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I stress "we're working on Social Responsibility today and the way we're working on it is through this game activity."  Continually stop game to re-direct thinking towards Social Responsibility which is the lesson focus.

"Hold up hand and indicate how many positives young gave."

Examples of Social Responsibility:

1. Conflict Resolution

2. Giving Positives

3. Fairplay

4. Looking For Positives

5. Being Helpful

6. Etc.

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Sharks and Fishes --- Appendix #1

Name of Activity: SHARKS AND FISHES

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students work on chasing, fleeing, and dodging skills. It can also be a fitness "pre" activity.

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be used in elementary too

Equipment:

1. Medium or large gym
2. Flag football flags for everyone
3. 4 cones used as boundary markers

Game:

1. I usually handout the color of flags corresponding to their next activity team colors.
2. Pick one boy and one girl to be sharks.
3. All students but the sharks line up at one end of the gym.
4. When the teacher yells go, all students run to the other side.
5. Sharks attempt to pull the fishes flags, they drop them on the floor.
6. All students remain fishes until both of their flags are pulled.
7. The game is over once all fishes are converted to sharks or the teacher stops game.
8. At the end of the game, the students pick up the flags and put 2 of the same color back on their belt.
9. You can split large classes up by colors, red is killer whales and yellow is dolphins. Yell
   "killer whales" and the reds go, Yell "dolphins" and the yellows go.
10. I usually play two games before switching activities.

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those making nice dodges to avoid getting a flag taken.
2. Stop the game if it gets rough or unsafe.
3. Take resting pulse before activity. Play one game, take heart rates to see if they reached their target, tell them to adjust, and start the final game. Monitor again.
4. Do not let students protect/defend their belts with their hands. They need to use their
   dodging skills. Encourage and acknowledge honesty.
5. To make it more of a fitness activity, speed up your "go" commands.

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. Make sure your students have a good grasp on moving in general space with others.
3. Don't give the go signal too early, its dangerous if students are chasing and fleeing when traveling both directs in the gym.
4. Set up boundary cones so they are AWAY from walls.

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Blob Tag --- Appendix #2

Name of Activity: BLOB TAG

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students work on teamwork, chasing, fleeing, and dodging skills. If students are encouraged to keep jogging and moving even when a "blob" group is not close to them, it can be a fitness "pre" activity

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be used in elementary too

Equipment:

1. Medium or large gym
2. 4 cones used as boundary markers

Game:

1. Pick one boy and one girl to start out as separate blobs.
2. Tell students that this is fitness and they are to keep their feet moving.
3. Blobs run and try to tag another student.
4. When another student is tagged, they join hands and try to tag another.
5. When another student is tagged, they join hands and try to tag another.
6. When they tag another and form a group of four, they split into two.
7. Now there is two groups of two.
8. This game continues until all students are caught or your time expires.
9. I usually play two games, having students monitoring their heart rates, before switching to another activity.

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those making nice dodges to avoid blobs.
2. Stop the game if it gets rough or unsafe.
3. Take resting pulse before activity. Play one game, take heart rates to see if they reached their target, tell them to adjust, and start the final game. Monitor again.
4. Have students adjust activity if needed to reach their target heart rate.
5. Do not let students release hands to get other students. They need to use Teamwork and their dodging skills.

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. Make sure your students have a good grasp on moving in general space with others in a dynamic setting.
3. Set up boundary cones so they are AWAY from walls.

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Flag Tag --- Appendix #3

Name of Activity: FLAG TAG

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students work on chasing, fleeing, and dodging skills. If students are encouraged to keep jogging and moving even when another student is not close to them, it can be a fitness "pre" activity

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be used in elementary too

Equipment:

1. Medium or large gym
2. Flag football flags for everyone
3. 4-9 cones used as boundary markers

Game:

1. I usually handout the color of flags corresponding to their team colors.
2. I always set cones around the playing floor for boundary lines.
3. All students begin in bounds.
4. Students attempt to pull other students flags.

