Crazy Baseball


 

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

 

Wands


WANDS

State Standard: 1, & 4

Equipment: One Wand per Student (golf club holders cut in half). 
Grade:  K-2
Purpose of Event:  Manipulation and Balancing
Time: 20-25 minutes
Organization: Have each student get a wand and return to his/her home space.  Discuss the importance of safety when handling a wand. Remind students to hold the wand quiet when the whistle blows to change activities.

WANDS:

Wand Signals: Place your wand on the floor.

  1. Can you show me how you can leap over ten different wands, then return to your wand?
  2. Can you make a bridge over your wand?
  3. Can you ski jump over you wand?  Be careful not to touch the wand.
  4. Can you straddle your wand, jump, do a 90-degree turn, and straddle the wand facing the other direction

Wand Balancing: How many different ways can you balance your wand.

  1. Can you balance the wand on your hand, palm, back of hand, finger, nose, knee, and foot?
  2. Can you walk or sit down while balancing your wand.
  3. Can you balance your wand on your foot and then flip it up and catch it?

Thread the Needle: Can you hold your wand horizontally in front of your knees, step over the wand, and then back over it again without touching the wand with your feet?

  1. Falling Wand: Can you stand your wand upright in front of you, let the wand go, spin in a circle and catch the wand before it hits the ground?
  2. Dropping the Wand: Can you Hold your wand at the bottom with your strong hand, let it go, now catch the top of the wand before it hits the ground?
  3. Wand Catch: Can you stand your wand on one end and hold it in place with one finger?  Now, kick over the wand and catch the wand with your finger.
  4. Twist Under: Grasp a standing wand in front of you.  Can you twist under and around the arm without letting go of the wand or touching the ground?

Partner Stunts:

  1. Partner Change: Partners face each other a short distance apart, each with their wands balancing on the ground upright.  On signal, partners run to catch each other’s wand before it touches the ground.
  2. Wand reaction: One partner holds the wand horizontally.  The other partner places their hand directly above the wand, palm down.  When the wand is dropped, the person with his hand over the wand has to react and catch the wand before it hits the ground.
  3. Partner Carry: Partners face each other and place one end of the wand against their forehead.  By applying pressure to the wand, they move around the area without letting it drop.
Concerns:  Move carefully in personal space with Wands.
This idea is from: Myself as well as ideas from Pete Charrette and Kevin Tiller (seen below). 

 


 


 


T.E.A.M Field Day 2018


 


Youtube Tutorial

Below is a tutorial I made demonstrating how I create my Field Day maps for my teachers/staff each year!!! Check  it out!!!


 

Berenstain: Bears on the Moon


Berenstain: Bears on the Moon

State Standard: 1, & 4

Equipment: Berenstain Bears on the Moon Book, scooters, poly spots, bean bags, balancing equipment (optional), music
Grade:  K-1
Purpose of Event:  Balance, body and space awareness
Time: 20-25 minutes
Description:
Scatter poly spots and bean bags around the area.  Poly spots represent moon craters and bean bags represent moon rocks.  The teacher begins the lesson reading the book “The Berenstain Bears on the Moon.”  Then students begin the activity portion of the lesson by sitting on a scooter on the side of the room.  Integrating the details of the book into this, explain who they are going to fly to the moon in the rocket ship.  Have the class count down to blast-off and ride their rocket to the moon. When they arrive, their rocket becomes a moon-mobile.  Ask them to ride in all different directions and pathways around the moon avoiding the craters and rocks.  next, have the part their moon-mobile and step out for a walk on the moon.  You can have them walk slowly, explaining the concept of no gravity as well.  Finally, they can collect moon rocks and balance them on different body parts as they walk.  Other balancing equipment can be used to increase difficulty.
Concerns:  Move carefully on Scooters and in personal space.
This idea is from: www.pecentral.com Melanie Jackson in Salisbury, MD ***thanks for this great game!

Move The Mountain


Move The Mountain

State Standard: 1, & 3

Equipment: Cageball or Omnikin Ball, Music, Lots of little balls
Grade:  K-2
Purpose of Event:  Throwing & Aiming
Time: 20-25 minutes
Description:
Divide class into two groups, each team line up behind its starting line (each on one side of the gym).  The objective is to throw the smaller balls at the Earth Ball and hit it so that is moves past the other teams goal line.   
I use the volleyball court line, serving line (throw from); Mid-court line (place the Earth Ball here to start) and the 10′ Attack line (goal line).  One balls have been thrown, players may leave the restraining areas (serving line) to retrieve balls on their halves of the gym, but they must return to the restraining areas to throw.  When a team moves the ball across the goal line, it scores 1 point.
Concerns:  Use soft ball, Koosh work well or Dense foam balls.  Be cautious of throws.
This idea is from: 

Snow Fort


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: 20-25 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:  Be cautious!  Use soft balls, keep the focus on throwing at the pins,
This idea is from: WOW Workshop

