VSP was recently asked if we could do some orientation and team games for the new Grade 6, I was pleased to offer a selection of activities that would help them forge new relationships, test their problem solving skills, work as a team and learn listening and trust skills.

The first activity was a problem solving challenge called ‘Spaghetti Tower’. Teams were given a limited amount of spaghetti and had to build a tower as tall as they could using only some string and tape. The completed tower  had to hold a marshmallow piece at the top for twenty seconds without falling over or collapsing.

The second activity was to show students they could work as a team. I showed them how to make a fire using only a flint and steel and some lint from the drying machine. Once their fire was established they had to make some bread dough and then cook it on the fire they had built using only a stick. The teams really enjoyed this as they had a snack to eat at the end of it.

The final activity was a game called ‘Where is the cup?’ this is a game that shows the importance of listening and also trust skills. The group was split into four teams, one captain was picked from each team and then asked to find a place to sit in the room, the rest of their team were blindfolded and their captain had to direct them to a cup and a bottle of water. The team had to take these objects back to the captain and open the water, pour it into the cup and feed this to their captain. This was extremely funny for the other teams to watch.

Overall I feel grade 6 students really enjoyed their day and learned a few new skills.