Pass Me The Spider (or Chicken)

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Pass Me The Spider (or Chicken)
 

State Standard: 1, 3, & 4
Equipment:  2 noodles, 2 stuffed spiders (chickens)
 Grade: K-2
Purpose of Event: Work on Catching, Throwing, Movement, Locomotor, Personal/General Space
Time: 10-25 minutes
Description:
Select 2 students to start with the noodles, they will be freezing people.  Two students will start with the spiders, the spiders will “thaw-out” frozen students and allow them to move again.  Spiders will be passes to someone who is frozen, so they will change hands often.  

If you are frozen, you must sit and say, “please pass me the spider” to a student with a spider.  The student with the spider will then pass it off.  Spiders should be moving to different people all the time so no one stays frozen for more than a few seconds.  If the spider is in your hands, you can not be frozen.  After about a minute, switch the students with the noodles.

Start the game by walking, and then change to different locomotor skills as the game progresses and they get the hang of it.
Concerns: Moving safely in general and personal space
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Battleship

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Battleship
 

State Standard: 1, 3
Equipment:  Several gator-skin balls, folding mats, 25-30 foam pins Grade: K-5 
Purpose of Event: Manipulation, Control, Team Play

Organization: Form two equal teams with each team starting in its half of the gym. Stand the folding mats up and put them on the half court line. One team on each side on the mats. Each side will setup 12 bowling pins on their side of the mat.

Battleship:

  1. Each side will throw dodgeballs over the mats trying to knock down the pins on the other side.
  2. If you catch a ball that is thrown over the mat, you get to leave your side of the mat and take a lap around the other side. You can throw the ball you caught at their pins (you only throw one ball). After you throw your ball continue running until you have made your half lap. If you catch another ball, run around to the other side and throw again.
  3.  The teams can guard their pins.
  4. When you only have one pin left…only 1 person can guard that pin.
  5. The team that knocks over all the other teams pins wins.
  6. Set up and play again.
Concerns:  Must be able to move in general space safely and while on the scooters. Be careful when trying to strike the hockey puck that nobody is around the shooter. 
This idea is from:  Kathy Wait (Sioux Falls, SD). Original Idea: Ben Prillio = Teach Physed. 

 

Hit The Spot

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Hit The Spot

State Standard: 1, 2 & 3
Equipment: Ball (nerf) and poly spot per pair of students Grade: K-5
Purpose of Event: Work on throwing under and over hand, Hand-eye coordination, Timing, Aiming, & Teamwork
Time: 15-20 minutes
Description:
Line up students in a double line about 10-15 feet apart, facing their partners. Place a poly spot between them. Objective is to throw the ball and have it hit the spot.

Each of these 5x’s and then continue to next, can also switch partners if you would like: Start by having the students standing and throw; then Jump up and throw while in the air; 3 steps and throw; 3 steps jump and throw. (Even with the steps, they should still be 10-15′ from the poly spot.) Increase distance as skill improves.

**Could be a possible station activity for K-2 students.**
Concerns: Have lots of space between pairs
This idea is from: WOW Workshop

Crazy Baseball

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Crazy Baseball
 

State Standard: 1, 2, 3, & 4
Equipment: 1 bat/racquet, ball set of bases for each pair of teams (I have enough room to have 3 games going on at once, so I need 3 of everything, my gym is about 70′ X 40″) I use Polly-spots for bases and Koosh balls/paddles
 Grade: 3-8
Purpose of Event: Work on baseball/softball skills, Throwing, striking, catching, running with minimal standing around
Time: 15-20 minutes
Description:

Divide into teams of  3 or 4.  One team goes to the field the other is up to bat.  I have 6 teams playing, so I always have 3 batting teams and 3 fielding teams. Remind the kids, they are only playing their batters, don’t worry about the other games going on beside you.  One fielding student needs to be at each base (if you have teams of 4, the fourth player starts at the pitching position, and after the ball is batted, covers home).  The batter pitches to them self, and then runs AROUND ALL of the bases.  (I stress running around, because I use Polly-spots as bases and their isn’t a lot of extra room.)  The runner runs around all the bases, everything is a home run.  They do not stop at any base. While the batter is running, the fielding team, gets the ball, throws it to first, then second, then third then home.  If the fielding team gets the ball “home” before the runner gets home, the batting team doesn’t get a point/run.  If the runner gets “home” before the ball, the batting team earns a point/run.  If the ball is caught, it is not an out, it has to be thrown to the bases in order, every time.  After all 3 or 4 batters have batted one time, they go to the field, and the fielding team bats.  If your teams only have 3 players, have the first base player cover home, AFTER they throw the ball to second.

I let them play for about 5 minutes and then switch the teams, so they are playing other teams.  This game rewards great throws and catches, and gets them running and moving.  The batters only are waiting for 2-3 other batters, so they aren’t in line forever and bat every inning.  Fielders always get the ball, and they all have to throw and catch.