Winter Olympics: Stations


Winter Olympics: Stations

State Standard: 1, 3, & 4

Equipment: Ribbon sticks, scooters, paper plates, bean bags, target, hockey sticks, hockey nets, small hoops or mini cones, plungers, mats, jump ropes, marker boards/markers, stop watches, shuffle board sticks and spider balls, hula hoops, foam skis (2-3 ft long/2″ thick); Other equipment listed below
Grade: K-5 (might need to make some minor changes for the younger students)
Purpose of Event:  Experience the Olympics, cardiovascular, throwing, striking, aiming, running, strength.
Time: 20-25 minutes
Organization: We’ve tried to cover all 7 Olympic Sports and most of the 15 disciplines
I have enough equipment out so that everyone can be doing “something”. I have the gym set up so that they can move at their own pace, some will go around several times, others may go slower. No “cutting” in line, but you can pass at different points. It is a continuous station. I also made an Olympic Flag to hang in the gym. Have everyone assigned to start at a different place to get things started, however I do have everyone start with a torch run.Description:
Several Stations can be timed or scored: I have marker boards at the stations so that the athletes can post scores or times (optional).
Stations: (not necessarily in order)Light the Olympic Torch: Torch Run, use ribbon sticks, each participant runs 3 laps around the “stadium” with the Olympic Torch (ribbon stick) (Can time laps)Biathlon: Ski with paper plates on your feet (shuffle your feet with plate on the floor). I have cones out and around the gym, they must move around the biathlon course with a bean bag in their hand, at the half way point in the race, they will see a target, they need to throw the bean bag at the target, retrieve the bean bag, and ski back to the start. (Can time even, and write down time and where the bean bag hit the target)Olympic Rings: First person stands with one hula hoop in their hand, they must pass the hoop to the next person in line (who is holding the first persons hand), by putting their body inside/through the ring; the ring can’t touch the ground. (Optional: The last person must stay until someone else joins their hand and pass along the ring.)Skating: Pairs Figure Skating: with a partner link arms and skate on paper plates. Skaters must stay linked (hands or elbows) and must skate a 30 second “program”.Curling: Shuffle board sticks, and spider balls, stand at start line and try to push spider ball on to shuffle board. Three attempts each to get high score. Post highest number spider ball lands on.

Slalom Course: Place Moguls or hoops/mini cones (8-10 cones) in a zigzag fashion. Skiers must jump (feet together) over cones. (Post time)

Hockey Goal: Start with Hockey stick and bean bag, must dribble around cones to reach goal line, once at goal line shoot for a goal (shoot bean bag into net). Post time required to dribble and shoot

Skiing: One skier on a scooter, use plungers to move scooter around course that has been marked out

Skier: While jumping rope do 15 bell jump. Post time

Cross Country Ski: I have Foam Rectangles that are about 3 feet long and 2-3″ thick, I tie jump ropes around them and athletes “ski” around the course that is marked out. Post time

Speed Skating around Oval: Mark out an oval with floor tape, using paper plates, see how long it takes to ski “x” times around. Post time

Ski Jump: Free-Style: Use a mat Wedge, lay it flat, I allow students to run up wedge and “jump off” and perform a free-style jump. Finish by landing on a floor mat. (My wedge is only about 2 feet off the ground) And they must land on the floor mat, or they are disqualified.

Luge: 2 scooters with one floor mat folded and on top, connecting the two scooters. One person rides while a partner pushes Luge to the end, and then switch, pushing the luge back to the start. Post time

Bob Sleigh: (2 man) 2 scooters, one person on each. They must hook themselves together and move through the course. Post time

Skeleton: 2 scooter with one person on both. Athlete lays on their stomach on scooters and uses hands to get through course. Post time

Speed Skating: slide trainer and slide side to side. Post times

Olympic Symbolism: (make posters and hand in the gym)

Olympic Creed: “The most significant thing in the Olympic games is not to win but to take part. Just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”

Olympic Oath: In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the honor of our teams.

Olympic Rings: The five interlocked rings represent the five continents of the world. In every flag of the world there can be found at least one color of the colored rings. The colors of the rings from left to right are blue, yellow, black, green, and red. Whether the rings are in different colors or are in the same color, they are the official Olympic symbol and the exclusive property of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) according to Rule 6 of the IOC Charter.

Olympic Motto: “Citius, Altius, Fortius” expresses the aspirations of the Olympic movement. Loosely translated, these Latin words mean “Swifter, Higher, Stronger.”

Olympic Torch and Flame: The torch is usually carried hand-to-hand by relays of runners from the original site of the Olympic Games at Olympia, Greece, to the main stadium of the Games. As a symbol of peace among peoples, the flame represents the basic spiritual significance of the Olympic movement.

