Superhero Dodgeball

Thinking & Engaging
Thinking & Engaging
Healthy & Active
Healthy & Active
Theatre
Theatre
Literacy
Literacy

Participants are going to create their very own comic book main character and the enemy of that character and then participate in a game of dodgeball with their characters.  

Materials

  • Paper
  • Pencils
  • Markers
  • Pencil Crayons
  • Scissors
  • Tape
  • Hat/Bowl/Jar
  • Optional: Foam Balls and pylons

Framing

Participants will live action role play their created superheroes, bringing to life their powers and weakness in an active game of dodgeball.

Instructions

  1. Participants will think up the name of their comic book character and draw a picture of this character.  They will also think of a name of that character’s enemy and draw a picture of that enemy (or just write the name). The main character could be a superhero, a regular person, an animal, an alien, an inanimate object, or anything else. 
  2. Participants tape their comic book character to the front of their shirt.
  3. Divide participants into two groups.
  4. Each participant will write their enemy’s name on a piece of paper and put it into their groups hat/bowl/jar.
  5. Participants on the other team will draw an enemy’s name from the other team’s hat/bowl/jar.
  6. Participants could tape this name to the back of their shirt, put it in the pocket, or remember it and keep it at the side.
  7. Use the outside lines of the gym for boundaries.
  8. Each team starts at the end of their half. 
  9. The leader will place 4-6 foam balls on the centre line.
  10. The goal for each team is to hit the participants on the other team (below the shoulders).
  11. If a participant is hit, then they are out and stand at the sidelines.
  12. If a participant catches the ball, the participant that threw it is out and stands at the sidelines. Also, if a participant on team A catches a ball, then the first participant on team A that was out, gets back in. 
  13. When one team has no more players, then the game is over.
  14. The participants on the winning team that are not out, will say the name of their comic book character’s enemy.
  15. The participants on the other team who selected that enemy, will have to do a set activity, such as a lap of the gym, 20 jumping jacks, 10 burpees and so on. 
  16. OR, they start sitting out for the next round and can only get back in if a participant on their team catches the ball. OR, they’re not allowed to catch the ball in the next round. Or another punishment.
  17. At the start of each round, participants can trade enemies with other participants on their team.

Modify

  • Have participants create the main character’s best friend/sidekick and a brief comic strip that includes them and the enemy.
  • Instruct each participant to also write their superhero names on pieces of paper. Gather the names of team A in one bag and all of the names of team B in another bag. Present each team the bag of names from the opposing team, and allow a volunteer from each team to select a name from the opposing team’s bag. This is their team’s enemy. They must keep the name of their enemy a secret from the opposing team, but should be encouraged to strategize within their own team. Play the game of dodgeball in the way described above with this added bit: if anyone manages to hit their team’s assigned enemy, it is an automatic round win for that team.

Safety

  • Remove any safety hazards and obstacles from the activity area.
  • Remind participants to be aware of their surroundings and to keep their head up.
  • Remind participants that the ball has to hit below the shoulders.

Wrap-up

  • Who was your villain?
  • Were you successful in getting them out?
  • How did you manage to stay alive?


Obtained from: http://activeafterschool.ca/activities/comic-creation-and-game