Option #1

1. Students drop flags to floor but keep count of how many flags they pull.
2. When both students flags are pulled, they can pick-up two more and put them back on
   their belt.
3. They continue pulling and counting until teacher tells them to stop.
4. Ask how many flags students pulled.

Option #2

1. Students pull flags and keep a hold of them.
2. Once all flags are pulled, teacher asks students how many they got.
3. Teacher then can tell them to restart the game once flags are put back on.

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those making nice dodges to avoid getting a flag taken.
2. Stop the game if it gets rough or unsafe.
3. Take resting pulse before activity. Play one game, take heart rates to see if they reached their target, tell them to adjust, and start the final game. Monitor again.
4. Do not let students protect/defend their belts with their hands. They need to use their
   dodging skills.

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.

2. Make sure your students have a good grasp on moving in space.

3. Set up boundary cones so they are AWAY from walls.

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Steal the Stick --- Appendix #4:

Name of Activity: STEAL THE STICK

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students work on teamwork, chasing, fleeing, and dodging skills. This is used as a game activity instead of fitness.

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be used in elementary too

Equipment:

1. Lower Gym (large)
   • 16 cones
   • 16 plastic tube sticks
   • Red and Yellow Flag football flags
   • Boundary cones to keep students away from the wall
2. Upper Gym (small)
   • 12 cones
   • 12plastic tube sticks
   • Red and Yellow Flag football flags
   • Boundary cones to keep students away from the wall

Game:

1. Split students up into two teams: 50 % boys and 50 % girls.
2. Each student is to wear one set of flags.
3. Split the gym into two halves using the basketball half court line.
4. Cones and sticks should be placed together evenly around the gym at about the same spot on both sides of the gym halves.
5. Students run across half court line and try to steal one stick-they can only steal one stick at a time.
6. If they steal a stick without getting a flag pulled off their belt, they put the stick on a cone on their half of the gym that does not have a stick there already. If they all have sticks, they must put the stick on a cone that does not have two sticks at one cone.
7. If a student gets their flag pulled while on the opponents side of the gym, they go to the jail area.
8. Jail is located on the other side of the base line of a basketball court on the opponents side.
9. The way a student gets out of jail is when a team-mate runs to the jail without taking a stick and grabs hands with a person in jail and runs them back to their side. The do have "free backs" if they stay linked up.
10. You can not take a stick and rescue a prisoner at the same time.
11. The game is over when all the sticks have been stolen.
12. Switch sides and start the game again.

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those making nice dodges to avoid getting a flag taken.
2. Stop the game if it gets rough or unsafe.
3. Take resting pulse before and after activity to see how this activity raises heart rate. Have students adjust activity if needed to reach their target heart rate.
4. Do not let students protect/defend their belts with their hands. They need to use their dodging skills.

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. Make sure your students have a good grasp on moving in general space with others in a dynamic setting.
3. Keep sticks by or on the base of the cones to avoid twisting ankles.
4. Don't let students throw or hit others with the sticks.
5. Set up boundary cones so they are AWAY from walls.

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Pony Express --- Appendix #5:

Name of Activity: PONY EXPRESS

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students work on teamwork, chasing, and fleeing. This could be a fitness "pre" activity if the students waiting in line were given a task while waiting...Jumping jacks, jump ropes, etc.

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be used in elementary too

Equipment:

1. Four cones set around gym for students to run around
2. Two batons for students to run with

Game:

1. Break the class up into two groups evenly divided with boys and girls.
2. The two teams line up on opposite sides of the gym.
3. When the teacher says "go", the teams begin running around cones.
4. Students run around the gym and hand the baton to the next .
5. Runners are trying to catch up to and tag the other team.
6. Once the student has been tagged start a next game of.

Option: TEAM PONY

1. The game is played the same, except students must go in pairs holding hands.

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those students that are running hard.
2. Take resting pulse before activity. Play one game, take heart rates to see if they reached their target, tell them to adjust, and start the final game. Monitor again.
3. Tell students that if they wipe the dust off their shoes they can turn sharper.

