Hobbies And Interests
Obstacles
Create a classroom obstacle course using balls, chairs or desks. Scatter the items around the classroom, and have each fifth grader select a partner. One partner must wear a blindfold, and the other partner must stand on the other side of the room. At the same time, each player must verbally guide his partner across the room. If a player bumps into an object, then he must start over. The first team to make it to the other side of the room wins the game. To make the game more difficult, play outside or in a gym with more obstacles.
Races
Have each student select a partner. Mark a starting line and a finish line 30 feet apart. Ask the pairs to line up at the starting line and hold hands. Blindfold one player from each pair. When you say, "Go,̶1; the pair must race to the finish line. Each blindfolded partner must trust her partner to guide her to the finish line. The first pair across the finish line wins the game. Have the players switch blindfolds and play again. You can also have the pairs switch partners each time so everyone has a chance to play together.
Falls
Prepare a basic trust lean or extreme trust fall for your students. Ask one child to stand up, and have three or four students stand behind him facing him. He will lean back to fall into their arms, trusting that they will catch him. For an extreme trust fall, help a student stand on a desk. Have eight students, four on each side, stand below him. The student must fall backward into the arms of his peers, trusting they will have their arms out to catch him. These activities teach the students how to trust one another and always be there for each other.
Team Building
Team-building games also help fifth graders learn to trust one another. Play a game of splat by giving one student a ball -- the "it" player. Have all the players stand around the player with the ball. She must toss the ball in the air and yell, ̶0;Splat!̶1; Everyone must run away from the ball; however, the player who tosses the ball in the air must call out someone̵7;s name, and he must try to catch the ball. Alternatively, have the it player toss the ball as high as she can in the air. Another player must call out, ̶0;Mine,̶1; and catch the balls. If the ball hits the ground, then the game is over. Have the students try to beat their high score each time.