My rally students know that I’m always on the lookout for ways to shake up class and do something new and fun. Yesterday for our Rally 1 graduation, we did Choose Your Own Adventure Rally!
Did I make this up on the drive to class? Yup.
Was it awesome? Yup.
Sometimes I’m just lucky like that!
Preparing Your Signs
First, grab any and all single (not A/B) signs that your students know that do NOT result in a change of direction.
In WCRL, these are:
- 100, 102, 104, 106, 112, 114, 116, 118, 150, 152, 154, 156, 170, 172, 178, 180
- 204, 218, 254, 256, 266
- 300, 350, 352, 354, 364, 400, 402, 460
You can use A/B signs, but it makes things more complicated, so start out with easy mode to get the hang of things.
Second, grab any and all 180 turns that your students know:
In WCRL, these are:
- 162, 164
- 200, 250, 252, 258
- 302, 356, 358
- 450, 452, 454 (Note: These could cause some INTERESTING things to happen!)
Third, grab the Figure 8 and/or Spiral Signs your students know:
In WCRL, these are:
- 182, 184, 186
- 268, 270, 272
- 274 (optional if you have a long enough space to use it)
- 376
Setting Up the Course
The course will be an easy-to-follow zig zag up and down the room. The amount of signs and/or rows can vary based on your space.
Other than the START and FINISH, all other signs will be put FACE DOWN in front of their holders.
- In the gray spaces, put 2-3 signs from your pile of single signs.
- In the orange space, put 2-3 signs from your pile of cone signs.
- In the green space, put 2-3 signs that result in a 180 Right turn.
- In the yellow spaces, put 2-3 signs that result in a 180 Left turn.
Playing the Game
“Today’s course is a Choose Your Own Adventure Rally! You will be deciding the course as a class as you run it…. or maybe your dogs will? Here’s how we play:
We’ll start with [Dog A]. They will start at the beginning, heel to sign #1, and then choose the sign to put on the holder. After they do that sign, they’re done!
Then [Dog B] will come up, start at the beginning, do sign #1, heel to sign #2, choose a sign to put on the holder, and do that sign.
Then [Dog C] will come up… so basically we’re building the course together one sign at a time! Does that make sense to everyone?”
Have fun, everyone!
