Maine Active and Engaging Recess Series

Fall 2021

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�Power of Play

Icebreaker:

Superstar

Superstar

• The goal of this game is to find as many things as possible that you and your partner have in common that:
• You don’t already know (i.e., can’t say, “we’re both in elementary school”
• Are not visible (i.e., can’t say, “we both are wearing glasses”)
• Split the players into pairs and give them a few minutes to find out what they have in common with their partners.
• Bring all players back to a circle and have some or all players share out what they and their partner have in common.
• If others also have that in common, they do jazz hands and say “Superstar!”

https://www.playworks.org/game-library/superstar/

ABOUT PLAYWORKS

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We believe in the power of play to bring out �the best in every kid.

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Playworks is the leading national nonprofit leveraging the power of play to transform children’s physical and emotional health.

�

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8.2 million kids

16,400 partnerships

Experienced safe and healthy play

since 1996

Agenda

• Icebreaker & Intro
• Games
• Benefits of Play
• More Games
• Best Practices
• Next Steps

Core Values and Community Agreements

• Respect
• Inclusion
• Healthy Play
• Healthy Community

• Respect
• Try It On
• Step Up/Step Back
• One Mic
• Take Care of Yourself
• Have Fun!

Outcomes

Participants will

• know at least three games they can implement at their site or virtually.
• verbalize the physical, academic, and social/emotional benefits of play.
• apply best practices for healthy play to their own site.

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WIGGLE BREAK

Sequence Touch

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When I say “wiggle”, get up and touch something yellow and something heavy�

When you return to your seat, answer the following question in the chat box

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In the chat: What was your favorite recess game when you were in elementary school?

Types

of Games

Core Games

Simple, rotational staple recess games.

Practice gross motor skills, conflict resolution, positive language, and resilience

Tag Games

Active games focused on building movement skills and strategizing.

Practice respect, active engagement, and healthy energy release.

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Readiness Games

Transition activities that focus students attention and promote inclusion.

Practice concentration and following directions.

Tag Games

Active games focused on building movement skills and strategizing.

Practice respect, active engagement, and healthy energy release.

Icebreaker Games

Organized games focused on building rapport and community.

Practice respect, positive communication, and listening.

Types

of Games

Core Games

4 Square

Switch

Knockout

Penalty Kick Soccer

3 Line Basketball

Tag Games

Watch Your Back Tag

Bandaid Tag

Hula Tag

Sharks and Minnows

Readiness Games

Land, Sea, Air

Shipwreck

Up, Down, Stop, Go

Colors

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Tag Games

Hula Tag

Watch Your Back Tag

Bandaid Tag

Sharks and Minnows

Icebreaker Games

I Love My Neighbor

Superstar

This or That

Readiness Game:

The Big Cheese

The Big Cheese

Choose one person to be the Big Cheese. The Big Cheese begins new rounds by saying “Who is the Big Cheese?” Players respond, “You are the Big Cheese!”

The Big Cheese counts, “3…2…1... Cheese!” On “cheese,” everyone strikes a pose:

• String Cheese - arms held straight up over your head
• Cheddar Cheese - arms forming a circle, like a big wheel of cheddar cheese
• Stinky Cheese - wave one hand in front of your nose.

If a player chooses the same pose as the Big Cheese, they do 3 jumping jacks (or I’m Awesomes, etc., before re-joining the game

The goal is to NOT match the Big Cheese.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFIU0A1dhVY

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Benefits of Play

Benefits of Play

We will move into 4 breakout rooms. Each breakout room will brainstorm the benefits of play in their category and add their ideas to the Jamboard.

USING JAMBOARD

2. Click on Sticky Note icon on sidebar

3. Type your idea and click Save.

4. Click Cancel to close pop-up.

5. Click and drag to move sticky note

1. Use arrows to move to a different panel

Benefits of Play

• Breakout Room 1 - Academic Benefits
• Breakout Room 2 - Physical Benefits
• Breakout Room 3 - Social Benefits
• Breakout Room 4 - Emotional Benefits

You will have 2 minutes to add as many ideas to your board as you can! Be prepared to share out.

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Barriers to Play

Break!

What is one game or activity that your students have been playing this year?

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Core Games

Core Games

• Student-led
• Rotational
• Simple

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Includes:

• Rock-Paper-Scissors
• High 5’s
• “Good job, nice try!”

Foursquare

• Recycle Line
• Serve from the 1 square
• Superstar spots

Game Break:

Rock, Paper, Scissors Stretch

Rock, Paper, Scissors, Stretch

• The goal of the game is to stay standing the longest.
• This game is played in pairs.
• Start the game by playing a round of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Rock crushes Scissors, Scissors cut Paper, Paper covers Rock.
• The player who is less successful in the round takes a step back with one foot.
• Continue playing Rock, Paper, Scissors, with the less successful player moving a step back with one foot, until someone loses balance and stumbles or taps out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkyWrio9OpM

Game Break:

Rock, Paper, Scissors Stretch

Tag Games

Components of Inclusive Tag Games

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• Boundaries

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• Butterfly Fingers

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• Safe Tagging
• Upper Back
• Shoulders
• Arms

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• Movement Modality

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Game Break:

Land, Sea, Air

Land, Sea, Air

• To play this game, you will need a line on the ground. If there is no line, put something like a pen or a piece of tape on the ground.
• The goal of this game is to follow the commands.
• Behind the line is “Land.”
• In front of the line is called “Sea.”
• For “Air,” jump in the air.
• When the leader calls the command “Land,” stand on the land. When they call the command “Sea,” stand in the sea. When they say “Air,” jump in the air.
• If a player doesn’t correctly follow the commands, they should do 3 jumping jacks (or I’m Awesomes), then rejoin the game.

https://www.playworks.org/game-library/land-sea-air/

⇧ AIR ⇧

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SEA

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LAND

Best

Practices

Best Practices

• Adult Participation
• Environment Built on Core Values
• Interventions
• Options and Opportunities
• Useful Tools

Breakout Rooms

• Room 1: Adult Participation
• What is one thing you can do to take a more active role in recess?
• Room 2: Environment Built on Core Values
• What are your schools’ core values? How can you promote those values?
• Room 3: Interventions
• How will you intervene respectfully and consistently to students behaviors?
• Room 4: Options and Opportunities
• How can you provide students with game options at recess/play time?
• Room 5: Useful Tools
• What are some useful tools you’ve learned so far to strengthen your program?

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Session 2: December 2nd at 3:30pm

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Before Session 2:

• Try out some new games!
• Join the Active & Engaging Recess Facebook Group
• Activate your PlayworksU account (directions in activation email)

Next Steps

Thank you!

Questions?

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Contact

jessi.jasper@playworks.org