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4thCooperation18–25 min

Mat River Crossing (Pass the Mats)

Teams of 6 students must cross the entire gym by standing only on the mats. They pass the mats over their heads (or slide/lift them) to move forward. When the first group of 6 reaches the opposite end, they pass the mats to a waiting group of 6 who then cross back to the starting side. No one may touch the floor. Great teamwork, communication, and problem-solving challenge!

Created by Miller
Equipment
1 gymnastics/tumbling mats (or yoga mats) per group of 12 students
Character Focus
Character Focus Teamwork & Helping Others “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” – Ecclesiastes 4:9 We succeed when we lift each other up (literally and figuratively). “I Can” Statement I can work with my team to safely move across the gym using only the mats, and I can help the next group by passing the mats clearly.

TEKS Alignment

  • TEKS
  • 2.1A / 3.1A / 4.1A – Demonstrate mature form in locomotor and non-locomotor skills while traveling
  • 2.5A / 3.5A / 4.5A – Demonstrate responsible personal and social behavior while working with others
  • 3.7A / 4.7A – Solve movement problems using cooperative strategies

5E Lesson Plan

engage
“Today the floor is a raging river! The only way across is on these floating mats. You may only stand on the mats — if any part of your body touches the ‘water,’ your team has to restart. Your job is to get your whole group of 6 across by passing the mats over your heads or sliding them carefully. When you make it, you pass the mats to the next group of 6 waiting on the other side so they can come back. Ready to work together?” Quick demo with 4–6 students showing how to pass a mat overhead while staying on the other mat.
explore
Divide class into groups of 12 (or as even as possible). Give each large group 2 mats. First 6 students start on one end; the other 6 wait on the far end. On the signal, Group A works together to cross by standing only on the mats and passing them over their heads / sliding them forward. When all 6 of Group A are safely across, they hand the mats to Group B. Group B immediately begins crossing back. Continue for several crossings or set a time goal (e.g., “How many full round-trips can your teams complete in 8 minutes?”).
explain
Freeze the class. Ask: What strategies worked best for passing the mats over your heads? How did you keep everyone safe and on the mats? Why is it important to communicate clearly when lifting something over someone’s head? Reinforce: “We move as a team. No one is left behind.”
elaborate
Challenge options (choose 1–2): Use only 1 mat for a group of 6 (much harder). Must pass the mat completely over heads every time (no sliding on the floor). Silent crossing — only hand signals allowed. Race against the clock for most successful round-trips.
evaluate
Observe: Are students staying only on the mats? Are they communicating and helping each other? Do they safely pass the mats to the next group? Quick verbal check or thumbs-up: “Who used a strategy that helped the whole team succeed?”

Grade Modifications