Rainbow Smiley Criss Cross Seating Rug

Rainbow Smiley Relay Game

Objective:
Students will work in teams to complete a relay race by moving across the Rainbow Spots Rug, answering questions or completing tasks at each spot to earn points for their team. The team with the most points wins!

Setup:

• Place the Rainbow Spots Rug (with its 30 smiley face spots) on the classroom floor.
• Divide the class into 3-5 teams (depending on class size), with 4-6 students per team.
• Prepare a set of task cards with questions or challenges related to your curriculum (e.g., math problems, vocabulary words, science facts, or social studies trivia). For example: "Solve: 5 × 3 + 2," "What’s the capital of Florida?" or "Name a planet with rings."
• Assign each team a starting column on the rug (e.g., Team 1 starts on the first column of red spots, Team 2 on the second column of orange spots, etc.).
• Have a timer or stopwatch ready, and provide a whiteboard or paper to keep score.

How to Play:

1. Start the Relay: Each team lines up at the edge of the rug behind their assigned column. The first player from each team steps onto the first smiley spot in their column (the bottom row).
2. Complete a Task: The teacher reads a question or challenge from a task card. The first players from each team must answer or complete the task correctly to move to the next spot in their column (e.g., from the first red spot to the second red spot). If they get it wrong, they stay put, and the next team gets a chance.
3. Move Up the Rainbow: Once a player answers correctly, they move to the next spot in their column, and the second player from their team steps onto the first spot. The relay continues as each player answers a question to advance, moving up their column one spot at a time.
4. Reach the Top: The goal is to be the first team to have a player reach the top spot in their column (the fifth spot). When a player reaches the top, their team earns 5 points, and the next player starts at the bottom again.
5. Rainbow Bonus: If a team completes a full column (e.g., all five red spots), they can “jump” to a spot in a different column (like a yellow or blue spot) to answer a bonus question. Bonus questions are harder but worth 3 extra points!
6. Time Limit: Play for a set time (e.g., 15 minutes). When time’s up, the team with the most points wins. Points are earned by reaching the top of a column (5 points) and answering bonus questions (3 points each).

Rules:

• Only one player per team can be on the rug at a time.
• Players must stay on their team’s column unless they earn a Rainbow Bonus to jump to another color.
• If a player answers incorrectly, they stay on their spot, and the next team gets a turn.
• Encourage cheering, but no helping teammates with answers!

Why It’s Great:
This game gets kids moving, thinking, and working together. The colorful smiley faces make it fun, and the relay format keeps everyone engaged. You can swap out task cards to fit any subject, making it a versatile addition to your classroom activities. Plus, the rug’s design naturally organizes the game board, so setup is a breeze!