Time Management Relay Activity Guide

Objective:
Students will practice planning, pacing, and teamwork by completing a relay race against the clock, then reflecting on how they managed their time and adjusted strategies.

Materials:

• Relay batons (one per team)
• Cones or markers to designate start, checkpoint, and finish lines
• Stopwatch or timer (one per team, if possible)
• Score sheet or clipboard with paper and pencils for recording times

Setup (5 minutes):

1. Arrange an outdoor or gym area with a clear start line, one checkpoint (midpoint), and a finish line about 20–30 feet apart.
2. Divide students into teams of 4–5. Assign each team a number or color.
3. Give each team a baton, a cone at start/finish, and a stopwatch.

Roles (rotate each round):

• Runner 1: Starts the race and runs from start to checkpoint.
• Runner 2: Picks up the baton at checkpoint, runs to finish.
• Timekeeper: Uses the stopwatch to record the time for each leg and total.
• Recorder: Writes down each split time and total time on the team’s score sheet.
• Coach/Strategist (if 5th member): Helps plan pacing and gives reminders at handoff.

Instructions:

1. Teams line up behind their start cones. On “Go,” Runner 1 carries the baton to the checkpoint and hands it to Runner 2.
2. Runner 2 runs from the checkpoint to the finish line.
3. The Timekeeper stops the watch the moment the finish line is crossed; Recorder notes the time.
4. Teams check their total against a predetermined goal (e.g., 30 seconds). If they beat the time goal, they earn a badge at the end of the station.
5. Switch roles and run again if time allows—see if you can improve your time with each round.

Rules:

• Baton handoffs must occur within a 2-foot zone around the checkpoint marker.
• Dropped batons must be retrieved by the runner who dropped them; time does not stop.
• No pushing or blocking other teams’ runners.

Checkpoints & Time Goals:

Reflection Prompts (Debrief Questions):

1. How did you decide what pace to use for each leg?
2. What happened when you were ahead of or behind your goal time? How did you adjust?
3. Which role (runner, timekeeper, recorder, coach) did you find most challenging—and why?
4. How did teamwork help you manage your time better?

Team-Building Block Tower Activity Guide

Objective:
Students will practice communication, cooperation, and planning by working together to build the tallest stable block tower within a time limit, then reflecting on teamwork strategies.

Materials:

• Building blocks (e.g., wooden or foam blocks)
• Timer or stopwatch
• Masking tape or chalk to mark build area
• Score sheet and pencils for recording results

Setup (5 minutes):

1. Mark a 2×2 foot build area for each team using tape or chalk.
2. Divide students into teams of 4–5 and assign each team a build area.
3. Give each team an identical set of 20 blocks and a timer.

Roles (rotate if time allows):

• Architect: Draws a quick plan or sketches tower ideas.
• Builder(s): Assembles the blocks according to the plan.
• Communicator: Shares ideas between Architect and Builders and ensures everyone understands.
• Quality Checker: Tests stability and suggests adjustments.
• Timekeeper: Monitors remaining time and gives warnings at halfway (2½ minutes left).

Instructions:

1. Explain the task: Build the tallest free-standing tower in 5 minutes.
2. Teams take 1 minute to plan and assign roles.
3. Start the timer for 5 minutes. Teams build and adjust as time counts down.
4. When time is up, Builders must stop. Quality Checker tests stability: the tower must stand for 5 seconds without support.
5. Measure each tower’s height and record on the score sheet. Award a badge to teams whose tower meets stability criteria.

Rules:

• Only blocks provided may be used.
• Blocks must rest only on the marked 2×2 foot area.
• No external supports (hands off tower after time’s up).
• Teams may revise their plan only during the 1-minute planning phase.

Debrief & Reflection (10 minutes):

1. What communication strategies helped your team build faster or more stably?
   
   
   2. How did planning at the start affect your building process?
   
   
   3. What challenge did your group face, and how did you solve it?
   
   
   4. If you could do this again, what’s one change you’d make to improve teamwork?
   
   
   
   
   
   

My Toolkit Pledge

Name: ________________________ Date: ____________

1. Skill I Choose

Which life skill will I focus on?

I will practice ____________________________

2. Why This Skill Matters to Me

Explain why this skill is important in your life.

3. My Action Plan

Describe one way you will use this skill in school or at home.

I promise to __________________________________________________ when __________________________________________________.

4. My Illustration

Draw a picture of yourself using this skill in a real situation.

My Signature: ________________________