Alligator Swamp
Large Group (10 and up)
Grades 3-5
No equipment needed
10 minutes or more
Development Goal
To develop communication, teamwork and leadership skills.
Before You Start
- Divide players into two teams.
- Each team receives an equal number of potato sacks, one less than the number of people in the group.
- Brainstorm strategies and give examples if needed.
- Make sure the teams have all their supplies and can repeat the rules.
Set Up
A clearly marked start and finish line. Equipment Needed: Potato sacks, cardboard, carpet squares or anything that players can easily stand on and carry.
How to Play
- The object of the game is to get all team members from one side of town to the other without touching the lava.
- Players can only be in the lava zone if they are standing on a potato sack.
- If players step off the potato sack and into the lava, they must return back to the other side of town.
- If a potato sack is placed into the lava without being constantly touched by a player, it is lost and the whole team must return back to the other side of town.
- Each team should come up with a strategy on how to get all of their teammates across safely.
Variations
- Rename the game and tell a different story with the same goals, such as Toxic Waste Dump or Lava Game.
- Everyone everyone work together to race against a clock (instead of placing on teams.) Inform them that their side of town is going to explode in ten minutes and they must have everyone across by that time.
- Choose the amount of potato sacks based on the experience level of the group. Less potato sacks makes the game harder.
- Have players figure out their plan before they start and then remain silent during the game.
- Randomly blindfold or silence a few members of the group.