K-4Cooperation10-15 min
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Popcorn & Catapult (Exact Commands)
Popcorn: Keep 5-10 balls bouncing on the parachute. If a ball flies off, someone goes and puts it back immediately.
Catapult: Work as a team to launch the balls as high as possible toward the ceiling.
TEKS Focus: Cooperation in group activities (K.2A, 1-4.2A) • Spatial awareness & controlled force • Rhythmic timing with the group.
Character Focus: Teamwork (Coach Odom stresses this heavily for Catapult). Everyone must time the snap together or the launch fails. Also responsibility — always retrieve balls that escape.
Coach Odom’s Exact Commands – Catapult
- 1 – Ready (everyone bends over, hands to feet)
- 2 – Up, Up (hands raise high above head)
- 3 – Down (sharp snap down together)
Teaching cue: “We are ONE team. If one person is late, the balls don’t fly!”
5E:
- 🔥 Engage: Show a few balls on the chute. “Who can keep the popcorn popping without it escaping?”
- 🔍 Explore: Practice popcorn first with 5 balls. Students retrieve immediately when balls fly off.
- 📖 Explain: Exact Catapult commands. Stress “ONE team” timing. Review parachute rules again. Responsibility for balls.
- 🚀 Elaborate: Full Catapult with 5-10 balls. “How high can we get them?” Add popcorn challenge between launches. Celebrate clean group snaps.
- ✅ Evaluate: Group timing on commands, immediate ball retrieval, positive teamwork language. “Did everyone stay together?”