Electricity (all grades)
Author: Shelly Neal, Northside Elementary, Indiana
Subject: Any subject
Objective: may vary
Materials and Preparation: a spoon and a coin, or flash cards
Student Grouping: Whole class divided into two teams
The Play: This is an idea I adapted from Robert Ley, who submitted it at egadideas.com.
Here are the basic directions:
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Form the students into two parallel rows with them sitting closely and facing the opposite row, about 2 feet apart. The students in each row hold hands.
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At one end of the row is the leader with a coin; at the other end, is a spoon. The leader sits between the front of the two rows in a way that only the person on each end of the row can see his/her hand.
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The leader flips the coin.
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If it is "heads," then the first person in that row silently sends an electric charge by squeezing the hand of the next person in their row. The next person, using their other hand squeezes the next person's hand and so on.
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When the last person feels a squeeze on their hand, they grab the spoon.
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The object of the game is to send the electric charge down the chain of persons faster than the opposing team and grab the spoon first.
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The losing team has to remain in place, whereas the winning team rotates down in their chairs and the last person is now at the head of the row.
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The team to rotate everyone into the first chair wins.
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If a "false" electric charge occurs (someone on one of the teams starts a false charge when no coin was tossed or the "heads" did not occur, then the team must rotate backwards.
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All players must be silent. All must look at the spoon at all times, except the two people looking at the leader flipping the coin.
In the school setting, once the kids have learned the concept, replace the coin with any academic flash card. You could have them squeeze only on an even answer for math, or only for a true answer. Anything with only two choices would work. The kids LOVE this game. You can play with any number of people.
Scoring: The team which rotates completely wins.
Comments or Variations: Hint: The kids will quickly learn to cheat by watching the other team's hands. Have them clasp hands behind their backs.