Team Bulding Through Physical Challenges (Paperback)

~ Donald Glover (Author), Daniel Midura (Author) "Do you remember being on a team that was a winner?..." (more)
Key Phrases: volleyball net standards, exit mat, vaulting box, Equipment You'll, Grand Canyon, Praise Phrases (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Each physical challenge includes opportunities in communication, decision making, conflict resolution, risk taking and affirmation. For teachers the book can best be used at the beginning of a school year or between units to set standards for group work, acceptance, cooperation. etc. Recreators, coaches, youth sport leaders, church groups may choose to use activities in this book to build relationships among participants."
Peter Werner
Professor, Department of Physical Education, University of South Carolina

Product Description

Help your students develop interpersonal skills as well as motor skills with the activities in Team Building Through Physical Challenges. These 22 Outward Bound-type tasks challenge students to work together to achieve a common goal. Along the way, they’ll learn to value teamwork, practice leadership skills, improve listening skills, and appreciate individual differences.

The activities in Team Building Through Physical Challenges are broken down into three levels--introductory, intermediate, and advanced. These levels make the challenges ideal for students in upper elementary through high school. For each of the physical challenges, you’ll find a summary that includes:

• a detailed description,

• success criteria,

• an equipment list,

• set-up instructions,

• rules and sacrifices,

• possible solutions, and

• additions and variations.

Throughout each challenge, kids learn teamwork. As they struggle, fail, reorganize, persevere, and finally succeed, students learn to brainstorm solutions, work together to develop a plan of attack, listen to others and consider their ideas, and praise and encourage team members. Each member of the group is important, because everyone must meet the challenge before the team can succeed. Team members learn, in addition to motor skills, important social skills by taking turns filling the roles of organizer, praiser, encourager, summarizer, and recorder.

Team Building Through Physical Challenges is easy for physical educators, classroom teachers, and recreation leaders to use. Cards that explain each challenge to your students are contained in the text; simply copy and laminate them, and they’re ready to use. The activities require equipment that is readily available--tumbling mats, ropes, balance beam, cage ball, tires, and others. Diagrams show you exactly how equipment should be set up, and photos illustrate possible solutions for each challenge.

Watch your students develop self-confidence and new skills as they explore these physical challenges. Not only will they improve their fitness and motor skills, but they’ll also learn important social skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Sample physical challenges:

Alphabet Balance Beam (introductory)--Group members attempt to rearrange their starting order while positioned on a balance beam. They begin in a random order and the instructor or members choose a way to rearrange (alphabetically by first name, by street address, etc.)

Bridge Over the Raging River (intermediate)--All group members must travel from one end of a gymnasium space (land) to the other end without touching the floor (river). The group can use only the following equipment: four automobile tires, two 8-foot length 2 x 4’s, and 2 jump ropes (preferably sash cord).

Power Line (advanced)--Group members cross over a high horizontal bar by using an 8-foot 2 x 4 board to help transfer teammates from one side of the power line to the other side. Individuals cannot touch the bar (power line) with the board or their bodies.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Human Kinetics (August 19, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873223594
• ISBN-13: 978-0873223591
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #484,058 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Experiential learning for children in Junior schools, October 9, 2000

By	Tan Ean Ser Raymond (Singapore) - See all my reviews

This is an excellent book for use by trainers who want to use experiential learning activities to help children in junior schools learn concepts such as team work, co-operative learning and celebrating team success.

The activities and props listed are easily found in school gyms or can be obtained with a little ingenuity. Activities are suitable for chldren from the ages of 8 and upwards. I have found the way the instructions for each activity is laid out at the end of the book in the form of challenge cards, particularly useful, as I don't have to re-layout these for my trainers. They could be easily made and laminated into cards and made referencing easy and fast.

Also of great help to trainers are the questions found on the Organiser card which is found in the Appendix section. I have used the activities with Boys from 9-12 years old and they are able to understand the objectives of the activities and draw very useful lessons from them. Anyone intending to work with children of these ages should get a copy of this book, and you won't be disappointed.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent book , ideas for working with young persons, June 28, 2000

By	gearoid williams (Dublin Ireland) - See all my reviews

I got fantastic ideas for working with young problmatic boys in a special school, very good for helping in the area of team building and boosting self esteem

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Games!!!!, August 25, 2009

By	Patrick W. Whitney "Whit Dog" (Kansas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book a few weeks ago and have already used 4 of the challenges with my classes. There ares some great ideas. Some need more equipment than I have, but most are fun and challenging!!!!