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. Set up boundary cones so they are AWAY from walls.
3. Make sure your students have a good grasp on moving in general space with others in a dynamic setting.
4. Don't let students throw or hit others with the sticks.
5. Set up cones so they are AWAY from walls.

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Medic Dodge Ball --- Appendix #6:

Name of Activity: MEDIC DODGE BALL

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students work on teamwork, chasing, fleeing, throwing, and dodging skills. This is used as a game activity instead of fitness.

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be used in elementary too

Equipment:

1. Four to five cosum balls  or Gater Balls (foam balls covered with red vinyl)
2. Medium or large gym
3. Four cones used for hospitals
4. Boundary cones to keep students away from walls

Game:

1. Break the class up into two groups evenly divided with boys and girls.
2. The two teams line up on opposite sides of the gym.
3. The teacher reminds the students to try and throw below the waist and to use appropriate force with different types of students.
4. Set up the jail by placing two cones on each half of the gym floor.
5. Have the two teams huddle and pick one boy and one girl medic.
6. I usually start the balls in the middle of the gym floor with students starting out against the wall on their side.
7. Say go and students run to get balls.
8. You throw the ball and try and hit someone on the opposing team.
9. When the person is hit, a medic DRAGS the wounded person to cone.
10. When the wounded person touches the cone they can play again.
11. When a medic gets hit, the other medic can drag them to a cone, but they are no longer a medic, they are a regular person.
12. When both medics are hit and out, the game is over. Switch sides and start over.

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those students that are throwing appropriately.
2. Take resting pulse before and after activity to see how this activity raises heart rate. 3. Tell students that if they are afraid of the ball, to stay in the back areas.

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. Set up cones so they are AWAY from walls.
3. Make sure your students have a good grasp on moving in general space with .
4. Tell students to adjust their throwing force according to their opponent.

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Hockey --- Appendix #7:

Name of Activity: HOCKEY

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students work on chasing, fleeing, Stick handling, dribbling, shooting and passing techniques and teamwork skills.  This is more of a games activity which could develop into a unit

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be used in elementary too

Equipment:

1. Medium or large gym
2. Enough hockey sticks for a red and yellow team
3. Three hockey pucks
4. Four cones

Game:

1. Set up the cones at both ends of the gym for goals (about five strides).
2. Break the class up into two groups evenly divided with boys and girls.
3. YOU MUST TELL: do not lift stick above you waist!!!! Enforce this!!
4. Students can play anywhere on the gym floor.
5. Three pucks at once is kind of fun, more chances to hit pucks.
6. Do not need to keep score, or restart puck after score, just let them keep playing.

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those students that are passing and getting into position.
2. Take resting pulse before and after activity to see how this activity raises heart rate. Have students adjust activity if needed to reach their target heart rate.
3. Tell students to look for open players to pass to.
4. Encourage centering puck to teammates.
5. A good freeze position is puck under foot and stick on toe.

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. MAKE SURE THAT THEY KEEP THEIR STICKS DOWN!
3. I have my students wear soccer shin guards for protection.
4. Do not let your students flip pucks off ground when shooting.
5. 5No hitting others with sticks.

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Rugby --- Appendix #8:

Name of Activity: RUGBY

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students work on chasing, fleeing, and dodging skills. Also works soccer dribble, teamwork and throwing motions. An excellent game to use before, between, during or after your football and soccer units

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be adapter for elementary

Equipment:

1. A rather large field
2. Four cones for goals
3. Three soccer balls
4. Shin guards for each student
5. Flag football flags for each student---two teams with different colors

Game:

1. Set up the cones at both ends of the field for goals (about five strides).
2. Break the class up into two groups evenly divided with boys and girls.
3. Have students get shin guards on, they are in closet storage areas in the mat room and upper gym (Two closets up stairs).
4. One large field is good for the whole class. 5. Students attempt to kick the ball through the goal from ground to head height.
5. Students can kick the soccer ball and dribble down the field, OR...
6. Students can pick up the soccer ball and run and pass the ball.
7. If a student pulls the flag of a student carrying the ball, they drop the ball and the opposing team picks it up and runs with it immediately.
8. Students do not pull the opponents flag if they are soccer dribbling.
9. If the ball goes out of bounds, the other team throws or kicks it back in play to a teammate immediately.
10. One ball works okay, but try putting in the second and third ball also.
11. Again, the ball must be KICKED through the goal.

