|
Name of Activity: Island Hopping
Purpose of Activity: To teach students to use cooperation, communication, problem solving, and math skills.
Prerequisites: Use the math problems that the students are currently working on in their math classes.
Suggested Grade Level: 3-5
Materials Needed: Different colored bean bags, balls, or other objects; equipment that is flat to stand on for the raft parts; cones or tape to mark off the island.
Description of Idea Colored bean bags or balls are scattered around the gym floor (ocean). Each colored object represents a numerical value. For example: Green bean bags = one dollar (or 100)
Blue bean bags = 25
Yellow bean bags = 10
Pink bean bags = 5
Red bean bags = 1
The students are divided randomly into small groups. The teacher writes a math problem on the board. The groups must discuss among themselves how to solve the problem. Once they know the answer they must use the pieces of their raft (any equipment that students can stand on: polyspots, bases, carpet squares) to transport every member of the group out into the ocean to collect the correct amount of valuables. If a member of the group falls off the raft, the group must start back at the island.
Once the students return to their island we discuss solving the problem and check the answers for each group.
Teaching Suggestions: During closure, ask students to name someone in their group who was a good teammate and give reasons why. Students respond very well to hearing the positive things their peers say about them.
| 
