Scooter Soccer

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Scooter Soccer
 

State Standard: 1, 2, & 4
Equipment:  2 large Exercise Balls, Several Scooters, Colored Jersey’s, and cones.  Grade: 3-5
Purpose of Event: Practice the skills of soccer (kicking, passing, and teamwork) in a modified scooter activity. 
Time: 15-20 minutes
Organization: 

Split students into four equal teams. I have a double gym (which helps). Put the curtain down to split the gym into two separte courts. Give each student a scooter.

Description:
The will be two teams playing each other on one side of the gym while the other two teams will be playing on their court (other side of gym). Each team member has a scooter. The students objective is to kick the ball (Fitness Balls) against the mat on each end to score points. After a couple minutes switch teams. I do not have any goalies in this game. All students are scorers and defenders. Students are NOT allowed to use their hands at any point. 

Rules:

The players can only use their feet to kick the ball. If they use their hands the ball is awarded to the other team and that player has to sit in the penalty box. Students MUST stay on their scooter (bottoms). If student is chronically falling of their scooter they will be sent to the penalty box (designated area in the gym) for a few minutes. 
Concerns: Students falling of their scooters. Scooters being run into one another (pinching fingers) and making sure the ball does not hit anyone. 
This idea is from: I have seen many versions of this game, but I have modified it for my students and the space I have. 

 

Space Ship Tag

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Space Ship Tag
 

State Standard: 1, 2, & 4
Equipment:   9 planets (picture) 10 cones, Alien/space ship (picture)2-3 foam noodles (tagging), music (star wars theme would be great!) Grade: K-2
Purpose of Event: Movement in general space, learning planet names and locations
Time: 10-15 minutes
Description: 

Put one cone in the middle of the gym and attach the picture of the space ship/alien to it.  Place the other 9 cones out around the gym in orbit, placing one planet picture on each cone (make sure they are in order).

Choose 2-3 students to be Aliens (taggers)  when the music starts, have the Aliens try and touch the students.  Students (Astronauts) move around the gym from planet to planet.  When they are on a  planet they are “safe”  but may only stay on a planet for the count of 3, I have them say the name of the planet when they count (ie. Earth 1,  Earth 2, Earth 3)  Once the 3 seconds are up, they must go to a new planet.

If an Astronauts is touched by and Alien, they must go to the space ship in the middle of the gym.  An Astronaut that is not “tagged” gives them a high “ten” and says “BEAM ME UP” and they are both free to roam the galaxy again!

Switch Aliens often!
Concerns: Moving safe in general space, tag safely. I use pool noodles as tag sticks. 
This idea is from: 

Hula Hoop Twister

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Hula Hoop Twister
 

State Standard: 1, 2, & 4
Equipment:  Colored Hula Hoops, Colored Spinner, Music Grade: K-2
Purpose of Event: Movement, knowledge of body parts and location, colors, right/left side orientation. Locomotor skills
Time: 15-20 minutes
Description: 

Students will need to identify: various body parts (knees, elbows, hands, feet) and right and left sides, in addition to colors.

Hula Hoops are spread around gym, when the music plays students move in the gym in the locomotor skill instructed by the teacher. When the music stops, the instructor will either call out specific directions, such as: “Put your right hand in a green hula hoop,” or “Stand with your left foot in a blue hula hoop.” Or spin the color-coded spinner and then have the students place an assigned hand, foot , elbow, knee, etc. in the correct colored hoop.  When the music starts, move again in a different locomotor movement.

Could use cards with different colors on them and different body parts listed instead of spinners.  Also, have the kids pick cards, or spin!  Instead of using hula hoops, you could also use different colored Polly spots, or laminated construction paper.
Concerns: Don’t step on the hoops, they may slide on the floor; will have several kids in one hoop, so remind them to be careful of personal space.
This idea is from: Amy Clayton, Oradell, NJ from www.pecentral.com. 

 

Alien Spaceships

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Alien Spaceships

State Standard: 1, 2, & 4
Equipment: Cageball, Exercise (stability) Ball , Poly Spots, & gator skin balls. Grade: K-3 
Purpose of Event: Throwing at a moving target, running, teamwork, & manipulation.
Time: 15-20 minutes
Organization:  Divide the class into two teams and have them line up on each side of the gym (horizontally). Spread out the cones on each side of the gym. This will act as the boundary line where the students are “safe” from the aliens.

Alien Spaceships: Start the game with several stability balls (SLIMO-Ball). Explain to the students the stability balls are the alien spaceships and the two teams must try and throw the gator-skin balls (asteroids) at the alien spaceships, forcing it the the teams side.  The two teams are trying make the alien spaceship roll over to the other teams side. No student is allowed to touch the alien spaceship otherwise they are captured by the alien. If a student comes into contact with an alien spaceship they must perform an exercise (i.e., mule kicks, ski-jumps, mountain climbers, & bell jumps) to get back in the game. 

Variations: Instead of having the students throw the asteroids they could roll it (bowling skills) and/or use some type of long-handled implement. 
Concerns: Move safely around the gym. Make sure students are NOT throwing the balls at each other!!!
This idea is from: My take on the @CoachPirillo activity: Space Invaders. 

 

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

 

Wands

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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). 

 

 

 

Berenstain: Bears on the Moon

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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!