Keep Playing Week 8

Game of the Week: Around the World

This week, Playworks is featuring an energetic, basketball-inspired challenge that can be played inside and out, and helps us see challenges as opportunities for growth.

Skill Focus: 

Growth Mindset – Belief that you can improve your abilities by practicing; seeing challenges as an opportunity to grow because you believe that challenges can help you improve at something.

Play In-Person

Play Virtually

Simplified Game Instructions

# of people to play: 1+
Best for ages: 5+
Setup/Teaching Time: 5 minutes
Equipment needed: A basketball (or soft, throwable object), cones/chalk (or other items to mark spots on the ground such as paper plates, stickers or markers), and something to use as a basket (a trash can, pencil case can, or bin)

Goal: to try to make a basket from every spot and make it around the world!

Before You Start:

  • Set up play area(s) with a “basket,” and set up markers or other items in an arc around the “basket(s).”  

How to Play:

  • Players will shoot from the first marker, trying to throw the soft object into the basket.
    • If each player has their own “basket” and markers, they can all play at the same time. If there is one play area, students should line up to take turns. 
  • If a player makes the basket, they advance and shoot from the next marker. 
  • If a player misses a basket, they will try again from the same marker.
  • A player is finished when they have successfully made baskets from every marker. 
  • Players should be given time to practice trying to make a basket from at least one marker before play begins. 
  • Give players the challenge of getting as far around the world as they can during a designated amount of time (i.e. 1 or 2 minutes).

Game Debrief

  • What did improvement look like in this game?
  • When it felt like you were stuck, or not improving, how did you challenge yourself to keep practicing?
  • When else in school do you face challenges that are meant to help you grow?

Game Modifications

Age Group Modifications
  • For younger students: Set up the game with markers close to the basket, and use a larger object for tossing and/or a larger basket.
  • For older students: Set up the game with markers farther away from the basket, and try tossing smaller and/or irregular shaped objects such as a crumpled ball of paper or a pen.
Academic Application
  • Have students complete a math problem or flash card before they are allowed to take a shot. They have to get the problem correct before they are allowed to take their turn.
Another Way to Play
  • Instead of throwing balls into baskets, consider kicking balls into goals to practice a different set of skills.

Brain Break: Group Count

How to Play
  • The goal of the game is to count up to a certain number out loud, without planning who will say which number.
  • To begin the game, one person says out loud “One.”
  • Another person then says “Two” when they feel ready.
  • The group continues to count, one number at a time and one person at a time, until the goal number has been reached.
  • If two people accidentally say the same number, that’s okay! Take a deep breath together as a group and start over at “One.”
  • Remember, it is important not to plan ahead who will say which number, and it is okay for there to be pauses in between numbers.

Additional Resources

Sample School Community Announcement

This month we are focusing on the theme of self awareness. Self awareness helps you tune into your own feelings and notice how they influence your behaviors.

Seeking growth is a crucial part of developing one’s whole self. Having a growth mindset, then, is about constantly pushing yourself forward. Around the World is a fun and challenging version of a basketball game in which students try making a basket from several set locations. This game reinforces the concept of a growth mindset because, even if a student misses a basket, they are able to reenter the game and pick up from the place they left off rather than starting over. Having a growth mindset means you know that your skills are not set in stone and can improve with time and effort.

Teach students to play in class, and then empower them to lead the game and teach others!

Core Recess Game

In addition to our Keep Playing Game of the Week, we’re sharing bi-weekly Core Recess Games that will help kids be active, practice leadership, maximize recess time, and have fun.

This week, try playing BLOCKER BALL!

Learn how to play

Return to the Keep Playing Homepage for archives of past weeks and other helpful resources.

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