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those making nice dodges to avoid getting a flag taken.
2. Stop the game if it gets rough or unsafe.
3. Take resting pulse before activity. Play one game, take heart rates to see if they reached their target, tell them to adjust, and start the final game. Monitor again.
4. Do not let students protect/defend their belts with their hands. They need to use their dodging skills.
5. Encourage students to pass the ball to all teammates.

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. Set up boundary cones.
3. Make sure your students have a good grasp on moving in general space with others in a dynamic setting.
4. Shin guards must be worn.
5. Do not kick a ball above your hips or head a ball below your shoulders.
6. When heading a ball, eyes open and mouth shut.

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Relays --- Appendix #9:

Name of Activity: RELAYS

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students practice different movement patterns. Used for strength development, agility and coordination.

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be adapter for elementary

Equipment:

1. Medium or large gym
2. Boundary cones to keep students away from walls

Game:

1. Place students in groups of three or four at one end of the gym
2. Students go down to opposite end of the gym and touch black line
3. Students go down to other:
   • Running
   • Skipping
   • Bunny hop
   • Grape vine
   • Hopping on one foot, then the other
   • Wheel barrow in groups of two
   • Run down do ten push ups and skip back
   • Do combinations and add exercises as wished

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those who are working hard.
2. Take resting pulse before and after activity to see how this activity raises heart rate.
3. Throw in some fun stuff, like ballet turns or jumps.

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. Set up boundary cones.
3. Make sure your students have a good grasp on moving in general space with others in a dynamic setting.

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Scramble --- Appendix #10:

Name of Activity: SCRAMBLE

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students practice running, jumping and throwing skills. Fitness: to raise the students heart rate to their target heart rate.

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be adapter for elementary

Equipment:

1. Mat room, small or large gym
2. 7  nerf balls
3. Boundary cones to keep students away from walls

Game:

1. All students start out in the playing area
2. Nerf balls are thrown in play
3. Students get a nerf ball and try to hit another student with ball
4. While holding ball, you can only take 3 steps before throwing---(more in larger areas)
5. You can only hold the ball for a total of 5 seconds
6. If the ball hits someone and hits the ground, they cover the spot that got hit
7. You get hit again, cover the second spot, a third time and your out
8. If you are out, you go off the blue mats or to a coned area
9. You get back in by doing:
   • Doing push-ups or sit-ups until you can’t do any more
   • Or you can do high knees, jumping jacks

I play two games for 7minutes and then have them take their heart rates

Option: FITNESS SCRAMBLE

1. Is the same keep moving when in the playing area, even if no one is around and going to throw the ball you-constant motion at all times.

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those who are working hard.
2. Take resting pulse before activity. Play one game, take heart rates to see if they reached their target, tell them to adjust, and start the final game. Monitor again.

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. Set up boundary cones.
3. Make sure your students have a good grasp on moving in general space with others in a dynamic setting.
4. Do not throw the ball at other students faces

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Crab Soccer --- Appendix #11:

Name of Activity: CRAB SOCCER

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: Used for strength development, kicking skills and team work.

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be adapter for elementary.

Equipment:

1. Mat room, gym or outside area.
2. Extra large ball---may put in several balls once students get the idea.
3. Four cones for goal area.
4. Boundary cones to keep students away from walls.

Game:

1. Split the class into two teams.
2. Students must be in a crab position on the floor.
3. Students try to kick the ball across the playing area to hit the wall.
4. Students must stay in a crab position, not rolling over into a bicycle style.
5. One student from each team can be standing and protecting their wall.
6. Once the ball hits the wall or goes through the goal, the goalie picks a new goalie of the. opposite gender.

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those who are working hard.
2. Watch to make sure students do not roll over and bicycle kick the ball.

