Lesson 3 - Team Communication Through Rock, Paper, Scissors
Strategic Communication and Leadership in Outdoor Adventure
•Year 5
•Outdoor Adventurous Activities
•Start Planning Better PE Lessons
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How can effective communication transform a team's performance and success?
Learning Objectives
- Understand and demonstrate the key characteristics of effective team communication
- Develop and practice different methods of team communication and decision-making
- Apply communication skills in competitive team challenges
Key Outcomes
- Students will communicate clearly and listen actively within their teams
- Students will demonstrate collaborative decision-making under time pressure
- Students will evaluate and improve their team communication strategies
Equipment & Resources Required
Used to mark team zones and playing boundaries
Alternative: Bean bags, spots, or playground chalk lines
Laid in a row across the playing area for Extreme Rock Paper Scissors
Alternative: Agility ladders, chalk circles, or rope rings
For timing quick decision-making phases
Alternative: Phone timer or classroom clock
For clear start and stop signals
Alternative: Hand clap or verbal commands
Key Vocabulary
Sharing ideas, feelings and information clearly with others
Working together as a team towards a common goal
A plan of action designed to achieve a goal
Specific actions or methods used to achieve your strategy
Guiding and encouraging a team towards success
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic understanding of turn-taking and sharing ideas
- Experience working in small groups
- Knowledge of simple team games and rules
Current Skills
- Effective verbal and non-verbal communication in teams
- Collaborative decision-making under time pressure
- Strategic thinking and tactical awareness
Next Steps
- Advanced leadership roles in outdoor challenges
- Complex problem-solving requiring sustained communication
- Peer coaching and feedback in team activities
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Effective team communication requires active listening, clear speaking, and inclusive decision-making
- Teams perform better when all members contribute ideas and feel valued
- Quick decision-making under pressure is a crucial life skill developed through team challenges
- Non-verbal communication and coordination are as important as verbal communication
- Leadership in teams means facilitating others' contributions, not making all decisions alone
- Tactical thinking improves when teams reflect on their strategies and adapt based on experience
- Good sportsmanship and support for teammates creates stronger team bonds than focusing only on winning
Common Misconceptions
- That the loudest person should lead team discussions - correct by emphasising everyone's voice matters
- That teams should choose randomly without strategy - guide toward tactical thinking and discussion
- That winning is more important than teamwork - emphasise process and collaboration over outcomes
- That team communication should be rushed - teach that quality discussion leads to better results
- That only some people are natural team players - show that communication skills can be developed by everyone
- That teams work best when one person makes all decisions - demonstrate the power of collaborative decision-making
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Build in movement breaks, provide clear short instructions, offer leadership roles, use timers for activities, celebrate focus and attention
dyspraxia
- Simplify movement patterns, allow extra practice time, provide clear demonstrations, offer supportive partnerships, break down complex instructions
autism spectrum
- Provide clear routine structure, offer quiet zones for breaks, use visual schedules, prepare for changes in team dynamics, allow fidget tools during discussions
visual impairment
- Use brightly coloured equipment, provide audio cues for team positions, assign buddy support for navigation, ensure clear verbal descriptions of all activities
hearing impairment
- Use visual signals and hand gestures, provide written instructions, ensure face-to-face communication, assign signing buddy if needed
physical disability
- Adapt poses for wheelchair users, allow walking instead of running, modify tagging to include adapted equipment, ensure equal participation opportunities
Cross-Curricular Links
English
Speaking and listening skills, persuasive language in team discussions, vocabulary development around teamwork and communication
Maths
Counting team members and scores, measuring distances between zones, calculating win/loss ratios, understanding probability in Rock Paper Scissors
Science
Forces in movement and stopping, reaction times and reflexes, teamwork in nature and animal behaviour
Geography
Spatial awareness and positioning, using directional language, mapping team movements and strategies
PSHE
Collaboration and cooperation, leadership skills, respecting others' ideas, managing emotions in competitive situations
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Central position during skill introduction, mobile during activities for optimal supervision, return to central for demonstrations
Observation Focus
Team communication quality, inclusion of all members, safety during physical activities, tactical development
Intervention Points
["Step in if one student is dominating team decisions", "Support teams that are struggling with communication", "Ensure safety during all chasing and tagging activities", "Guide reflection to focus on process over outcome"]
Demonstration Notes
Use exaggerated body language for poses, model effective huddle formation, demonstrate safe tagging technique, show inclusive team discussion
Verbal Cues
- •'Huddle up for team talk!'
- •'Remember - everyone's voice matters!'
- •'Show me your team coordination!'
- •'Gentle touches only during tagging!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Minimum 20m x 30m outdoor space or large hall, clear of obstacles and hazards
Surface Check
Even, dry surface suitable for running activities, free from holes or slippery areas
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Hoops laid flat and secure to prevent tripping
- •Cone markers positioned away from main activity areas
- •All equipment checked for damage before use
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Collisions during chasing activities
- •Tripping over hoops or equipment
- •Overexcitement leading to unsafe contact
- •Uncontrolled running in confined spaces
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear boundaries and safety zones established before activities
- •Emphasis on gentle tagging only - no pushing or grabbing
- •Adequate spacing between teams during all activities
- •Teacher positioned for optimal visibility of all participants
- •Stop signal established and practiced
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position for 360-degree visibility during Tag activities
- •Monitor individual Rock Paper Scissors battles for fair play
- •Watch for fatigue or overexertion in high-energy sections
- •Ensure equal participation and prevent exclusion
Emergency Procedures
Immediate stop signal, assess injuries, provide appropriate first aid, contact school office if needed