Game Time!
This week I’m coming to you with a CLASSIC game that I play every year with my kids. Like most activities – I only play it once a year so kids love it when they walk in and see the game setup. I usually save it for a time when students are coming back from a break and kids would benefit from some team building and cooperative activities.
Aside from the fact that it’s an awesome activity, I think my students love it so much because I present the game in a gamified format by creating different levels for each increasingly difficult or complex extension of the game (I do this with most activities, for more examples check out Hula Hut Relays, Pass the Frog, or Fire and Ice.
Check out the video below for an example of me teaching the game to a 3rd grade class at my school:
If you don’t have time for the video check out the summary of the game below, or download the free lesson plan at the bottom of this post.
Cross The River
Setup:
- I shoot for about 5-7 kids on each team, but you can modify and adjust for different situations. The setup below is for one class, for double classes I would simply double the equipment. To start the game, I give my K-2 students 1 more dot than the members of their team, with 3-5th they get the same number of dots as team members.
Rules:
- No sliding or throwing the PE equipment
- If any part of your body touches the “water” your entire team must start over
Level 1: Get to the “Island”
- In this level students will learn how to get across the river with their team and attempt to make it to the island (gymnastics mats folded up)
Level 2: Cross the River
- In this level students will attempt to cross the ENTIRE river. If they make it to the island, it acts as a “Checkpoint” where they can “Save their game”. If they fall in after saving their game, they can start over at the island.
Level 3: You Lost a Rock
- In this level students once again, attempt to get their entire team to the island – However, you have some bad news for all the teams… The water has picked up and they’ve lost one of their rocks! They must use creativity and brainstorm a way to get to the island with one less rock. One hint I give kids on this level is “You need to think outside the Box!” 😉 , you can see an example in the instagram post below:
Level 4: Cross the River Again
- Same as level 2, but with one less rock this time. Checkpoint stays the same.
Level 5: Double Up
- In this level I combine my 4 teams into 2 teams and have them attempt to make it to the island and then combine all of their equipment to go all the way across the river together.
That’s the basic outline, but there are tons of variations and different ways to present the game (different equipment, blindfolds, add obstacles to the river, create mines with bowling pins, change the scenario or add more restrictions).
I really love watching the kids play and there are TONS of teachable moments that will happen throughout the game that you can explore with the kids after each level. (like discussing the importance of integrity as you can see below)
View this post on Instagram
I also use this game as one of my Field Day stations each year. The classroom teachers enjoy watching the kids use teamwork and attempt to be the first group to “cross the river”
If you want specifics and a more detailed list of ideas, strategies and variations – you can download my lesson plan for free below:
It’s so fun watching kids complete a challenge for the first time – check out the post below to see what I mean 🙂
Got some cool variations of the game not included in the lesson plan? Leave them in the comments below.
Have Fun and Teach On!
Do you have anything like this for High School kids?
Since the curriculum is designed specifically for K-5th Grades, we are not super-confident in saying whether or not it would be the best resource for a secondary school teacher.
We do have a few secondary folks in the community, and they’ve found our resources helpful.
Check out some Secondary Teacher Recommends:
There are some great folks out there in Secondary, but I’m not as connected to all the best resources, but I know that Physedagogy is a great resource to check out and find other teachers doing similar things to you – you can find them at: https://physedagogy.com/
Check out https://thephysicaleducator.com – Joey teaches elementary, but also up through secondary
Also Nathan Hornes website https://www.iphys-ed.com/ is great and he’s taught all levels.
Jarrod Robinson (The PE Geek) has a great technology integration site that applies to all levels.
Also of course social media will be a great resource for you to get connected with Secondary Folks, here’s a few secondary teachers I know are awesome, they might have some good resources or at least advice for where to look if you message or tag them on social with a question:
* Dave Senecal https://twitter.com/pepalooza
* Matt Pomeroy https://twitter.com/Physed_Pomeroy
* Sarah Gietschier-Hartman https://twitter.com/GHSaysRockChalk
* Stephanie Sandino https://twitter.com/smsandino
* Jerry Honeycutt: https://twitter.com/honeycutt_pe
* Lisa Smith: https://twitter.com/lisasmithpe
OPEN Physed from US Games also has some Secondary resources you might want to check out: https://openphysed.org/
Hope this helps!
What can be substituted if I do not have the aerobic steps?
Hey Kristen,
I’ve used and see teachers use a gymnastics or yoga mat, balances beams, or benches.
Basically, anything that you can stand on.
Hope this helps!
Just wondering why the membership is only a year? It seems like a lot if you have to keep purchasing this each year.
Great question Patricia!
We are constantly adding new resources, e-courses, lesson plans, and videos.
We also have a membership forum where you can gather ideas from other PE teachers.
Hope this helps!
Hello,
I love your games! I am a special ed teacher. I typically work with children in Early Intervention and preschool special ed. I am now working in an after school program with children in Grades K-8. Most are 2nd/3rd and 5th grade. We have a small group. The kids get to use the “gym” area. It’s called a Dojang as this is a martial arts center that teaches tae kwon do. Typically the middle schoolers and elementary kids have separate times in the Dojang. Then, there is a group time. How would you modify this for the older kids? Also, what other games would you recommend? They are so bored at times with the same games like gaga.
Thank you so much!
Hey Laura,
Thanks for reaching out!