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. Make sure your students have a good grasp on moving in general space with others in a dynamic setting.
3. Shin guards may be worn.
4. Watch to make sure students do not roll over and bicycle kick the ball.

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Pac Person --- Appendix #12:

Name of Activity: PAC PERSON

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students work on chasing, fleeing, and dodging skills. If students are encouraged to keep jogging and moving even when a pac person is not close to them, it can be a fitness "pre" activity

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be adapter for elementary.

Equipment:

1. Upper or lower gym with lines on floor
2. Five nerf balls

Game:

1. Five students are it and carry the nerf balls.
2. All students must stay on the lines on the gym floor.
3. The Pac-Persons chases the students around the gym on floor marking lines.
4. When touch by a nerf ball, that student is it and carries the nerf ball, they must tag another student, different from the one that tagged them.
5. When tagged you can have the student step off the line and do 5 slow motion push-ups before they become it.
6. Any student coming off the line becomes or remains as a Pac-Person.
7. Honesty and sportspersonship is reminded to students.

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those who are working hard.
2. Watch to make sure students stay on lines.
3. Encourage and acknowledge honesty.
4. If it is a fitness activity, encourage students to keep moving and acknowledge students who are continually moving.
5. Take resting pulse before activity. Play one game, take heart rates to see if they reached their target, tell them to adjust, and start the final game. Monitor again.

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. Set up boundary cones.
3. No pushing or shoving allowed.

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Knee Whiffle Ball --- Appendix #13:

Name of Activity: KNEE WHIFFLE BALL

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students work on chasing, fleeing, dodging, hitting, and catching skills. Students will also become familiar with softball/baseball rules. Strength will also be developed through the bear crawl or crawling position.

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be adapter for elementary.

Equipment:

1. Mat room with wrestling types of mats on the floor
2. Three cones
3. One home plate
4. One whiffle ball and bat

Game:

1. Bases are set up on the wrestling mat square.
2. Any ball hit over the brown wood trim up on the wall is a home run.
3. Ropes, ceiling and wall are all play-able - not a do-over.
4. Split class up evenly into two teams.
5. Batting team supplies the pitcher.
6. Batter and all outfielders must be on their knees and use a bear crawl or baby crawl method of locomotion.
7. A base crawler who stands up is out or an outfielder who stands up provides batter with a free ride to first and runners one free base.
8. Everyone bats and teams rotate.
9. Batters get 3 pitches, and then catcher must throw batter out at first if ball is not hit.
10. Score can be kept as a motivational factor.

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those who are working hard.
2. I like to play referee and make the calls at first, and other bases.
3. Encourage and acknowledge honesty.
4. Encourage and discuss plays, such as the tag-up rule.

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. No pushing or shoving allowed.

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Whiffle Ball --- Appendix #13:

Name of Activity: WHIFFLE BALL

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students work on chasing, fleeing, dodging, hitting, and catching skills. Students will also become familiar with softball/baseball rules.

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be adapter for elementary.

Equipment:

1. Gym or outside area
2. Three cones
3. One home plate
4. One whiffle ball and bat---Larger balls may be used with younger players --- Softer balls and a students arm/hand could be used as the bat

Game:

1. Bases are set up on the floor or field.
2. Split class up evenly into two teams.
3. Batting team supplies the pitcher.
4. Outfielders are to play spread out into real positions.
5. Everyone bats and teams rotate
6. Batters get 4 pitches, and then catcher must throw batter out at first if ball is not hit
7. Score can be kept as a motivational factor.

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those who are working hard.
2. I like to play referee and make the calls at first, and other bases.
3. Encourage and acknowledge honesty.
4. Encourage and discuss plays, such as the tag-up rule.

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. No pushing or shoving allowed.

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Snake Pit --- Appendix #14:

Name of Activity: SNAKE PIT

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students work on skill challenge activities. Students will use team work and upper body strength in this activity

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be adapter for elementary.

