Recess Dilemmas Scenario Cards
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CARD 01 Gaga Ball
The Knee-High Hit
Mason and Tyler are playing gaga ball in the pit. Mason hits the ball hard across the dirt. The ball bounces up and grazes Tyler's leg. Tyler shouts, "It hit my thigh, so I am not out!" Mason yells, "No way, it hit right below your knee, so you have to leave the pit!" Five kids in line start shouting different answers.
What should the players do so the game can keep going fairly?
CARD 02 Gaga Ball
Double-Tap Trouble
During gaga ball, Emma slaps the ball toward the wooden wall. The ball does not touch the wall or another player. Emma quickly slaps it a second time to hit Jax out. Jax yells, "Double tap! You hit it twice in a row, so you are out!" Emma says, "I didn't double-tap, it hit the wall first!" Nobody watching agrees on what happened.
How can Emma and Jax solve this argument quickly without stopping recess?
CARD 03 Gaga Ball
Teaming Up in the Pit
Gaga ball is supposed to be every player for themselves. But Liam and Carter make a secret deal before entering the pit. They stand next to each other and promise never to hit the ball at one another. Instead, they trap other kids between them and eliminate them one by one. The other kids say they are cheating.
Is it fair to team up in gaga ball? What should the group decide?
CARD 04 Soccer
The Ball-Hog Striker
Lucas plays club soccer on weekends. Every time his recess team gets the ball, Lucas dribbles down the field all by himself. Three of his teammates run along with him and shout, "I am open, pass the ball!" Lucas ignores them every time and takes wild shots from far away. His teammates feel like walking off the field.
How can Lucas's teammates talk to him about sharing the ball?
Cards 1–4 of 20 • Grade 3 Reading Level Recess Problem-Solving Cards
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CARD 05 Soccer
Handball at the Goal
The soccer game is tied with two minutes left before the bell. Leo kicks the ball toward the open net. Jake jumps in front to block it, and the ball smacks into the top of Jake's arm. Leo shouts, "Handball! That is a penalty shot!" Jake yells back, "My arms were against my chest, it hit my shirt!" Both teams start pushing and yelling.
What is a fair way for the players to settle this goal call?
CARD 06 Soccer
Stacking the Teams
Two captains pick teams for soccer on the grass. Captain Alex picks all the students who play on weekend soccer teams. Captain Ben gets left with all the beginners. By ten minutes into recess, Alex's team is winning 9 to 0. Ben's team feels hopeless, and three players sit down on the grass and refuse to play.
How could the captains make the teams more even so everyone has fun?
CARD 07 Tag
The Never-Ending Base
A big game of freeze tag is moving across the playground. Dylan runs to the big yellow slide and stands right under the ladder. He shouts, "This slide is base, and I have infinite immunity!" Every time the person who is "It" runs near, Dylan stays under the slide and makes funny faces. He has stayed on base for over ten minutes.
How does staying on base ruin the game, and what rule should they set?
CARD 08 Tag
The Jacket Tag Argument
Brody is "It" in tag. He sprints across the blacktop and stretches his arm out as far as he can. His fingers brush the bottom edge of Ryan's sweatshirt. Brody shouts, "Got you! You are It now!" Ryan keeps sprinting and yells back, "You only touched my loose jacket! That does not count as a real tag!"
How should Brody and Ryan resolve this tag dispute fairly?
Cards 5–8 of 20 • Grade 3 Reading Level Recess Problem-Solving Cards
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CARD 09 Tag
The Freeze Tag Favor
Maya and Zoe are "It" in freeze tag. They freeze six classmates on the grass. When their best friend Nora gets frozen, Maya runs straight over and unfreezes her in two seconds. But when Caleb calls out for help, Maya laughs and runs away from him. Caleb has been stuck frozen in one spot for almost the whole recess.
Why is playing favorites unfair in tag, and what should change?
CARD 10 Football
Touch Turned Tackle
The school rule says recess football is two-hand touch only. Hunter throws a pass to Sam. As soon as Sam catches the football, Austin runs in full speed and shoves Sam with both hands. Sam flies to the grass and scrapes his knee. Austin laughs and yells, "If you can't take a hit, go play on the swings!"
