Since I’ve focused on corrections and at-risk youth for the first two activities I thought that the next one I’d focus on was cognitive. This is also an activity that I pulled from the binder that I made for another class. It’s called Alphabet Pockets and is a good rainy/indoor activity, or something that can be thrown together quickly as a filler activity. The only resources you need are optional; a piece of paper and pencil to keep score but otherwise you use object you have on hand like in the participant’s pockets or backpacks. This activity can be used for a cognitive goal because the participants need to know the alphabet and the order of the letters. They also need to grasp what letters the objects start with so really this could be used for all ages. “Alphabet Pockets” is also a good teamwork activity because it would almost be impossible to come up with all the letters by yourself and when you work as a team you can get things done faster. Corrections or at-risk youth might not be good populations for this activity because they won’t have a lot of things in their pockets or access to loose things lying around. All objects should be appropriate for the classroom and there needs to be some supervision if there are potential sharp objects. There is minimum leadership needed, only to facilitate the activity and keep track of the scores of all the teams. This activity offers therapeutic potential in all four of the domains. Physical because you need to be able to move around and quickly, cognitive because you need to associate the first letters of random objects with the alphabet, social because you need to work with others to accomplish a task, and emotional because you need to be aware of others feelings and it is a fast paced activity so people will be under some stress.
Alphabet Pockets
Activity Type: Rainy Day/Indoor Activity
Activity Description: A fun competitive game in which participants use teamwork and creativity to gather objects that begin with letters of the alphabet.
Purpose/Goals:
1. To gather objects whose names start with the letters of the alphabet.
2. To use teamwork to accomplish a goal.
3. To provide a fun and entertaining activity.
Activity Level: Sedentary to Moderate
Appropriate Audience: This game can be played by school aged children to adults. Any number of participants can play.
Physical Setting: This activity should take place indoors in space that can accommodate all participants.
Equipment and Materials:
- Score sheet to keep track of their items
- Items participants have in their pockets or backpacks
Instructions/Facilitation:
1. Split the group into two teams.
2. Facilitator explains that each team has to find objects in their pockets or backpacks whose names begin with the letters of the alphabet.
3. Teams are given 4 minutes to create as much of the alphabets as they can with their objects. (Objects do not have to be found in alphabetical order).
4. One person from each team should record found items on paper to determine the winner at the end of the game.
5. When 4 minutes is up, teams will be asked to present items.
6. The team with the most items wins.
Physical and Emotional Safety Precautions: Participants must make sure all objects are handled appropriately, i.e. sharp objects should be handled with care. If participants feel uncomfortable using specific items for the game they do not have to do so.
Variations:
1. Groups can be divided into more than two teams or activity can be completed by the group as a whole.
2. Participants can find objects throughout the facility.
3. Facilitator could use only part of the alphabet to fit English level of participants, i.e. elementary students could find vowels.
Special Notes: All items should be appropriate for the classroom.
Discussion Questions/Processing:
1. Which letter was the most challenging for your team?
2. What was your team’s strategy to find the most items?
3. What was the most enjoyable part of this activity?
Reference:
Alphabet Pockets. The Source. Retrieved on March 28, 2011, from http://www.thesource4ym.com/GAMES/
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