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. 
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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. 

 

Dare Ball

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Dare Ball 

State Standard: 1, 2
Equipment: Enough Polly spots for half the class, 3 soft balls Grade: 3-5
Purpose of Event: Throwing Skills and Cardiovascular Endurance.
Time: 15-20 minutes
Organization:
Divide the class into two teams. One half will go to an orange Polly spot and the other half will be divided into one of the 3 throwing lines. Once you have the 2 teams, give everyone on each team a number: 1, 2, or 3. This way when you switch, they will know which “running line” to go to.

Description: 
Each inning will consist of one team trying to score while the other team tries to get them out. When 3 “outs” are called, the two teams switch positions to finish the last half of the inning.
The fielding team is on a Polly spot. They can move off the spot to get a ball but must be ON THEIR SPOT TO THROW! If a runner is hit, it counts as an out. Players on the fielding team can toss to other fielding players, but again, both must be on their spot to throw. Once there are 3 “outs” the fielding players go to the runners and the runners become fielders
Runners: At the start of the inning, the first player in the line will throw the ball and then run in any direction to the opposite wall, touch the wall and run back to their row. Once they get back to their row without being hit by the ball from the fielding team, they slap the hand of the next person in their row and to the end of their line. They have just earned one run or point. They may run and score again before the there are out is called. If they are hit by the ball they are “out” and their run doesn’t count.
The balls are only thrown once at the start of the inning, after the first throw, it is the job of the fielders to keep the balls moving (to get runners out). One runner from each of the 3 running teams should be going all the time.
I blow the whistle when there are 3 outs and yell “switch”. Fielders go to runners and runners go to the field.
(X= ball)
(0= Polly spot)
O2 O3
1111 X O1 O3 O12222 X O1 O2
O2
3333 X O3 O1
Concerns: Move safely around the gym. Make sure students are NOT throwing the balls at each other!!!
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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

 

Batting Skills

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Batting Skills

State Standard: 1, & 4
Equipment:Bats, batting tees, wiffle balls, and poly spots Grade:  3-5
Purpose of Event:  Eye-hand coordination, grip, stance, and swing
Time: 20-25 minutes
Introduction:  Students will sit in a horseshoe formation while I review the basic batting stance, hand position, grip, and swing with the students.

Batting:

  1. Students will take turns practicing their stance, gripping the bat and swinging through an imaginary ball.
  2. Bat around: Set up four tees on one end of the gym.  At the opposite end place poly spots in a semicircle.  There should be a poly spot for each child that is not batting.  Place on student at each poly spot and one at each tee. All fielders not batting must remain on the spots until each batter hits.  On the teacher’s signal each batter swings the bat and hits the ball in the direction of the fielders. Once all batters have hit the ball the fielders closest to the balls pick them up and return them to a tee and then return to their spot.  Students then rotate counter-clockwise one spot or tee. Repeat this until everyone has batted four times.
  • Variations: Depending on the skill level and grade level, some students may be ready to bat a pitched ball.  The teacher may stand in place of a tee and pitch to that student.
  • If the teacher is not pitching he/she should be observing and helping the batters with their stance, grip, and swing.
Concerns:  Move carefully in personal space with Wands.
This idea is from: Myself as well as Tanner Ross & Kevin Tiller (seen below).

 

 

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

 

Deck of Cards

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Deck of Cards
 

State Standard: 1, 3, & 5
Equipment: Deck of Playing cards and Projector
 Grade: K-5
Purpose of Event: Fun change to regular warm ups!  Add suspense! 
Time: 5-10 minutes
Description:

(I use a projector that displays these  3 options) 3 ways to play:

Pick someone to start: They get to pick an activity and then draw a card. (some days I have rows pick, or all boy/girls, etc.)

OPTION ONE:  Number of activity to do:
face card=20       Ace=10        4=14          7=17
10=10                  2=12             5=15          8=18
joker=2 laps         3=13             6=16          9=19

-Either way let them draw about 12-15 times
-They can repeat any activity.
– If they pick laps (jogging or power walks) limit it to three laps, regardless of what they draw

– Some suggestions: bear hugs, crab push-ups, sit ups, push-ups, vertical jumps, jog, power walks, mountain climbers, line walkers, biker sit ups, boxer sit ups, crunches, bell jumps, jumping jacks, etc.

OPTION TWO:
hearts=10        spade=15
club=10           diamond=25

-Either way let them draw about 12-15 times
-They can repeat any activity.
– If they pick laps (jogging or power walks) limit it to three laps, regardless of what they draw

– Some suggestions: bear hugs, crab push-ups, sit ups, push-ups, vertical jumps, jog, power walks, mountain climbers, line walkers, biker sit ups, boxer sit ups, crunches, bell jumps, jumping jacks, etc.

OPTION THREE:

Take all the guess work out of it: Black=10     Red=15

Face card=Jumping Jack  A=sit ups  2=Push ups  3=Mt. climbers  4=Bell Jumps  5=Vertical Jumps  6=Coordinators  7=crunches  8=Crab Push Ups  9=Lunges 10=Line Walker
Concerns: Have kids know what activity they want to do before they pick a card, saves time and keeps them moving.
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Reindeer Tag

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Reindeer Tag
 

State Standard: 1, 3
Equipment: 3 Noodles for tagging and Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer Music (optional) Grade: K-2
Purpose of Event: Chasing, Dodging, Locomotor skills, moving in personal and general space
Time: 15-20 minutes
Description:
Give 3 students noodles, they will be “elf” taggers.  When a student gets tagged they freeze and put their thumbs on their head and spread their fingers out like antlers.  In order to be unfrozen free runners approach the frozen players from the Front and give the frozen (Reindeer) player a high “ten” and rejoin the activity.I play Music while they move using different locomotor/movement skills.  When the music stops (30-45 seconds) I switch taggers.  I usually focus on a winter theme, more than “Christmas”.  And talk briefly about animals that make us think of winter, penguins, polar bears, reindeer, etc.
Concerns: Move in general space safely, tag softly
This idea is from:  www.pecentral Connie Smith at Killearn Lakes In Tallahassee, FL

 

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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Softball-Football

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Softball-Football
 

State Standard: 1, 2, 3, & 4
Equipment:  Bases, 1 football or Rag Football
 Grade: 3+
Purpose of Event: Throwing Skills and Running
Time: 15+ minutes
Description: 

Played like regular softball/baseball, but instead of batting, the pitcher throws a football to the batter, the batter catches the ball and throws it anywhere in the field.  After throwing, the batter runs to first base, and/or advances on to other bases.

Field players try and catch the pass.  If they do, it is two points for the fielding team.  The batter/runner is NOT out if the ball is caught. The runner could get out if they throw or run the football to the base the runner is going to, as in softball/baseball.  To encourage best throws from the batter, they also get ONE point if the ball is caught.  Runners also earn points/runs by advancing to all of the bases, and when they touch home plate, they get a point/run for their team.

Variations:  Allow fielder to tag a runner while they are advancing to the next base.  

OR: Allow the field players to throw the ball at the runner (use rag balls) if the runner catches the ball, the runner gets the point, and can throw the ball again from where they are at when they catch the ball.  The “re-throw” would score the same way for the fielding team, assuming the fielding team catches the “re-throw”.  If the runner touches the throw from the fielder, but does not catch it, they are out, and do not score any points.

When I play with Hi-Li Scoops, all of the throwing, catching, “batting” is done with the scoops.  I don’t have a pitcher.
Concerns: Use a ball that is safe/soft.  I don’t allow sliding, or “over-running” on first ball.  
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