Description

Students work together to win this fast paced game.

Supplies

• Plates
• Cups
• Tape

How to Play

1. Prep work: Use the tape to make enough tic-tac-toe boards (3×3) for every group of 6 students to have one to play on.
2. Group students into teams of three. Two teams stand in a line a short distance away from each tic-tac-toe board. Give all members of one team one cup, and give all members of the other team one plate.
3. The goal is for the team to get tic-tac-toe (three in a row) before the other team gets three in a row, using their cup or plate.
4. Students can only touch their own plate or cup and cannot move any other cups/plates on the board.
5. Announce when to begin the game.
6. The first student on each team rushes to the board and puts their marker (cup/plate) down on the board. They rush back and tag the next student in line who runs to the board and does the same.
7. This continues until all students have gone or there are 3 in a row for a team.
8. Play multiple rounds, switching up the order of team members in line and switching what teams go against each other.

Activity Prompts for Reflection

• What strengths did your team use during this game?
• What kind words did you hear during this game?
• How did you make sure everyone on your team was included?
• What was a weakness your team had during this game?

Other Ways to Play

• If you don’t have plates and cups, you can use any two different objects to mark the teams’ spots. For example, different colored bean bags.
• Play outside and use sidewalk chalk to draw the tic-tac-toe board.
• Instead of running, have students skip, crab walk, tip toe, etc. to their board.
• Instead of a 3×3 tic-tac-toe board, create a 5×5 or a 7×7 board and make larger teams.

Additional Notes

• Use the SEL Activity Prompts to tie other SEL competencies to this activity.