🧭

Lesson 1 - Team Problem Solving and Cooperation

Advanced Team Problem Solving Through Physical Challenges

•

Year 6

•

Outdoor Adventurous Activities

•

Big Question

What makes a team truly effective when facing challenging problems together?

Learning Objectives

Develop effective teamwork and cooperation skills through problem-solving challenges
Understand the characteristics and responsibilities of effective team members
Apply tactical thinking and collective decision-making to overcome obstacles

Key Outcomes

Students will demonstrate clear understanding of effective team characteristics
Students will successfully cooperate to complete physical challenges
Students will show leadership qualities and responsibility for team success

Equipment & Resources Required

Gymnastics Benches

4-6 benches

Place benches parallel, ensuring adequate space between for safety

Alternative: Sturdy low platforms, balance beams, or wooden planks with supports

Gymnastics Mats

8-12 mats

Stack mats near equipment area for easy distribution to teams

Alternative: Yoga mats, carpet squares, or foam padding

Cones

8-10 cones

Use to mark start/finish lines and boundaries for river crossing

Alternative: Bean bags, hoops, or chalk lines

Stopwatch

Ensure visible and audible for time challenges

Alternative: Phone timer or wall clock

Key Vocabulary

Cooperation

Working together effectively towards a common goal, sharing ideas and supporting each other

Strategy

A planned approach or method for solving a problem or completing a challenge

Leadership

Taking responsibility for guiding and encouraging others towards success

Responsibility

Being accountable for your actions and caring for the success and safety of your team

Tactics

Specific techniques or methods used to solve problems or overcome challenges

Skill Progression Pathway

Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going

Prior Learning

Basic understanding of following rules and instructions
Experience working in pairs and small groups
Fundamental balance and coordination skills

Current Skills

Developing advanced teamwork and communication skills
Learning tactical thinking and problem-solving approaches
Building leadership qualities and responsibility for others

Next Steps

Advanced outdoor adventure challenges requiring complex planning
Multi-stage problem solving with limited resources
Leadership roles in competitive team situations

Milestone Indicators

Can articulate specific team effectiveness strategies

Demonstrates consistent leadership behaviour

Shows adaptability when strategies need changing

Key Teaching Points

Effective teams communicate clearly and include all members in decision-making
Safety and mutual support are more important than speed or winning
Leadership involves encouraging others and taking responsibility for team success
Strategic thinking requires planning, adaptation, and learning from mistakes
Cooperation means working together towards shared goals with mutual respect
Problem-solving skills transfer from PE challenges to many other life situations
Every team member has valuable contributions to make regardless of physical ability

Common Misconceptions

Teams are only effective when they complete challenges quickly - correct by emphasising process over outcome
Leadership means being the loudest or most dominant - show examples of quiet, supportive leadership
Mistakes mean failure - reframe mistakes as learning opportunities and strategy development
Physical ability determines team success - highlight examples where strategy and cooperation overcome physical differences
Competition means abandoning cooperation - demonstrate how teams can compete while maintaining mutual support

SEN Adaptations

ADHD

Break challenges into shorter segments, provide clear boundaries and rules, use movement and physical activity to maintain engagement

dyspraxia

Focus on leadership and strategic roles rather than complex physical movements, provide extra support during equipment use

autism spectrum

Provide clear structure and predictable routines, allow processing time for strategy discussions, offer quiet reflection spaces if needed

visual impairment

Use bright coloured equipment, provide clear verbal descriptions of boundaries and equipment placement, assign sighted partners for guidance

hearing impairment

Use visual signals and demonstrations, provide written instructions, ensure clear sight lines for lip reading during discussions

physical disability

Adapt challenges for wheelchair users with ramp crossings, modify benches to stable platforms, focus on strategic contributions

Cross-Curricular Links

English

Communication skills development, vocabulary building around teamwork and leadership, discussion and debate about strategies

Maths

Problem-solving strategies, spatial awareness and positioning, time measurement during challenges, data collection about team effectiveness

Science

Forces and balance during physical challenges, understanding of leverage and weight distribution with equipment

PSHE

Teamwork and cooperation, leadership development, responsibility for others, resilience when facing setbacks

Teacher Guidance

Positioning

Move actively between teams to observe strategies, provide encouragement, and ensure safety throughout all challenges

Observation Focus

Watch for leadership emergence, inclusive behaviour, strategic thinking, and maintenance of safety during team activities

Intervention Points

Step in when teams exclude members, safety becomes compromised, or when teams need support to refocus on cooperation

Demonstration Notes

Model inclusive leadership behaviour, show enthusiasm for team cooperation over individual achievement, and demonstrate how to give specific, constructive feedback

Verbal Cues

•'How can your team include everyone in this strategy?'
•'What would happen if you tried a different approach?'
•'Safety first - how can you support each other?'
•'Great cooperation! How did you make that work so well?'

Safety Considerations

Space & Surface Requirements

Space Requirements

Large indoor hall minimum 15m x 20m or outdoor hard surface area with clear boundaries

Surface Check

Ensure floor/ground surface is clean, dry, and free from hazards or obstacles

Equipment Safety

Safety Checks

•Check bench stability and weight-bearing capacity before use
•Ensure mats are positioned securely and won't slip during activities
•Verify adequate landing space around all equipment
•Confirm cones/markers are visible and positioned safely

Risk Management

Key Risks

•Falls from benches during height ordering challenge
•Collisions between team members during crossing activities
•Equipment slipping or moving unexpectedly during use
•Students taking unsafe risks during competitive elements

Risk Mitigation

•Establish clear restart rules to prevent dangerous risk-taking
•Maintain constant supervision with teacher positioned for optimal observation
•Emphasise safety over speed throughout all competitive elements
•Ensure teams include safety considerations in all strategy planning

Supervision & Emergency Procedures

Supervision Points

•Position for simultaneous observation of all teams during challenges
•Move actively between teams during crossing activities
•Monitor competitive elements closely to prevent unsafe behaviour
•Be prepared to pause activities immediately if safety concerns arise

Emergency Procedures

Stop activity immediately, assess situation, provide appropriate first aid if needed, and ensure all other students are safely positioned