Physically Distant Activities
Water MoverMaterials
- 500 ml mason jar - Water in a bucket - Items to move water such as funnel, colander, spoon, small paper bag, sponge, piece of paper, disposable plastic glove, plastic cup with holes in it, tea strainer (Use some items that will obviously hold water, and others that will require students to be creative) Offices are a strategy we use to allow for social distancing. Putting mats out on the ground (at least two meters from each other), meant students stayed on their own mats in between turns to avoid mingling. We used old FLL mats, but other options are yoga mats, hula hoops, or carpet squares.
Task
Students have five minutes to complete this activity, and the goal is to fill the jar with water. Each person will use one item. As a group, the team decides which items will be used to move the water so that each member uses one. The coach then delivers each of the chosen items to a student, and the team decides the order they will go in. One at a time, each team member will take her/his object, collect water from the bucket, and dump it in the jar. Once the student has returned to her/his office, the next student can go. Continue until every student has gone once. Repeat until the jar is full. The bucket is placed in a central location, but at least two meters away from others. The jar can be placed at a distance you think is reasonable. |
This student is scooping water into a glove to transfer to the jar.
Here the water from a washcloth is squeezed into the jar.
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Experimenting with Semaphore flags
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Give Me The SignalMaterials
- Semaphore flags (make quick paper ones or sew/hot glue fabric flags - click here for instructions) - Printed-out Semaphore alphabet sheet, one per student - click here for these - Paper and pen, one per student Task Give the students time to analyze the Semaphore alphabet and experiment with the flags. Once they have a basic understanding of the concept, instruct them to take turns signing words to the rest of the team. (You can decide these words for them, or allow them to come up with them.) Alternatively, you can have the students make up their own alphabet if you think using the Semaphore alphabet will be too challenging. (For example, use the words fun, replay, lego; tell students they need to create signals for the following letters: a, e, f, g, l, n, o, p, r, u, y) |
Music TogetherMaterials
- Empty glass bottles (preferably same size) - Chopsticks (or knitting needle, sticks, etc.) - Water in a bucket, or use tap Task Students will add water to the bottles and tap them using the chopsticks to create music to a familiar song like Happy Birthday or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. They can also choose their own song if you want to add more decision-making practice into this activity. Each student can be responsible for a certain note. After ten or so minutes of practice, have the team perform their song to you. |
Varying amounts of water create different tones when the bottle is struck.
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A popular strategy for moving the bottle is using elbows
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Toxic WasteMaterials
- Water bottle with some water in it, no lid (label it "Toxic Waste") - Hula hoop or mat Task Have team members stand in a line, keeping two meters of distance between each other. Place the hula hoop/mat at the end of the line to represent the "detox center." Students will work together to move the bottle (the "toxic waste") down the line, without touching it with their hands or mouths. Each member must retrieve the bottle from in front of them, and place it two meters in front of the person next to them. When the bottle is in front of the last person in the line, she/he will pick it up and move it into the detox center at the end of the line. The goal is to get the bottle to the the detox center without spilling it or anyone touching it with their hands or mouth. To make this activity harder, encourage each student to use a body part that hasn't yet been used by any other participant. |
TelephoneMaterials
- Cards with simple phrases on them (ex. "I like cows") Task Students sit two meters apart with their eyes closed. Teach students the sign language translations of the words in the phrases. (Click here for an online translator.) Give one student a card, and have them call on the student next to her/him. This student will open her/his eyes to see the message being signed, and then sign to her/his neighbour. Repeat the message around the circle until it reaches the last person, who will sign and speak the message. Students can only sign it once (ie. no clarification). |
Students just need a basic understanding of the signs.
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Virtual Activities
Timeline
Materials
- Sheet with list of 8 - 12 events that happened over the course of the season, one per student (email out in advance to be printed)
- Scissors, one per student (optional)
Task
As many coaches know, students often forget about things they have done during the season. This activity is a great way to review the season before a tournament! Focus on one component of FLL Challenge - robot, project or core values. Write out relevant events that happened during the season, for example:
- We made a list of problems we would like to solve and voted to pick our top 4
- We made a small prototype to see if our idea would work
- We spoke with an expert to learn about electromagnets
Give students five minutes to work together to organize the events in chronological order. They will present to the coach when they are done.
- Sheet with list of 8 - 12 events that happened over the course of the season, one per student (email out in advance to be printed)
- Scissors, one per student (optional)
Task
As many coaches know, students often forget about things they have done during the season. This activity is a great way to review the season before a tournament! Focus on one component of FLL Challenge - robot, project or core values. Write out relevant events that happened during the season, for example:
- We made a list of problems we would like to solve and voted to pick our top 4
- We made a small prototype to see if our idea would work
- We spoke with an expert to learn about electromagnets
Give students five minutes to work together to organize the events in chronological order. They will present to the coach when they are done.
Charades and Pictionary
Materials
- Whiteboards/paper and markers for pictionary, or use the whiteboard function on Zoom
Task
These are classic games, but you can put an FLL spin on it by having students act out or draw words specific to the season, or to your project.
- Whiteboards/paper and markers for pictionary, or use the whiteboard function on Zoom
Task
These are classic games, but you can put an FLL spin on it by having students act out or draw words specific to the season, or to your project.
Who Is It?
Materials
- Assorted LEGO parts (some for each student)
Task
Students are given the name of another team member. They must use LEGO to build something that represents a strength that person brings to the team. Student will be given 30 seconds to describe what they have made before the others guess who it is.
- Assorted LEGO parts (some for each student)
Task
Students are given the name of another team member. They must use LEGO to build something that represents a strength that person brings to the team. Student will be given 30 seconds to describe what they have made before the others guess who it is.