The Cushion River (Physical Teamwork)

Step by step

1. 1Scatter the cushion 'stepping stones' across the room, leaving deliberately too few to cross easily.
2. 2Set the scene: 'Here is the river; the WHOLE team has to cross without touching the water.'
3. 3Let the kids talk through their strategy before starting (who helps whom, who carries what).
4. 4Start the crossing: hold hands, share a stone, pass cushions forward. Don't step in to help—just be the referee.
5. 5If someone 'falls in the water', the whole team starts over: you make it together or not at all. The big sighs are all part of the learning process.
6. 6Spice it up: remove a stone halfway across, carry a fragile object together, or try a silent crossing using only hand signals.

What it builds

With too few cushions, crossing alone is impossible: they have to hold a hand, give up their stone, and go back to help each other. Teamwork stops being a fancy adult word and turns into something they physically do.