Sam Sikes' Top 10

I had the great pleasure of hanging out with Sam Sikes for a couple days. To share a bit of my experience here's Sam's Top 10 activity list - his go-to games ("In no particular order" to quote the man himself):

• Group Juggle (all versions)
• Don't Touch Me (Traditional Version) (See the FUNdoing Blog Post for the GDX variation.)
• Hanging By A Thread (In Sam's new Trust Book) 
• Key Pad Too (Sam's Raptor Book)
• Key Punch (Rohnke's Quicksilver)
• Six Count (Sam's Executive Marbles Book) 
• Sherpa Walk (Traditional Version) 
• Knot Exchange (Sam's Raptor Book)
• Switch, Change, Rotate (In, The More The Merrier) 
• Table Top Ricochet (In, The More The Merrier) 

Table Top Ricochet (TTR) is one of my favorites when I have access to tables. If you are familiar with the World of Ricochet then you know the fun to be had. Instead of the traditional, more firm R-Ball, I go to a softer ball for TTR (but, the firmer ones do work just fine). HERE is where you can find a set of the softer ones.  

You play TTR around a table with 5 to 7 players per table. Here are the basic rules outlined by Sam in The More The Merrier (p. 331 if you have the book):

Serving (underhand or overhand), and the game, continues until a foul is made. One point is scored every time the R-Ball touches the table top. If the R-Ball makes more than one bounce off the table after a serve and is then caught, the score for that serve is doubled (e.g., two bounces after a serve is worth four points.) When a foul occurs that particular game is over and a new game can begin (if there is time). Keep track of the score for each game. Play for the highest possible points for your table group within the time given. (I find there is good play energy for about 10 to 12 minutes.)  

FOULS

1. A player from the table group touches the table in any way (this includes clothing touches). 
2. The R-Ball lands on the floor/ground. 
3. The R-Ball "dribbles" across the table (i.e., rolls, is no longer bouncing). 
4. A player has possession of the R-Ball three times in a row (e.g., catches, and or, serves three consecutive times). 

SAFETY
Be sure you remind players to watch their steps when going after a runaway R-Ball. 

I find TTR to be a great energizer and a fun competitive game if I'm working on "competitive" learning objectives. 

What's your Top 10 list of activities? Please share with us in the comments below. 

Have fun out there!

Chris Cavert