Guided Learning

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Facilitator Playbook

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Take a systematic approach to play!

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Keep Going!

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Learn play-based strategies for managing kids' behavior in the classroom and beyond

Learn to create safe and healthy play through equipment systems, visual systems, and adult roles

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Develop skills for encouraging positive behavior through rules and consequences

Develop skills to support kids in initiating and sustaining their own safe and healthy play

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My Completed Courses

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Learn play-based strategies for managing kids' behavior in the classroom and beyond

Learn to create safe and healthy play through equipment systems, visual systems, and adult roles

Empty space, drag to resize

Develop skills for encouraging positive behavior through rules and consequences

Develop skills to support kids in initiating and sustaining their own safe and healthy play

Empty space, drag to resize

Write your awesome label here.

Empty space, drag to resize

Learn play-based strategies for managing kids' behavior in the classroom and beyond

Learn to create safe and healthy play through equipment systems, visual systems, and adult roles

Empty space, drag to resize

Develop skills for encouraging positive behavior through rules and consequences

Develop skills to support kids in initiating and sustaining their own safe and healthy play

Empty space, drag to resize

Write your awesome label here.

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It's great that you're eager to keep learning! You may still have some learning activities to complete on your previous badge before you can access this one. Make sure to complete all of the required courses in your most recent badge.

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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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Send a SparkPlay Trial

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Need help or don't see your email provider listed?

Click below to copy the trial information and link. Then, paste it into a new email to share with a friend.

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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Write your awesome label here.

Take a systematic approach to play!

Keep Going!

You completed this badge! Great work.

My Completed Courses

You haven't unlocked this badge yet!

Quick Tips

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

Limited on equipment? No problem!

Want to find a specific type of game?

Send a SparkPlay Trial

Tips & Resources

Need help introducing games?

Want to keep games feeling fresh?

Looking for more game ideas?

Need a refresher on Group Management?

Blank Lesson Plan

Create your own lesson plan using our template

You completed this badge!
Great work.