What should the players say to Austin about safety and school rules?
CARD 11 Football
The Invisible Sideline
Connor catches a long touchdown pass near the edge of the grass. Connor says his feet were both inside the playing area. The other team yells that Connor ran past the invisible boundary line near the trees. Because there are no painted lines on the field, both teams argue for five minutes while the game sits stopped.
How can the group agree on clear boundaries before playing?
CARD 12 Football
Only Throwing to Friends
Gavin plays quarterback every single round. There are five other kids on his team running routes. Gavin only throws the football to his best friend Noah. The other four players sprint as hard as they can and get wide open, but Gavin never looks their way. Two of the teammates decide to walk off and quit.
What can the teammates say to Gavin so everyone gets a chance to catch?
Cards 9–12 of 20 • Grade 3 Reading Level Recess Problem-Solving Cards
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CARD 13 4-Square
The Surprise Cherry Bomb
Jackson is in the King square in four-square. He gets a high bounce and spikes the ball straight down into square one with all his strength. Jackson yells, "Cherry bomb, you're out!" The girl in square one says, "We agreed at the start of recess: no slams!" Jackson sneers, "I am the King, so I make the rules now!"
Can the King change the rules in the middle of a game? Why or why not?
CARD 14 4-Square
The Line Ball Dispute
A bouncy four-square ball lands directly on the painted chalk line between square two and square three. Kayla says the ball went out, so square three is eliminated. David says line balls are always in, or you replay the bounce. The kids waiting in line are frustrated because nobody is playing and time is ticking away.
What is a fast, fair way to settle line calls so everyone keeps playing?
CARD 15 4-Square
Target the Beginner
A younger student finally makes it into square one after waiting in line for ten minutes. Right away, the older kids in squares three and four only hit fast, difficult spin balls directly at the new player to get him out in three seconds. When he gets eliminated, they laugh, slap hands, and high-five.
How does targeting beginners make recess unfriendly? What should they do?
CARD 16 Girl Drama
Whispering and Giggling
Avery and Harper are sitting together at a picnic table. When Mia walks past carrying her jacket, Avery puts her hand over Harper's ear and whispers something. Both girls look straight at Mia and burst out laughing. Mia freezes, turns bright red, and looks down at her shoes feeling embarrassed and upset.
How does whispering about others hurt them, and how should Mia respond?
Cards 13–16 of 20 • Grade 3 Reading Level Recess Problem-Solving Cards
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CARD 17 Girl Drama
Pick a Side
Chloe and Lily had an argument in the hallway before recess. At recess, Chloe walks over to Ella and says, "Lily was being mean to me. If you are really my best friend, you cannot talk to Lily today. You have to choose between us." Ella likes both girls and does not want to lose either friendship.
What can Ella say when a friend forces her to pick sides?
CARD 18 Girl Drama
The Bracelet Club
Three girls bring string to recess to braid friendship bracelets. When Sarah walks over and asks if she can sit on the bench and make one too, one girl covers the string and says, "This club is only for our core group. We don't have enough room or extra thread for you." Sarah sees plenty of empty space on the bench.
How can the girls be inclusive while still enjoying their craft?
CARD 19 Leaving Out
The Fake Game Over
Four classmates are playing a game of wallball by the gym wall. When Julian walks up and asks, "Can I join in?", the players quickly grab the ball and say, "Recess is almost over, we're done playing." As soon as Julian walks away toward the swings, the players laugh and immediately start playing wallball again.
Why is tricking someone so hurtful? What should they have done instead?
CARD 20 Leaving Out
The Human Wall on the Track
Four students are walking around the recess track with their arms locked side-by-side, taking up the whole walking lane. When Brooke runs up and tries to walk with them, they squeeze tighter, turn their backs, and speed walk ahead so Brooke is forced to walk behind them all alone.
What could someone in the walking group do to show true kindness?
Cards 17–20 of 20 • Grade 3 Reading Level Completed Set: 20 Recess Dilemma Cards