Equipment:

1. Mat room
2. Three sets of
   • One high jump port-a-pit---(called a Pylon), placed by rope
   • 5 cones---used as lava rocks---(set between ledge area and pylon)
   • Nerf ball---the gem---(place on a masking tape roll between lava rocks)
   • A karate kicking bag---(The tribes tribal tiki)

Game:

1. Split the class into three tribes (teams).
2. The tribe must get from the white mats by wall to the pylon (port-a-pit) by swinging across using the rope (Vine).
3. Lava rocks (red cones) are placed between the wall mat and the pylon.
4. The gem is placed in the snake pit between the lava rocks.
5. The Tiki (karate bag) must be carried across with a tribes member, not thrown.
6. If any tribes member touches the snake pit (floor) the tribe comes back and starts again.
7. Once the tribe makes it across, they must get back.
8. Once the task has been done, move the pylon farther out and restart the game.

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those who are working hard or using good creativity skills.
2. Once a team has made it across and back, the teacher can make it harder by telling a tribe that their ten tribe team can only use the rope 7 times.

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. We play this activity on wrestling mats in our Mat room.
3. No climbing up the rope, or standing on the knot and then swinging across.
4. Only four tribes members are allowed on the mat to help other tribes members getting across at one time. Other tribes members must wait behind matt.
5. No throwing tiki or gem.

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Beach Ball Volleyball --- Appendix #15:

Name of Activity: BEACH BALL VOLLEYBALL

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: A game type of activity. Used for fun and also to begin to understand and use the skills necessary in volleyball.

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be adapter for elementary.

Equipment:

1. Played in small mat room or small gym.  Can be played in large gym
2. Several beach balls
3. Volleyball net set about a foot over tallest students head

Game:

1. Split the class into two teams.
2. Ropes, walls or anything hanging on gym walls are playable.
3. Ceiling hits are also playable to the side that hit the ceiling only.
4. Any number of hits are legal, but a student can not hit it twice unless ball was in net (If your goal is to learn real volleyball rules, use the three hit rule.)
5. Score is kept and said before each serve
6. Alternate on service between boys and girls (again, you may set up a rotation if volleyball rules are your concern).
7. You can rotate who is playing up front by net with those in back from time to time
8. One ball is generally used, but two can be used in a more relaxed setting, I only use two with very good class at the end of the period

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those who are working hard.
2. Encourage and acknowledge honesty.
3. Sometimes its fun to adjust the rules, but you can use real volleyball rules if desired.
4. Net can or can not be touched, depending on your focus.

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. No pushing or shoving allowed.
3. Call for the ball
4. Play your position

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Pyramid Building --- Appendix #16 PYRAMID BUILDING:

Name of Activity: PYRAMID BUILDING

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students work on skill challenge activities. Students will use team work and body strength in this activity

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be adapter for elementary.

Equipment:

1. Mat room or other matted area
2. Boundary cones to keep students away from walls
3. I also have and sometimes use pictures of pyramids for students to copy

Game:

1. Students pick a partner of their choice.
2. Students design a pyramid of their own.
3. Pairs of students match with another two-some---Students design a pyramid of their own.
4. Four-some match with another four-some---Students design a pyramid of their own.
5. Eight-some match with another eight-some---Students design a pyramid of their own.

Teacher choices could be

• a. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 points of contact.
• b. pictures provided by teacher.

***6. At anytime the teacher could have the students perform pyramids for the rest of the class as examples of great creativity.

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those who are working hard.
2. Encourage and acknowledge creativity.
3. Keep students away from building their pyramid by walls.

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. No pushing or shoving allowed.
3. Keep students away from building their pyramid by walls.

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Race Track --- Appendix #17:

Name of Activity: RACE TRACK

• Source:  Paul Darst

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students work on aerobic endurance and muscular development

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be adapter for elementary.

Equipment:

1. Mat room or gym area
2. Boundary cones to keep students away from walls
3. Cones in middle of gym designating workout area
4. List of exercises students are to do in workout area
5. You can use basketballs, soccer balls, or other equipment for the racers depending what unit you are in

Game:

1. Students are partnered up
2. One partner runs around the workout group that is in the center of the gym
3. The other partner does one of the workouts that are listed on the workout list
4. When the racing partner gets all the way around, the other partner starts around the race track as the other partner begins working on the next exercise on the list
5. They continue this for the allotted fitness time

Teaching Tips:

1. Have a list taped to a cone for easy reference for the students
2. Alternate your exercises on the list from upper body work to lower, middle, upper, lower middle.
3. Walk backwards around the race track giving good positive specific feedback
4. Keep students away from building their pyramid by walls.