Do you have any equipment? If so, you can do activities as stations. Check out the link below for ideas on stations:
https://www.thepespecialist.com/stationteaching/
If there is no equipment, you may want to organize the activities for fun games. Check out the link below to fun games and activities we like to do in PE class:
Physical Education Games and Activities
Hope this helps!
The object of the activity is to get all members of the group safely across the river. this a great game.
Glad you’re enjoying the activity Rebecca!
I just had my students play Cross the River. I needed a break from our Field Day fun prep and some inclement weather so I went on the website looking for something new. I have played a similar game that I call “Rescue Island” with my 3-5th graders that uses a scooter board (boat) substituted for the step (log) to the spots and the island played across the width of the gym. Anyway, Ben I sure appreciate your ideas and resources! I will definitely be adding this to my cooperative games unit. Teach on!
Sounds like such a cool game Nathan! Thanks for sharing!
Hi! this is great fun with the kids, tried yesterday 🙂 but i am having trouble downloading the lesson plan. Not sure if it’s on my end or yours!
🙂
Loryn
Sorry about the issue!
Usually, this issue is related to a school filter, pop-up blocker, or browser caching issue – so we’d recommend trying from another computer, switching browsers, clearing your cache and making sure all pop up blockers have been turned off.
As a another option you can also find some of our products on our Teachers Pay Teachers Page Here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Pe-Specialist
Just search “Cross the River”
Hope this helps!
Exactly what I’ve been looking for! Can’t download the lesson plans though:/
Hey Laura,
Sorry about the issue!
Usually, this issue is related to a school filter, pop-up blocker, or browser caching issue – so we’d recommend trying from another computer, switching browsers, clearing your cache and making sure all pop up blockers have been turned off.
As a another option you can also find some of our products on our Teachers Pay Teachers Page Here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Pe-Specialist
It was a good game for the children to learn how to work together
Hey Debra,
CTR is one of our favorites!
Do you play until one team finishes the level or until 5 minutes are up or do you give all the students 5 minutes to finish and teams that finish first sit and watch?
I stop the music about 20 seconds after the first team finishes and have all the teams reset – we talk about strategies and refinements and then play the next level. DO what works for you though!
I’m not able to download the lesson plan above. Is there another way to retrieve it?
Sorry about the issue!
Usually, this issue is related to a school filter, pop-up blocker, or browser caching issue – so we’d recommend trying from another computer, switching browsers, clearing your cache and making sure all pop up blockers have been turned off.
As a another option you can also find some of our products on our Teachers Pay Teachers Page Here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Pe-Specialist
I love the idea of this game but I am unable to download the lesson plan…
Hey Rochelle, sorry about the issue, but it’s working on our end.
Usually, this issue is related to a school filter, pop-up blocker, or browser caching issue – so we’d recommend trying from another computer, switching browsers, clearing your cache and making sure all pop up blockers have been turned off.
As a another option you can also find this product on our Teachers Pay Teachers Page Here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Pe-Specialist
Thank you! Fun reminder of some renditions of this classic!
This sounds like a super fun game to kick off second semester! We do not have any Aerobic Steps. Trying to think of an alternative? I am going to rummage through our equipment room tomorrow.
Anything works – yoga mats, scrap pieces of wood, pieces of cardboard…
How can I get access to your Cross the River Download? When I click on “checkout” there is nothing in my cart.
Sorry about the issue – Usually, this issue is related to a school filter, pop-up blocker, or browser issue – so we’d recommend trying from another computer, switching browsers and making sure all pop up blockers have been turned off.
As a last resort you can also find this download on our Teachers Pay Teachers Page Here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Pe-Specialist
Thanks looks fun.
Hi Ben,
I saw the modifications you make for Grades K-2. Even with grades K-2 you still use the “LOG”? How does that work with K passing and moving the “LOG”? Is it something they struggle with physically? Just was curious before I teach it to my younger students.
Thanks!!
K usually doesn’t pass the log (even though it’s there if they thought of it). They usually don’t need to use the log because I always give them one extra spot.
1st and up can pass the log without any issues – although, yes it’s harder for them than it would be for a 4th grade student.
Thanks so much! I used it for VBS and the kids loved it! It was so fun to see them work together and think. The 1st graders did better than the 4th graders, too many chiefs in the older group. LOL!
Thanks for sharing!
Haha – perfect. I’ve used it for a church camp as well – it’s always a hit 🙂
What could I use instead of the aerobic steps as the logs?
Go to home depot or Lowes and by a few 2x4s and have them cut it into smaller pieces and use those. Or you could get 1 x 6s if you want to have a wider “log” for the kids to make it easier.
Or you could use any other flat object in your equipment room that can be stepped on – or just don’t use logs, use scooters instead as “boats”
Ben have you ever used Cross the River as a Field Day station? I was thinking Of playing it with my 2nd-3rd grades. My field day stations are 15 min. each. Do you think we could play 2 levels in that time? Just wanted your opinion.
Thanks,
Doug
Yep – we use cross the river for Field Day every year with K-5th, our stations are 7 minutes each, but I think 15 would work as well if you had the different levels.
I play this game using floatation devices (pinnies, poly spots) instead of rocks. Students must ALWAYS be touching (with some body part) the floatation device or it will float away and the team will have one less device to get across with. I like how you added levels.
Nice! I’ve heard of that variation with the floating objects, but never tried it – sounds fun though. Thanks for sharing!
I did this today with third and fourth graders. They really enjoyed it. Presenting it in a “gamified” format really resonated with a lot of them. I had a number of students ask me after class when we could do this again. Ben Landers for the win!