Space Ship Tag


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


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


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!!!
This idea is from:

 

Batting Skills


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).

 



 

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: 

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:

 

Hula-Hoop Volleyball


Hula-Hoop Volleyball

State Standard: 1, 3, & 4

Equipment: 3-4 Volleyball Standards, 3 Volleyball nets, 5-10 different colored hula-hoops, and several volleyballs
Grade: 3-5
Purpose of Event: To practice volleyball skills (i.e., forearm pass, underhand/overhand serve, and set)
Time: 2-3 Minute Rounds (20-25 minutes total). 
Organization:
Set-up two volleyball courts. I use two nets with two volleyball standards (more participation). Spread out 5-10 hula-hoops on each side of the volleyball nets. 

Description:
Divide class into two teams.  The goal is to have students practice their volleyball skills (forearm pass, underhand/overhand serve, and set) by attempting to have their volleyball land in the opposing teams hula-hoops to score a point. Each time a volleyball lands and/or bounces inside the hula-hoop that person has just scored one point for their team. We play several rounds for 2-3 minutes. Once a round is over bring the students back and have them add up each individuals score to determine how many points the entire team obtained. This is a good way to focus on sportsmanship and character (making sure students are not making up their points – honesty).  After we have determined the final score of each team we play another round. Things to focus on is making sure students are practicing the correct volleyballs skills as mentioned above. 

Rules:
Students are NOT allowed to catch, throw, kick, and/or lift the volleyballs. Make sure students do not touch the net. The volleyball must go over the net not under. When it comes to blocking (I only do this with 5th grade) students can only block while moving around their side of the net. In other words students cannot stand in front (not moving) of the hula-hoops and/or stand inside them. 

Variations:
You can have the volleyballs bounce on the floor then inside the hula-hoops to score points. Depending on skill level to can only allow points to be obtained when the volleyball bounces directly in the hula-hoop (before it touches the floor). For younger students; such as 3rd and 4th grade I do NOT allow blocking.  

Concerns: Using correct volleyball skills, good sportsmanship, and make sure students are NOT kicking, throwing, and/or catching the volleyball. I taped the hula-hoops on the floor, so students do not slip on them. 
This idea is from: Myself (as well as my 3rd grade students). 

 


Razzle Dazzle Football


Razzle Dazzle Football

State Standard: 1 & 3

Equipment: Cones for 2 fields, nerf football, jerseys 
Grade: 3+
Purpose of Event: Throwing, Catching, short passes, team strategies, ball movement
Time: 15-20 minutes
Description:

Divide class into 4 even teams, play on two fields that are side by side (if possible).  A good length of the field is about 50 yards.  If you have uneven sides then have a person rotate in on every play so one will be sitting out only one play.

To begin the game, rock-paper-scissors to see who gets the ball first.

One team member starts with the ball (quarterback) and they get up to 4 chances to throw the ball to someone on their team and have them catch the ball.  When their team makes a catch, the student that caught the ball becomes the quarterback and they get 4 more chances.  IF the other team intercepts (catches) or knocks down the ball, it is not a turn-over, it just counts as one of the 4 chances (throws).

After 4 chances, if no one from the quarterbacks team catches the ball, the ball goes to the other team.  The other team takes possession of the ball right where the quarterback is at.   If the quarterbacks team score (gets the ball to the other end of the gym) the other team takes possession of the ball at that end of the gym.

Teams must have 4 Catches before they can score.  I don’t allow guarding the quarterback, but they can guard (without touching) any other player.  When you are the quarterback you may not move your feet other than to adjust to throw.

-Alternative-    The team that has the ball has 4 DOWNS to bring the ball down the field over the end line.  Downs happen when the person with the ball is tagged or when the ball it is thrown to an other teammate and the ball is dropped.  Teams then line-up on each side of the ball and the ball is passed back to the quarter back and the game begins immediately.  The quarterback must be rotated until everyone has had a chance to be quarterback.  Anyone may tag the person with the ball.  

Upon scoring, the games begin with a kick or throw-off by the scoring team.  Interceptions are allowed and the team catching the ball starts at the place they intercepted it and it is from there that they get their four downs.  If a team does not score in four downs the ball is kicked or thrown off to the other team.  Encourage 4 short passes.

In addition to the 4 downs to speed things up you may give the teams a time limit as well.  that tends to quicken things up.  Give points for sportsmanship or take away for lack of.

Concerns: Keep teams small to encourage lots of participation.
This idea is from:

 

Turkey Strut A-Z


Turkey Strut A-Z

State Standard: 1, 2, & 4

Equipment: alphabet cards (2 sets) I use a paper punch and cut out turkeys and write the letters on them; 26 hula hoops; Music, basket Grade: K-2
Purpose of Event: Locomotor skills, movement in general space
Time: 15-20 minutes

Description:
Tell the students that they will be Turkeys or Farmers, and both are very hungry! Select 5 students to be Farmers. They will wear a Bib (Jersey) so the Turkeys know who they are. The rest of the students are Turkeys, and the game will start with them inside the Turkey Pen (large area marked by cones). It is the job of the Farmers to protect the Turkey Feed (bean bags) in hoops in four corners of the gym. The Turkeys are hungry, so they are going to attempt to leave the Turkey Pen, steal some turkey feed, and make it back to the pen without getting tagged by the Farmer. Farmers are not allowed to enter the Turkey Pen. If the Farmers tag a Turkey, the Turkey must go to the dinner table and stand on a place mat (carpet squares around the outside of the playing area). To escape the Dinner Table, the Turkey must jump up and down and say “gobble, gobble, gobble” until another Turkey sneaks out of the pen, grabs them, and takes them back to the pen. The game ends when all the Turkey feed has been stolen or 1-2 minutes to switch Farmers.

I give the 5 farmers noodles so tagging is safer.

Concerns: Move safely around the gym.
This idea is from: