Dissolve and Defend

Name and Purpose

Dissolve and Defend is a warm-weather team game that combines movement, strategy, and a satisfying science moment.
Players practise spatial awareness, teamwork, and protecting something they care about.

a.k.a.

Age / Group / Time / Space

Ages 8-16 | 10-40 players | 15-25 minutes | Large outdoor open area that can get wet

Materials

Quick-Run Card

Before play: thread string through a hole in each tablet and tie as a necklace. One necklace per player.
Players put on necklaces and fill squirt bottles at the refill bucket.
Divide into two teams. On the signal, teams try to dissolve the other team’s necklaces by spraying them.
Players with a fully dissolved necklace move to the Refill Zone. They take on a support role (score tracking, refill station, cheering) until the round ends.
After each round, tally intact necklaces. Play 2-3 rounds total.

Setup and Boundaries

Define a clear play area with cones. Suggest 20m x 30m for 20 players; scale up for larger groups.
Mark a Refill Zone on one edge (where players go when their necklace dissolves)
Signal: 1 short whistle = pause; 2 short whistles = gather
Refill buckets are at the edge of the play zone, not inside it (reduces crowding mid-game)
Note: this activity involves water spray. Staff will know which campers need accommodations.

How to Play

Both teams start on opposite sides of the play area.
On the go signal, players move freely across the zone, spraying opponents’ necklaces while guarding their own.
A necklace is “dissolved” when the tablet is gone. That player walks to the Refill Zone.
In the Refill Zone, players take on a support role: count intact necklaces, refill bottles for teammates who come to the edge, or cheer.
Players in the Refill Zone may re-enter the next round with a fresh necklace.
After time is called, each team counts intact necklaces. The team with more intact necklaces wins that round.
Play 2-3 rounds. Roles (attacker, defender, support) can shift each round.

I-OPt Options

Start: A (Active): Join as a full team player with necklace and squirt bottle
Start: S (Support): Manage the refill bucket at the edge of the play zone
Start: Q (Quiet): Wear a necklace and focus on defending rather than attacking
Start: O (Observer): Watch the first round, count necklaces, join when ready
Mid: A (Active): Full movement, pursuing and evading
Mid: S (Support): Refill teammate bottles at the boundary
Mid: Q (Quiet): Stay near your team’s base and guard
End: A (Active): Push into the final sprint
End: S (Support): Call out intact necklace counts for your team
End: O (Observer): Take the scorekeeper role for the final round

Inclusion Adaptations

Seated or low-mobility option: player protects their necklace from a fixed position (“fort” role). Opponents must spray from a designated distance.
Larger tablet option: use two tablets per necklace so the game lasts longer for players who need more time to engage.

Stewardship Moment

Dissolved tablet residue is non-toxic and water-soluble. It rinses away naturally.
Squirt bottles are rinsed and stored for reuse. Remind players: “One bottle, many games.”

Consent

Pre-brief: “This game involves being sprayed with water. For those who would like to stay drier, the refill-station and scorekeeper roles are ready for you from the start.”
For those not comfortable with any part of this activity, sitting out or joining as an observer is another option.
Mid-game check: After 5 minutes, pause play. “Quick check. Thumbs up, sideways, or down. Is the spray level okay?”
Opt-out/re-entry: Any player can step to the sideline. To re-enter the next round, pick up a fresh necklace at the Refill Zone.

Risks and Mitigation

Spray in the eyes: remind players to aim at the necklace (chest height) only. Model the aim before play.
Slipping on wet ground: check surface before play, remind players to move at a jog rather than a sprint
Overcrowding at refill buckets: two buckets, on opposite sides of the play zone
Tablet dust or residue near the mouth: necklaces rest on the chest. Staff should be aware of any respiratory sensitivities in the group.

Warm-Up Suggestions

“Spray and Freeze”: players walk and freeze when they feel a spray, getting used to the sensation in a low-stakes setting
“Fizz Watch”: drop a tablet in a cup of water and watch it dissolve. Ask: “How do you think this will work in the game?”

Debrief Questions

What? “What did you notice about your strategy? Did it change as the round went on?”
So What? “What made it hard to protect your necklace and attack at the same time?”
Now What? “When do you have to balance defending something you care about while still going after a goal?”

Cleanup and Reset