Mission Possible

Among a few other team building activities in the first weeks of school, Mission Impossible--or Mission POSSIBLE--has become a beginning of the year tradition and all around student favorite. The activity gives students a group challenge, and a chance to work together to overcome the group ''
mission". This a great activity for me to observe the students character in a group/team setting--both strengths and attitudes that need improvement--and a chance to touch base with them to talk about how we can improve.
With my 2nd through 4th graders, the students are divided in to 2 teams with following mission put before them:

1. Work together to get the entire team from one side of the gym to the other, using the equipment provided and without touching the floor. "Pretend the floor is made of Lava!", I tell them!
2.  If you touch the floor you must go back to the beginning, and leave the equipment you were using in that place. 
3. Your teammates may come back to help you. 
4. Some students will be given a disability--blindfolded, no talking, and either no use of legs or arms.
5. The first group to get their team to the other side of the gym wins the challenge. 
6. Once a team wins the challenge, I then give them the choice to either wait and cheer on the other team, OR using their equipment, help the other team cross. And without surprise most teams choose to help. 

Check out some of the students attempting MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: