Some contests require the participation of all children while some allow children a choice of participating. Giving children time to discuss and practice cooperative strategies helps to affirm their sense of power and accomplishment as a class community. The contest runs about six weeks and at weekly All-School Meetings teams try to name everyone in the school amid the rapt attention of all. The children practice cooperative ways to work together so that when the contest takes place it is the team effort that is acknowledged. Winners are determined by a final tallied score of points rather than elimination and sometimes partial credit is given for misspellings that have a credible explanation.
Outdoor games are often an arena for high competition.
Here is an example of how a traditionally competitive game has been changed to a cooperative contest. Create a feeling of playfulness and community building. The content of the contest and the way in which adults establish and carry out the guidelines provides the critical message that having fun as a community and working together as a team are the most important elements. The following are two examples of contests that met these criteria. Each one created a bulletin board that highlighted their history and interests through pictures, writing and memorabilia.