting circle.
Rules
Children stand in a circle and the teacher chooses someone to go first. This person walks over to a person across the circle and stands next to the person. The greeter says, "Good morning, _________" and the person returns the verbal greeting.
The two students then do a high five while gently "shaking" each other's ankle at the same time. To do the ankle shake successfully, students bend slightly at the waist and lift the leg closest to their partner, bending at the knee. This allows easy access to the other person's ankle. To help balance, students can gently place one of their hands on the other student's shoulder while doing the high five.
After the greeting is completed, the first greeter stays in her new spot in the circle. The person who was greeted now chooses someone else in the circle to greet.
Once a student has been greeted, he uses the designated motion (sit down, fold arms, etc.) to show this.
The greeting continues until every student has been greeted.
Variations: To make the greeting simpler, students can just do the ankle shake.
Younger students enjoy a variation of this, called Footsie Greeting, where students sit down, face one another, and gently place their feet together (sole to sole) while greeting each other by name.
Hip-Hop/High Five: In this variation, children greet each other with a high-five and a gentle bump to the hip. Modeling of respectful touching is essential for this activity.
Game 2 - Go
Number of Players: 8 or more
Explanation
Learn everyone's name and develop teamwork and listening skills.
Rules
Have the group stand in a circle and ask each player to say his or her name out loud. The game starts when the leader points at a person across the circle and orders that person to Go. For example, if Samantha begins by pointing at Amir and saying "Go Amir," Samantha then has to walk toward Amir.
But before Samantha gets to Amir, Amir has to pick someone else across the circle and order him to go. Amir must not leave his spot until he orders someone else.
After Amir has said, "Go, Richard" (for example), he then may leave his spot in the circle, walk toward Richard, and Samantha takes Amir's spot.
Once the ordering has gone around the circle a few times and each person has been picked at least once, you may increase the difficulty by adding a second "Go!" energy so that two orders are taking place at the same time.
Modifications: To increase teamwork and non-verbal communication skills, have players remain silent
and just use eye contact to keep everyone engaged in the game.
Game 3 - As a Still as a Rock
Number of Players: Unlimited
Rules
Tell the children to begin wandering around the room. After a half minute or so, call out, Be still as a rock! Everyone freezes. Wait until 30 seconds have elapsed. (You may want to begin with 5 to 10 seconds and work up to 30). Then say, Relax!
Children continue wandering around the room until the next Be still as a rock command.
Children who talk, giggle, or move while being "rocks" become "watchers." They can help you "catch" any movers.
The challenge for the whole class is to see how many people can be still as rocks for th full 30 seconds. The children can share tips on ways to stay still.
Repeat several times, perhaps inviting different children to be the caller.
Variations: Invite children to take turns as the "Be still as a rock!" caller.
Choose different ways to move around the room - hopping, swaying, wiggling, bending over, stretching tall, dancing, etc. Model and practice safe ways to make the movements before doing them "for real."
Game 4 - Look Down/Look Up
Number of Players: 8 or more
Rules
Have players stand in a circle, with everyone looking down at their feet. On the command "Look up," all players must look up into the eyes of another player in the circle - they do not have to be directly across, just someone in the circle.
If that person happens to be looking back, both players must point at each other and let out a loud scream before sitting on the floor, eliminated from the game.
After everyone who is eliminated sits down, call "Look down," and start again from the beginning.
The winner is the last person (or last two people) standing, depending on whether the total number of participants is odd or even.
Note: Watch for cheaters! Often players will start by looking in one place and then look in another. If you find you're dealing with a group of cheaters, consider implementing a look-and-point rule.
Breathing – Breath Review explaining the importance
Rhythm – Clap in Sequences and Movement