Program Paths

Foundations

Youth Leadership

Great Recess Framework

Collect All 3 Badges to Earn Your Certificate of Completion!

Get your SparkPlay Foundations certificate by completing short courses to earn all 3 badges!

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Make group management your superpower!

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Learn play-based strategies for managing kids' behavior in the classroom and beyond
Develop skills for encouraging positive behavior through rules and consequences

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Make games your most effective tool!

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Learn to choose games that align with desired outcomes
Develop skills for quick & effective game facilitation

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Take a systematic approach to play!

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Learn to create safe and healthy play through equipment systems, visual systems, and adult roles
Develop skills to support kids in initiating and sustaining their own safe and healthy play

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Discover Group Management

2 hours
7 courses

Manage Groups with Ease
Build Rapport with Your Group
Leverage Attention Getters & Signals
Create Smooth Transitions through Play
Frame Playtime with Openings & Closings
Encourage Growth with Rules & Consequences
Implement Group Management Strategies at Playtime

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Explore Game Facilitation

1.5 hours
6 courses

Become a Game Facilitation Superstar
Lead a Playworks Core Game
Inspire Teamwork with Cooperative Games
Spark Connection with Icebreaker Games
Reset the Focus with Brain Breaks
Get Moving with Tag

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Learn Play Systems

1.5 hours
5 courses

Unlock the Power of Play Systems
Initiate Play with Equipment Systems
Enrich Play with Visual Systems
Lead Play with Adult Roles
Implement Effective Play Systems

Make an impact with Youth Leadership!

Learn how to nurture student leaders while supporting safe and healthy recess practices.
Develop the strategies, best practices and tools to design, implement and sustain an impactful youth leader program.

Collect Your Badge to Earn Your Certificate of Completion!

Get your SparkPlay Youth Leadership certificate by completing five courses to earn your badge!

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Discover Youth Leadership

1.5 hours
5 courses

1. Introduction to Youth Leadership
2. Running a Successful Youth Leadership Program
3. Training Youth Leaders
4. Leadership During Playtime
5. Recruiting Youth Leaders

Transform Your Recess with the Great Recess Framework!

Develop a deeper understanding of recess quality through the Great Recess Framework (GRF).
Build the knowledge and skills to confidently use the GRF at your school or organization.

Collect 2 Badges to Earn 2 Certificates

Complete either badge on its own or both together.

GRF Foundations

Learn the Framework

Discover how the GRF helps you understand
and measure recess quality.

GRF Assessment

Apply the Framework

Use the GRF to assess recess and support continuous improvement.

Complete 5 Short Courses to Earn Each Badge

Complete either badge on its own or both together.

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GRF Foundations Badge

1.5 hours
5 courses

Introduction to the Great Recess Framework (GRF)
Understanding Safety in the GRF
Understanding Engagement in the GRF
Understanding Empowerment in the GRF
Using the GRF with Confidence

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GRF Assessment Badge

1.5 hours
5 courses

Introduction to GRF Assessment
Plan Your GRF Observation
Conduct Your GRF Observation
Document Your GRF Findings
Use Your GRF Findings to Improve Playtime

Get Support

Get Support with GoPlay

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Games Library:

Quick Tips

Looking to build skills? We've got you covered.

Find games that support skill development

Select a skill focus from the list below, then copy and paste it into the search bar to see games that develop that skill.

Accepting Help
Accurate Self Perception
Active Listening
Analyzing Solutions
Building Community
Communication
Conflict Resolution
Cooperation
Empathy
Ethical Responsibility
Growth Mindset
Identifying Characteristics
Identifying Emotions
Identifying Problems
Impulse Control
Integrity
Offering Help
Personal Responsibility
Perspective Taking
Physical Self Awareness
Playing Fair
Positive Language
Problem Solving
Relationship Skills
Resilience
Respect
Responsible Decision Making
Self Awareness
Self Confidence
Self Management
Self Motivation
Social Awareness
Social Engagement
Stress Management
Teamwork
Understanding Consequences
Using Your Voice

Limited on equipment? No problem!

Find games that require specific equipment

Select an item from the list below, then copy and paste it into the search bar to see games that require that item.

Ball
Bandana
Baseball Bat
Base
Basketball
Beanbag
Bouncy Ball
Chair
Chalk
Cone
Dodgeball
Flag
Football
Frisbee
Hula Hoop
Jersey
Jump Rope
Kickball
Soccer Ball
Tennis Ball
Volleyball
Volleyball Net
No Equipment Required

Want to find a specific type of game?

Find specific game types

Select a game type from the list below, then copy and paste it into the search bar to see games of that type.

Autonomous/Self-Access Game
Ball Game
Cooperative Game
Core Game
Icebreaker Game
Indoor Game
Readiness Game
Recess Game
Rotational Game
Tag Game

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Facilitator Playbook:

Tips & Resources

Need help introducing games?

Use the 4P's Framework!

Playworks uses a framework called the 4 P’s to introduce games to students. We recommend using the 4 P’s when you introduce games to your youth so they are learning both the game rules and how to teach them to others.

Pre-Game

Review the name, goal, and basic rules of the game using the ABC method:
A - Attention Getters: Focus the group’s attention using a quick attention getter. (Example: If you can hear my voice…” or “When I say _, you say _.”)
B - Basic Rules: Focus the group’s attention using a quick attention getter. (Example: If you can hear my voice…” or “When I say _, you say _.”)
C - Call and Response: Check for understanding by asking a call-and-response question such as “Point to our boundary.

Practice

Test out the game with low stakes with a practice round to normalize forgetting or not understanding rules, asking questions, and implementing modifications.

Play

While you’re playing, continue to check on group engagement. How is the interest level? Are there rules to reiterate? Deciding when to end a game is also an important element of play, so monitor when it appears students are getting tired and/or losing interest.

Post-Game

Debrief or highlight relevant parts of the game related to your goals for playing using the What? So What? Now What? method:
What? - Recap the game.
So What? - How did it make you feel? Why is this important?
Now What? - What can we take from this game to support _ going forward?

For more information on the 4 P’s, visit the Game Facilitation 101 course in SparkPlay.

Want to keep games feeling fresh?

Implement a Game of the Week.

The lesson plans provided include suggested games and often refer to a Game of the Week. The Game of the Week is a large group game that rotates regularly to keep activities fresh. SparkPlay users subscribed to curated emails will get weekly emails with a suggested Game of the Week. Depending on your capacity, you may choose to rotate less frequently and refer to it by another name (e.g. Game of the Month).

Looking for more game ideas?

Discovery a variety of games in the Games resource.

Find games for different group ages, group sizes, equipment types, and school settings in this playbook, and many others here.

Need a refresher on Group Management?

Check out these SparkPlay courses.

Attention Getters & Signals
Openings & Closings
Transitions

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Facilitator Playbook:

Blank Lesson Plan

Create your own lesson plan using our template

Click below to download.

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