Bridges Of Understanding

Martin Luther King wanted to one-day live in a better world. Unfortunately, he was assassinated before he could realize his dream. This game attempts to build a physical bridge between diverse groups as a metaphor for bridging understanding.

Equipment: Each group receives two of the following: hoops, poly spots, and jump ropes. They also get one medium Nerf or gator skin type ball for every two players.

The Game: The object of the game is for the groups to build an intertwining grid so that it will be possible to travel to all of the starting homes. After the grid is built, the teams traverse the grids to every other groups' starting point and back home. With each round, the groups attempt to move at a more rapid pace - representing a more rapid understanding of each other.

• Divide the class into groups of five to six players. Optional: each group can represent a different race or class.
• Give each group the above equipment. For groups of five, give two balls; for groups of six, give three balls.
• Each group begins the game at a location outside of the central playing area. For example, if the play area has the lines of a basketball court, spread the groups out on the outside of the basketball lines.
• The floor inside the basketball lines represents the layers of misunderstanding. No one may touch the floor inside of the court. The penalty for touching the floor is for the whole team to immediately (they do not have to follow the grid) go back to their starting point.
• In order to move, a player must be holding a ball. The ball represents peace, and allows the players to progress toward the goal of peaceful co-existence.
• On the "go" signal - consider using music as there are numerous selections on the subject of peace - one person with a ball moves out by placing an object down and stepping or jumping into it. You must always be completely inside a hoop. Part of your foot must be in contact with a poly spot or a jump rope. You may place the ropes down side by side so that you can walk along parallel ropes, or place one rope in front of the other and attempt to tightrope them.
• Once all your equipment is placed inside the lines, your grid is complete. Hopefully all grids are intertwined at some point, or the groups must continue to work until all grids have some point where transfer from one to the other is possible.
• After the above task is accomplished, each group tries to travel to the starting point of every other group and then continue in this manner until they have reached all the groups' homes. Then they can take the most direct route back home. If the round is still going on, they may continue by starting over.
• Play for a certain amount of time. For example, play for 15 minutes. See how far each group was able to go. The distance traveled depends on how far the last person in the group ends up. This rule will force the groups to work together and stay close to each other. Then play for another 15 minutes. See if each group can do better.

Variations:

1. Change the kind or amount of equipment. Adjust the kind or amount of equipment to the size of the play area.
2. Competitive: The team that traveled the furthest is declared the winner.
3. Eliminate the rule about moving with a ball. Eliminating the ball will make the game easier, particularly for the lower grades.
4. Change the name of the game and play as a cooperative game at anytime.
5. Use different kinds of balls and require specific passes. For example, use basketballs and require bounce passes.