One of the main reasons I wanted to use Mario Kart with the class was to encourage team work and cooperation.  The class have always sat in groups.  They have worked on cooperative learning tasks, and a number of cooperative learning strategies are used frequently with the class.  There are those pupils, however, who never really contribute to the group.  Those who opt out, or just don’t opt in!

Having groups of four, and handily enough, four controllers, meant that everybody could be involved, to the same degree.  One of the first tasks assigned to the group, as is often the case, was to create a group name and identity.  The groups came up with:

• Need for Speed Mario Bike Racers
• BMW Cool Racers
• Yoshi Baby Boosters
• 3 Fast Banana Cars
• Mario Racer Bike Champs
• Super Peach Racers

This task, along with creating group posters, were completed with very little disagreement and plenty of cooperation, along with bundles of enthusiasm.

The plan is to try and allow every group to play the game on the smartboard on a daily basis.  When this is not possible, the groups would be split over two days.  While a group is playing the game, the other pupils will be engaged in a related task, which they can leave to play the game and pick up again easily enough.