A Learing Strategy FLOP!

I experimented with the Read and Run learning activity. I found that this does not work in my small classroom. It was almost a disaster. The students that I thought were in the “best” class (my advanced level) to utilize this strategy were also not capable of self control. Because of space, I could not use the rows that Ms. Hayden demonstrated with the chairs at the end. Instead, I put the desks in groups of 4 and used the whiteboard tray to hold their stapled questions. I made sure all book bags were out of the floor and set to the side. I explained the game and students repeated the directions and my expectations; however, as soon as I said “go” the students were extremely competitive and what sounded great in the beginning almost turned into a disaster. Students were cheating, bending the rules, etc. I had some groups take it seriously with well written responses using patience and good research skills, while other groups tried to write what they assumed to be “common sense” answers which were not in their content packets. Groups were placed but with the high number of special needs students coupled with the very small space, this activity proved to be more than they, myself, and my paraprofessional teacher could handle. Can anyone suggest another activity that would cover a large amount of material in a 90 minute block that isn’t a Power Point presentation?