Four in a Row

This is a game activity where participants physically play 'Four in a Row' / Connect Four.

Set up courses with cones in a 4x4 grid per course. Divide participants into groups of four or six people. Each group is further divided into two teams with two or three children on each team. The children line up behind a starting line some distance from the cones, with two teams per course.

Each team receives four 'Half Cones' (cones or markers) in their own color. On signal, the children run to the cones and place their hats on the cones to try and get four in a row. Four in a row can be achieved:

• horizontally
• vertically
• diagonally

At the same time, the team must try to prevent opponents from getting four in a row. If neither team gets four in a row when all hats are placed, the activity continues with teams running forward and moving one of their own 'Half Cones' at a time, until one team achieves four in a row.

Variations

The exercise can be carried out:

• individually
• in pairs
• in teams

You can also vary the number of cones, the distance to the starting line, or the number of 'Half Cones' per team to adjust the difficulty and intensity.

The size of the course can be varied. Smaller courses offer fewer choices and an easier overview, while larger courses present more strategic challenges.

The cones can be placed on a mound. This makes it more difficult for the children to plan their next move before they reach the cones, as opposed to standing on the mound and looking down at the playing area.

If participants are told they cannot communicate during the activity, the difficulty increases. Each child then has to make independent choices without being able to discuss strategy with the team.