Fitness Centers

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Fitness Centers

State Standard: 1, 2, & 4
Equipment: Several cones, poly spots, different fitness equipment (dumbbells, medicine ball, jungle jims, jump ropes, and/or cup stacks), Mats, arrows, and cue cards. Grade: 4-5 (Possible 3)
Purpose of Event: Endurance, Strength, and Fitness Concepts
Time: 20-25 minutes
Organization:  Set-up several centers around the gym with either arrows or shoulder folders locating each station for the students.  Have students sit in their battle-ship spots as I explain each fitness center. Once each center has been explained or demonstrated separate each students into groups of two partners and have them start at different centers. 

Fitness Centers: On the signal, the students within their pairs will begin each workout labeled by the shoulder folder at each center. The following are some different ideas that I use for various fitness workouts (you can add more or change for whatever works for your students):

  1. Lunges (use dumbbells students walk from one cone to another while holding dumbbells).
  2. Wall Sits (students sit at a wall with their legs at 90 degree angle).
  3. Jumping Rope (students perform various forward, backward, and/or criss cross jump ropes).
  4. Abdominal twists (students use a medicine ball and perform abdominal twists).
  5. Climbing Wall (If your gym has one; students will use the climbing wall).
  6. Jungle Jim’s (students will perform a chest press or standing row with cables).
  7. Bosu Ball (students will work on balancing while trying to catch a ball being thrown by their partner).
  8. Burpees/Mountain Climbers (one partner will perform burpees while the other partner performs mountain climbers then switch).
  9. Cub Stacking (depending on the age have a center where students practice speed stacks).
  10. Forearm Plank (students work on their muscular strength and core by performing a forearm plank)

Variations: You can add or remove any exercises as you see fit that works for your students.
Concerns: Move safely around the gym. Make sure students performing the exercises correctly and with proper technique. I also make sure that they are working well with their partners.
This idea is from: 

Green Eggs & Ham Relay

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Green Eggs & Ham Relay

State Standard: 1, 2, & 4
Equipment: 4 Hula-Hoops, 1 Mat, Several small cones and beanbags (green in color) Grade: K-5
Purpose of Event: Students will participate in a relay race themed around the Dr. Seuss book Green Eggs & Ham.
Time: 20-25 minutes
Organization:  Divide the class into 4 teams (relay style) and have them line up behind the baseline at one end of the gym. Place 4 hula-hoops with 5 small green cones (Ham) and a couple beanbags (eggs) in each. These will represent the green Eggs and Ham. Place a mat at the other end of the gym. This will represent the “garbage” where the students are to place their green Eggs and Ham. 

Green Eggs & Ham Relay: On the signal, one student will run with one of their green eggs and ham and try to place that item in the garbage without getting tagged by the “Sam I am.” The “Sam I am’s” are two taggers (have a green noodle) who are to trying to prevent the relay teams from getting rid of their green eggs and ham as they want them to keep and eat (as in the Dr. Seuss Story). If a student gets tagged by the “Sam I am” that student must return either the green egg or ham back to their team and then the next person goes. The game is over when one of the four teams gets rid of their green eggs and ham first. Once a team has won or the time limit is up (teacher’s choice) switch “Sam I am” taggers.
Concerns: Move safely around the gym. Make sure students are taking turns and staying their lines. Taggers should be tagging in a safe manner as well.
This idea is from: Myself 

 

Dot Shooting

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Dot Shooting

State Standard: 1, 2, & 4
Equipment: Several basketballs, basketball hoops, cones, poly spots, & hula-hoops Grade: 2-5
Purpose of Event: Dribbling a basketball while attempting a shot.
Time: 20-25 minutes

Organization:  Divide the class into 4 teams (relay style) and have them line up outside the three point line at each basketball hoop (my gym has four hoops). Give each team one basketball. Place several poly spots (I used six) around the inside of the perimeter to mark the spots where students shoot from. 

Dot Shooting: On the signal, the first player in each line will dribble their basketball to a poly spot “dots” and attempt a shot (using the proper progression as much as possible). If the player makes their shot from the specific dot they pick-up it up and place it in their teams hula-hoop (holder for poly spots). The next player in line then attempts their shot from another dot (once receiving the pass from the first player). However, if this player misses their shot they do NOT pick up their dot and return the pass the next player. The goal is for each team to collect all their dots before the other teams by making their shots from each dot. Once a team has collect all their dots that team wins. If there is time we start another round.

Variations: For older students; move the poly spots outside the perimeter or three point line for tougher shots. May have to move spots in closer and lower the hoops for the younger students.
Concerns: Move safely around the gym. Make sure students are taking turns and staying in their order in their lines!!
This idea is from: Seen it many places.

 

Basketball Scrabble

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Basketball Scrabble

State Standard: 1, 2, & 4
Equipment: Several basketballs, pencils, scratch paper, cones, several noodles (cut to smaller sizes) with letters of alphabet on each one, & basketball hoops. Grade: 2-5
Purpose of Event: Dribbling a basketball while attempting a shot as well as making words with letters.
Time: 20-25 minutes
Organization:  Divide the class into 4 or 5 teams (relay style) and have them line up on one end the gym behind a cone. Give each team one basketball, a pencil, and a scratch piece of paper. Put a basketball full of cut -up pool noodles with each letter of the alphabet inside (add a wild card if you want). 