I have also used scoops to catch with for that unit!  Really a challenge!  Have them do all of the catching/throwing/”batting” with the scoops and see how they do!
Concerns: Don’t throw the bat!  Make sure to have space between each field.  Don’t let teams purposely interfere with other games. Use soft balls, lots of action!
This idea is from: SHAPE America 2018 National Convention: Nashville, TN

 

Wild Wild West

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Wild Wild West

State Standard: 1, 2, & 4
Equipment: 4 Mats & Several yarn balls. Grade: 2-5
Purpose of Event: Running, Throwing, & Catching
Time: 15- 20 minutes
Organization: Set-up four mats on end in the shape of a circle. Place a basket of several yarn balls in the middle of the gym. Separate the students into two teams. One group will be the throwers (cowboys/cowgirls) who will be standing inside the middle oval on the gym floor. The other group will be the runners/catchers (buffaloes) standing on the outside of the mats.

Activity: On the signal, the buffaloes begin by running around the outside of the mats in a circle (around gym) as the cowboys/cowgirls (standing in the middle) are trying to throw the yarn ball at the buffaloes. The goal is for the buffaloes to try and catch a yarnball thrown by a cowboy/cowgirls before hits the ground. The game keeps going for 4-5 minutes and then switch the groups. The cowboys/cowgirls become the buffaloes and the buffaloes become the cowboys/cowgirls.

Variations: Group the students into groups of two (partners). Have one partner begin as a buffalo and the other as runner. The goal is for the two pairs to catch a ball 5 times in a row and then switch places (can make it a higher number for older students). For younger students try using a larger ball (i.e., beachball or beanbags). Instead of running; incorporate different locomotor skills for the buffaloes (i.e., skipping & galloping). Have students practice underhand or overhand throwing as well. You can also have the students rotate when they have caught a ball so many number of times. I have my Ss usually go to 5 times and then switch.
Concerns: Move safely around the gym. Making sure students are sharing the yarn balls (not fighting)!!! Students are NOT to be throwing the ball at the runners; not dodge ball. Working on throwing and catching while moving.
This idea is from: Amy Staples, Physical Education Teacher, Sioux Falls, SD.

Snow Fort

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Snow Fort
 

State Standard: 1, 2,  & 3
Equipment:  20+ Bowling Pins, 20-30 Foam Balls, 4-6 folding mats
 Grade: K-2
Purpose of Event: Throwing over hand, Opposite foot forward, Using correct throwing skills
Time: 10-15 minutes
Description: 

Divide class into 2 groups; one group one each half of the gym. Each area has a snow fort (mats) and 10-15 snowmen (bowling pins) scattered in front of each fort. The object is for each team to throw “snowballs” and try to knock down the other team’s snowmen. Players may leave the fort to get a ball but must throw from back on their fort. Play until one team knocks down all of the other team’s snowmen, or 2-4 minutes.

Move forts back or forth in playing area depending on the throwing ability of the group. All snowmen should be placed in front of the forts.
Concerns: Use soft balls, keep the focus on throwing at the pins
This idea is from: WOW Workshop

 

Yardball

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Yardball 
State Standard: 1, 2, 3, 5
4 Batting Tees, 4 Gator-Skin balls, 4 plastic bats, & 4 mats Grade:4-7
Purpose: Throwing, Batting Skills, Running, & Cooperative Learning
Time: 15-25 Minutes
Organization: Students will sit around the middle circle while I explain the rules to the game.  Split the class up into groups of 2 to 3 as there are 8 teams in this game. 

  • This game is a mini-baseball type game that can be played in the gym or outdoors to help develop baseball/softball/fielding/striking skills. Smaller teams are created in a broken-down mini game that resembles actual baseball, but with smaller groups getting more reps and practice/skill development. With a few modifications to the regular game of baseball, this game is an effective lead up or fun small style game to try out to get the heart rates up!
  • Set the gym up with four mats evenly spaced out on one end of the gym with the Batting Tees and bats at the opposite end of the mats. 
  • The objective of this game is to have the batter swing and hit a ball of a tee and run to their mate (base) to score a point before they are out. Each time a batter successfully touches the mate before being out their team scores one point. This continues until the outfield players get 3 outs and then they rotate as in real baseball/softball. 

Rules: 

  • A batter is out when: either an outfielder catches a ball in the air, catches a ball off the wall, is tagged out, and/or forced out (outfield steps on the base with the ball before the runner touches the base). 
  • A batters is NOT allowed to bunt in this game and there are NO automatic home runs. 
  • A batter is automatically out if they throw their bat after they have hit the ball of the tee. 
Concerns: Be Careful when tagging and when the batter are swinging the bats! 
This idea is from: physedgames.com 

Angry Birds (Fire Brigade)

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Angry Birds (Fire Brigade)
State Standard: 1, 2, 3, 5
5 Foam balls, & 10 Colored Cones, & 5 Wiffleballs Grade:2-5
Purpose: Throwing, Catching, & Cooperative Skills
Time: 15-25 Minutes
Organization: Students will sit around the middle circle while I explain the rules to the game.  Split the class up into groups of 4 or 5 and instruct them to sit behind their designated colored cone. Mark the fire line about 10 feet from their cone. Fire Brigade:

  • The object of the game is to see which team can knock the wiffleball off the cone first. 
  • On the signal, players run to the first fire station (poly spot) and attempt to catch a foam ball from their teammate. If the student does catch the ball then the throw runs to the next fire station (poly spot) and attempts to catch the same foam ball from their teammate who just caught the ball. This continues until the last person reaches the last fire station (poly spot) and attempts to throw the ball and knock off the wiffleball off the cone. 

Rules: 

  • If the ball is dropped, the team must go back to their fire station (cone) and begin the relaying the ball again. If the team miss the throw they must ALL return to the fire station and start again. 
  • If a player is tagged while in the opponent’s side (before they have grabbed a basketball) he/she must return to their end zone and attempt to steal (capture) a basketball again. 
  • The game is over when one team knocks the wiffleball off the cone first. 
Concerns: Be Careful when tagging and moving safely within general space. 
This idea is from: Kris Smith, Physical Education Teacher, JFK Elementary, Sioux Falls, SD. 

Not in my Backyard

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Not in my Backyard
State Standard: 1, 2, 3
Equipment: 30-40 soft balls (foam), 4-5 folding mats, & Music Grade: K-2 (3-5 Possible = Halloween version)
Purpose of Event: Over hand throwing
Time: 15-18 minutes
Description:

Divide class into 2 teams, place folding mats up on ends between to team.  Scatter balls (garbage) on both sides of playing area.  Mat stands as a “fence”.  On signal, players may pick up one ball at a time and throw overhand over the fence.  Players attempt to throw as many balls over the fence as possible in the time limit (getting the garbage out of their yard).  Count the ball on each side of the fence. The team having the least is the winner.

Halloween Adaptation:

Cover balls with fabric so they look like “ghosts” and set up mats on end, high enough so that a correctly thrown overhand ball will go over it.  

Divide the class into two teams, one on each side of the net.  Explain that they must stay in their house (on their side of the net) during the game.  Tell the class that they are all Ghostbusters and their job is to get rid of all the ghosts in their haunted house.  They will get rid of the ghosts by throwing them into the other haunted house, over the net, using the overhand throw.  However, when the music stops (play ghost busters music), they must freeze and stop throwing ghosts.  Count the ghost to see who wins (optional). Divide the ghosts up and start again.

Check for: opposite foot in front, trunk rotation, shift of weight, elbow leads, snap wrist and follow-through.
Concerns: Use soft balls, have another line on both sides of the fence that one can cross, this prevents them from getting too close to the mats.
This idea is from: Phyllis Kessel @ Chasco, Port Richey, FL from www.pecentral.com / WOW Workshop

 

 

Bassoccet

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Bassoccet
 

State Standard: 1, 3, & 4
Equipment: 1 nerf ball, jerseys  (I use about 6-8 balls for 22 students)
 Grade: 4+
Purpose of Event: Kicking, shooting, throwing, Working on Basketball and Soccer skills
Time: 15-20 minutes
Description:

Divide class into 2 teams, and each team stands on their sideline.  Five players from each team go onto the court to start the game.  I start with the ball on the floor in the middle of the gym (if using more than one ball, have them all scattered)  The remaining sideline players are goalies.  Each team has unlimited passing between the sideline and the court. 

Court players cannot pick a ball up off the floor but my use their hands to catch a ball in the air or can convert it by lifting it with the feet and then catching it, only side lines players may pick a ball up off of the floor.  Court players could also kick the ball to a sideline player and have them pick it up and throw it back. Court players can kick the ball any teammate and if it is in the air, they can catch it with their hands.  Once the ball is in the hand, court players may only take 3 steps, then they need to pass, kick or shoot.  Goalies may not move with the ball in their hands.

The object of the game is to score points in the following ways: (Only court players may score!)      throwing the ball through the goalies on the other sideline and hitting the wall (1 point);  kicking the ball through the goalies on the other sideline and hitting the wall (3 points); by shooting the ball through your own basket (1 point). If a basket is scored, the ball is immediately given to the end goalie on the opposite team.

Players remain in the middle for 1-3 minutes and then go to the end of their sidelines, and the other end of their line goes to the court.

Variations: Have 3-4 balls going! 
Concerns: Keep kicking low and under control, don’t add additional balls until they understand game.
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