Jump Tag
Grade Level: K-2
Have students start in a scattered formation, with everyone “it”. Players may tag each other at any time, and every time a player is tagged, they must jump into the air. Change the types of jumps and play again.
Toe to Toe
Grade Level: K-2
Youngsters perform a locomotor movement around the area. On signal, each child finds the nearest partner and stands toe to toe (one foot only) with that person. It is important to emphasize that students must take the nearest person without searching for a friend. Youngsters who can’t find a partner within two giant steps run quickly to the center of the area (use a marking spot or cone) to find a partner. The goal is to find a nearby partner as quickly as possible and avoid being the last pair formed. If the number of youngsters playing is uneven, make that student your partner and subtly assign them to another twosome. Use a variety of movements to mix the students each time.
Whistle Mixer
Grade Level: K-2
Children are scattered throughout the area. To begin, they jog around in any direction they wish. Blow a whistle (or similar signal) a number of times in succession with short, sharp blasts. Children then form groups with the number in each group equal to the number of whistle blasts. If there are four blasts, children form groups of four—no more, no less. When players have the correct number, they sit down immediately to signal that no one may leave or enter their group. Youngsters who can’t find a partner within two giant steps run quickly to the center of the area (use a marking spot or cone) to find a partner. After the circles are formed, the teacher calls “jog,” and the game continues. Use a variety of locomotor movements.
Ball Bounce Challenge
Grade Level: 3-5
Two teams of players face each other on the floor with each set of partners having a ball. Players take turns creating a rhythm by bouncing the ball, and their partner tries to copy it. Players change jobs each time someone successfully recreates a rhythm.
Dribble Freeze
Grade Level: K-2, 3-5
Players begin the game in their own space and with a ball. On “Go!” all players begin dribbling around the playing area. On “Freeze!” all players must be able to stop (within a count of 3) and control the ball. If they cannot, they must leave the game for one series of dribble and stop.
Germ Squish
Grade Level: K-2
Divide the class in half, and have each group occupy a position on opposite sides of the playing area. Give each person a bouncy ball ( the ball represents soap), and have players give their ball a hug in order to keep it quiet during directions. Place poly spots all around the playing area, and tell students that the poly spots represent germs. The object of the game is for the class to collect all of the “germs” as quickly as they can. This is a timed activity in which teams try to beat their score. On the teacher’s signal, the first players in each line move forward while dribbling the ball, and try to get the balls to land on the poly spots (germs). Each time the ball lands on a spot, the player picks it up, and brings it back to the starting line on the floor.
Penny Jump
Grade Level: K-2
Create small teams of four or five players. Give each team a handful of pennies. Have each player estimate the number of pennies laid end to end that s/he can jump. Have players lay out the pennies, and perform a standing broad jump alongside them. Give small prizes to the players who came closest to their estimate.
Food roll-ups
Grade Level: 3-5
Have students find a partner or small group of players to work with. Have each group get a mat and arrange them in circle formation. Discuss healthy, and not-so-healthy foods, and have each group of students use index cards to create a set of food cards that include healthy and fatty (or not-so-healthy) foods. Have students exchange their set of cards with another team’s set without looking at the cards. One player from each group applies tape to the back of about ten of the cards, and places them all around their mat. Students take turns practicing their rolls until all of the cards on the mat have become stuck to their clothing. Groups unattach all of the cards, and compare their foods to the other groups. The group with the healthiest overall hand (as determined by popular vote) wins a point. Exchange cards, and play again. Use a variety of rolling skills.
Popcorn
Grade Level: 3-5
Place ball on racquet and keep ball from falling off. Bounce the ball into the air and catch. Bounce and Catch. Repeat. Dribbling the ball on the ground. Start off stationary and progress into moving around the floor. Switch hands from time to time. Hit the ball into the air, let it bounce, hit ball into air, let it bounce, etc. Continuously hit the ball into the air. Hit ball into air, clap your hands and hit the ball again before it hits the ground. Hit the ball into the air, touch the ground, and hit the ball again
Stop Light
Grade Level: 3-5
Class will split into teams of three. Each team gets 3 hula hoops and 3 wiffle balls or tennis balls. Hula hoops will line up like a stop light. Closest hoop (the green light) will be worth one point, middle (yellow light) worth two, and the farthest hoop (red light) is worth 3 points. Closest hula hoops will start 10 feet apart. Adjustments can be made to accommodate skill level. Students will stand behind hula hoops. Each player gets one chance to land their ball in any hula hoop of the opposing team. Points will be kept by the individual teams. Underhand hitting style off the drop. Teams will alternate hitting toward the hula hoops. After 2.5 minutes, teams on one side will rotate one “court” to the left.
Heart Hit
Grade Level: 3-5
Draw a general diagram of the heart and its four chambers on tagboard. Label each of the four quadrants. Attach the posters to the wall. Discuss the flow of blood into and out of the heart. Create small teams of players and have them each stand in a single file line behind one of the posters. Give each team a ball. On “Go!” players from each team take turns trying to hit the four quadrants of the heart in the same order that blood would flow. Give teams one point for each successful series of hits. Offer students a chance to earn shots at a basket as a reward for each point that they earn.
Volley Spell
Grade Level: 3-5
Brainstorm polite phrases and actions, and write each on a sheet of paper. Have students select partner, and give each team a balloon, pencil, and piece of paper. Have one person from each team come to the center and select one of the sheets created during the brainstorming. Teams then work together to volley back and forth as they say the letters from the phrase or action that they selected. Players say one letter for each successful volley. After “spell-volleying” each one, they write it on their score sheet, and select another from the center of the playing area. Continue until teams have had a chance to spell a number of the phrases.
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