Scrabble: On the signal, the first player in each line will dribble their basketball to a hoop and attempt a shot (using the proper progression as much as possible). After the player has taken their shot they dribble their basketball to a bin (located in the middle of the gym) filled with the letters and take one. Once they have chosen their letter they dribble their ball back to their team and give the basketball to the next person in line. This player then dribbles the ball to a hoop and attempts their shot. Each player from each team continues to dribble and attempt their shots and retrieve a letters from the bin before they return to their team. The team that comes up with the most words from the letters they have chosen at the end of the time limit are the winners (this is what they pencil and scratch paper is for).

Rules: If a player attempts their shot, but does NOT make it that student is allowed to retrieve only one letter from the bin; whereas if a student who shoots a shot and DOES make it they can retrieve two letters.

Variations: For older students; instead of making words have them try and make as many sentences out of their letters.
Concerns: Move safely around the gym. Make sure students are taking turns and staying in their order in their lines!!
This idea is from: Amy Staples, K-5 Physical Education Teacher, Sioux Falls, SD. 

Germball

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Germball

State Standard: 1, 2, & 4
Equipment: Cageball, Exercise (stability) Ball , Poly Spots, & gator skin balls. Grade: K-3 (4-5 possibly)
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.  Spread out the poly spots (random colors) along the half-court line. This will act as the boundary line where the students cannot cross.

Germball: Start the game with just one cageball or stability ball and then add more as the game continues. The physical education instructor will explain to the students the cageball/stability balls are the germs and the two teams must try and throw the gator-skin balls (medicine) at the germball, forcing it across the half court line.  The two teams are trying make the germball roll over to the other teams side (across the poly spots) as they do NOT want the germballs on their side of gym.  No student is allowed to touch the cageball at any time with their hands (germs).  **Only the smaller balls (medicine) are used to force the cageball across the line.** 

Variations: For older students you could have them perform a desired exercise if they touch the ball with their hands. They have been in contact the germs!!!
Concerns: Move safely around the gym. Make sure students are NOT throwing the balls at each other!!!
This idea is from: Myself

Badlands Speedway

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Badlands Speedway

State Standard: 1, 2, & 4
Equipment: Cones and Deck Rings Grade: K-5
Purpose of Event: Running & Teamwork
Time: 10-15 minutes
Organization:

Set cones around the outside of the gym to make an oval track.

Have students sit in groups of 2-4 at each cone.
Place a deck tennis ring on each cone this is the steering wheel (baton)
Each student is the race car driver, have them drive 1-4 laps around the track then hand the ring to the next driver, 1st group to be sitting by the cone wins.
Variations: Have students perform different locomotor movements (i.e., skipping and galloping) while moving around the cones.
Concerns: Move safely around the gym.
This idea is from: Mark Struck, Physical Education Teacher, Sioux Falls, SD.

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.

Card Sharks Dribbling

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Card Sharks Dribbling

State Standard: 1, 2, 3, 4
Equipment: Several basketballs, Hula Hoops, Playing Cards, & Basketball Hoops (varying height) Grade: 2-5
Purpose of Event:  dribbling skills, bounce & catching, manipulation, and control
Time: 15- 20 minutes
Organization: Set-up several hula-hoops around the gym with playing cards inside each one. Make sure the cards are facing down, so students cannot see them. Mix the cards up; for instance red cards and black cards are spread out in varying hula-hoops. Have basketball hoops set and different height for younger students.

Introduction:  On the signal, students begin dribbling around the gym and go to a different hula-hoop. At the hula-hoop a student will flip up the card (inside the hula-hoop) if the card is red student dribbles the inside the hula-hoop with their dominate hand that many times inside the hula-hoop. After the student as completed that task they flip the card back upside down and move to another hula-hoop. If a student goes to another hula-hoop and flip the card up and it is black they are required to dribble the ball that number of times with their non-dominate hand.

Variations: Instead of having (older students) dribbling if the student picks up a red card you can have them dribble to a red poly spot on the floor (at a hoop) and attempt one shot. Whether the student makes or misses the shot they go retrieve their ball and proceed to dribble to another hula-hoop. If a student goes to a hula-hoop and the card they pick up is black they proceed to a black poly spot (hoop set at a taller height).
Concerns: Move safely around the gym. Making sure students are not shooting their baskets when other students are shooting (taking turns). Make sure students are not stealing the ball from each other (little kids).
This idea is from: Kate Davis, Western Elementary. www.pecentral.com

 

 

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

 

Mega-Goal Hockey

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PE_Wordle

Mega-Goal Hockey

State Standard: 1, 2, 3, 4
Equipment: Hockey Sticks & 6 Hockey Nets (Goals) Grade: 3-5
Purpose of Event:  Stick and Puck Manipulation, Control, Shooting Technique, & Teamwork
Time: 15- 20 minutes
Organization: Set-up 6 nets and put all the fleece balls and tennis balls in the middle. Students are separated into groups evenly at each one of the six nets.

Introduction:  A student from each goal runs to the middle (with their hockey stick) and dribbles a ball back to their goal and attempts a shot (trying to score a goal). If the student makes their goal;  the ball stays in their teams goal. If they miss; the student must dribble the ball (hockey stick) back to the middle. They then run back hand their hockey stick to the next teammate in line who repeats the same activity as their teammates in order to score a goal for their team. After each round count how many goals were made and start again. Then have team rotate to practice at different goals.

Variations: Instead of having just one student from each team have a hockey stick (with older students) have each player at each goal have their own hockey stick. On the signal, ALL students from each goal run to the middle and dribble a ball (with hockey stick) and attempt a shot at their teams goal.
Concerns: Move safely around the gym. Making sure students are not “high-sticking.” If playing with all students with a hockey stick make sure students are be aware of who is around them when they shoot to score.
This idea is from: