Students will learn to focus their energy, use active listening skills, and work together as a team.

 

Before you begin, think about... 

  • What strategies might you use to keep the energy up as we play? To help you focus? 

  1. Students stand in a circle and pass their energy around in a number of ways:  

Zip - passing the energy either clockwise or counterclockwise (begins clockwise). The motion to pass a Zip is to slide one hand over the other toward the person the energy is being sent to (clap-pass).  


Zap - changes the direction of a Zip (counter-clockwise) 


Zoom - enables students to pass the energy to anybody in the circle 

You might decide to add limits that prevent students from passing in a loop between two people. 

  1. Begin students playing with just Zips, having them practice passing the energy around the circle at a smooth pace. Ensure that students are focusing all of their energy into their Zips and try not to let them talk while playing this game. Articulate just how important it is to maintain the high energy of the Zips and how that is not possible when energy is used in other ways such as talking. Make sure players look each other in the eye before passing. 

  1. Once students have master Zips, introduce Zaps and allow students to get the hang of switching directions of Zips. Once this has been mastered, allow them to pass using Zooms.  

  1. If students make a mistake, you might clap for them and restart the game, or have the whole group run into the centre to a catchphrase and then return to their spots. You could also have everyone shift one place and the student that made a mistake goes to the “end” of the circle. 

Variations: 

  • Add lunges to the passing movement. 

  • Stand on one foot while waiting. 

  • What did you find challenging about this game? 

  • What strategies did you use to help you know what to do next? 

This activity has been adapted from Asphalt Green (includes demonstration video). 

 

Avant de commencer, pensez à... 

  • Quelles stratégies pourrais-tu utiliser pour garder l'énergie pendant que nous jouons ? Pour t'aider à te concentrer ? 

  1. Students stand in a circle and pass their energy around in a number of ways:  

Zip - passing the energy either clockwise or counterclockwise (begins clockwise). The motion to pass a Zip is to slide one hand over the other toward the person the energy is being sent to (clap-pass).  


Zap - changes the direction of a Zip (counter-clockwise) 


Zoum - enables students to pass the energy to anybody in the circle 

You might decide to add limits that prevent students from passing in a loop between two people. 

  1. Begin students playing with just Zips, having them practice passing the energy around the circle at a smooth pace. Ensure that students are focusing all of their energy into their Zips and try not to let them talk while playing this game. Articulate just how important it is to maintain the high energy of the Zips and how that is not possible when energy is used in other ways such as talking. Make sure players look each other in the eye before passing. 

  1. Once students have master Zips, introduce Zaps and allow students to get the hang of switching directions of Zips. Once this has been mastered, allow them to pass using Zooms.  

  1. If students make a mistake, you might clap for them and restart the game, or have the whole group run into the centre to a catchphrase and then return to their spots. You could also have everyone shift one place and the student that made a mistake goes to the “end” of the circle. 

Variations: 

  • Add lunges to the passing movement. 

  • Stand on one foot while waiting. 

  • Qu'as-tu trouvé de difficile dans ce jeu ? 

  • Quelles stratégies as-tu utilisées pour t'aider à savoir ce que tu devais faire ensuite ? 

This activity has been adapted from Asphalt Green (includes demonstration video).