Olympic Flag: The Olympic Flag, which appeared in Olympic competition for the fi9rst at Antwerp in 1920, has a white background with no boarder. In the center are placed five interlocked rings whose colors are blue, yellow, black, green and red.

Doves: A symbol of peace, the doves are released at the opening ceremony to remind all peoples that the Olympic Games are held in an atmosphere of peace. (I use the Doves for discipline…I had 4…hanging in the gym, if something un-peaceful happened, I took down a Dove).

Concerns:  Be cautious!  Lots of movement, be aware of the people around you!  And be careful of the scooters.
This idea is from: Some were ideas from Sharon Welch ==> www.pecentral.com; and other came from a WOW.
Tracy Nelson & Benda Berseth as well!!! 


Rudolph’s Treasure


Rudolph’s Treasure

State Standard: 1, 3, & 4

Equipment: 10 scooters, 2-3 colored jerseys, 10 medium cones, 4-6 large cones, 30-40 beanbags, & 2 laundry baskets
Grade: K-2
Purpose of Event: Team Strategy and Muscular Endurance
Time: 20-25 minutes
Organization:
Place 10 scooters on one end of the gym evenly spaced out (Scooters should be upside down when they are not being used).  Place 2 scooters upside down in the middle of the gym, with a colored jersey on each scooter.  Place the medium cones on the sidelines of the gym leaving 10-12 feet between the cones and the sidewalls.  Place 4-6 large cones at the opposite end of the gym approximately 20 feet from the end wall.  Space all the cones out evenly.  Place the beanbag box at the opposite end of the gym and an empty box behind the starting area.  Pair students with a partner and have them sit behind a scooter. Choose two students to use the scooter in the middle.


Description:
The object of the activity is for the students (reindeer) to lie down on their tummies on the scooters (sleighs) and make it across the North Pole (the gym) to the opposite side of the gym to get one beanbag (treasure) without being tagged by the two taggers roaming in the middle of the gym (the Grinches).  The reindeer are safe while they are in the “barn” (at their start spot) and they are safe if they make it to the big cones (opposite side).  But once, they are in between the start area and the big cones, the two Grinches can try to tag them.  The Grinches are also moving around on their tummies and they are not allowed to get off their scooter.  If a student is tagged before making it to the treasure, they simply stand up, pick up their sleigh and walk to the sidelines (where the medium cones are placed) and then they give the scooter to the partner who then has a turn.

If the students make it to the treasure, they must return it to the “barn” without being tagged.  If they are tagged, they simply drop the beanbag where they were tagged and walk to the sidelines and return to their partner.  The partner, or any other student can then decide to try to make it all the way to the opposite end of the gym, or they can choose to rescue a dropped beanbag (treasure).  This is where strategy and teamwork come into place as one or more students can “sacrifice” themselves or distract the Grinch while others make it safely back.  

Concerns: Moving safely in the gym. Making sure students are tagging one another is safe manner.
This idea is from:

 

Santa’s Workshop


Santa’s Workshop

State Standard: 1, 3, & 4

Equipment: Several yarnballs, stuffed animals, and/or beanbags, 2 large mats, 2 laundry baskets, several noodles, poly spots, and jersey’s. 
Grade: 3-5
Purpose of Event: To practice chasing, fleeing and dodging skills, team strategy, and having fun while participating in an aerobic activity.
Time: 20-25 minutes
Organization:
Place several poly spots down the center line to separate the gym into two halves. Place one mat on one side of the gym and the other mat on the other side. Place a laundry basket on one side and the other laundry basket on the other. Put about 15 items in each laundry basket to represent the toys. 

Description:
Divide class into two teams. Tell the class Santa’s elves have gone on strike and that they are no longer making toys for Santa. This means each team must try to obtain all the toys from the other team. Each player must attempt to steal a (one at a time) toy from the other team without getting tagged. Once a player has crossed the center-line into the other team’s area they are eligible to get tagged. I use foam noodles as tag sticks. If a player, gets tagged before they return to their team’ side with or without a toy they MUST go to jail (marked by a mat). A player is able to get out of jail when one of their teammates successfully reaches them and give them a high-five (without getting tagged). I allow them to have free back. However, they MUST return to their team’s side before they try to steal a toy again.  The game is over once one team has successfully obtained all the toy’s from the other team. 

Rules:
Students are NOT allowed to take more than one toy per trip. They are NOT allowed to throw the toy’s to a teammate. They must run to their side. Students cannot attempt to tag an opponent while trying to steal a toy at the same time. 

Variations:
You can have the students get a free back if they successfully reach the opponents laundry basket and grab a toy before being tagged; instead of trying to make it back safely before or after they try to steal a toy. 

Concerns: Moving safely in the gym. Making sure students are tagging one another is safe manner. Reinforce to the students how to problem solve if they think they tagged an opponent who thinks they are safe.
This idea is from: PECentral.com