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. No pushing or shoving allowed.
3. Make sure students running stay on the outside of the exercising group

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Fitness and Strength Flag Grab --- Appendix #18

Name of Activity: FITNESS AND STRENGTH FLAG GRAB

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students work on chasing, fleeing, and dodging
skills. It can also be a fitness "pre" activity.  Students also work on Strength development.

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be used in elementary too

Equipment:

1. Medium or large gym
2. Flag football flags for everyone
3. 4 cones used as boundary markers
4. Two extra cones with strength exercises on them, these should be number matching roll lines
   • 20 seconds of Push ups
   • 20 seconds of arm moving ski jumps
   • 20 seconds of sit ups
   • 20 seconds of Jumping Jacks
   • 20 seconds of Reverse push ups
   • 20 seconds of Jump rope
   • 20 seconds of Leg raisers
   • 20 seconds of Running in place

Game:

1. I usually handout the color of flags corresponding to their next activity team colors.
2. I number the roll lines and that corresponds to the chart of exercises numbers
3. When a student gets two flags pulled, they go and do the exercise corresponding to their roll line number
4. After they do the task, they get two flags back on their belt and re-enter the game
5. The next time they get their flags pulled, they do the next thing on the list
6. Each time their flags are pulled, they do the next thing on the list

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those making nice dodges to avoid getting a flag taken.
2. Stop the game if it gets rough or unsafe.
3. Take resting pulse before activity. Play one game, take heart rates to see if they reached their target, tell them to adjust, and start the final game. Monitor again.
4. Do not let students protect/defend their belts with their hands. They need to use their
   dodging skills. Encourage and acknowledge honesty.
5. Encourage the students to keep moving at all times

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. Make sure your students have a good grasp on moving in general space with others.
3. Don't give the go signal too early, its dangerous if students are chasing and fleeing when traveling both directs in the gym.
4. Set up boundary cones so they are AWAY from walls.

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Four Corners --- Appendix #19

Name of Activity: FOUR CORNERS

• Source:  Paul Darst

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students work on cardiovascular, muscular strength and muscular endurance. It can also be a fitness "pre" activity.  

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be used in elementary too

Equipment:

1. Medium or large gym
2. 4 cones used as the corners with activities listed on them
   • Skip
   • Bear crawl
   • Grape vine
   • Frontward crab walk
   • Backward crab walk
   • Power skips
   • Butt kicks
   • Your choice
   • Power walk
   • Jog
   • Slide to right
   • Slide to left
   •  

Game:

1. Students go around the outside of the four corner cone track
2. Students do the activity listed on the cone that they come to

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those students working hard
2. Jog backwards around track to reach more students
3. Take resting pulse before activity. Play one game, take heart rates to see if they reached their target, tell them to adjust, and start the final game. Monitor again.
4. Music works well to motivate students
5. Add more movement activities to add a variation

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity

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Triangle and Two --- Appendix #20

Name of Activity: TRIANGLE AND TWO

• Source:  Paul Darst

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: This is good for an introductory activity 

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be used in elementary too

Equipment:

1. Medium or large gym

Game:

1. Students are grouped into sets of 5
2. Three students hold hands and form a triangle
3. One other students is the chaser and the other student is trying to get away
4. The triangle students try and stay between the chaser and the student is trying to get away
5. Once the chaser tags the student is trying to get away, switch people around
6. Or switch on teacher command

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those students working hard
2. Also works well to change the groups on teacher command
3. Take resting pulse before activity. Play one game, take heart rates to see if they reached their target, tell them to adjust, and start the final game. Monitor again
4. Music works well with this activity

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity

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Mystery Cards --- Appendix #21

Name of Activity: MYSTERY CARDS

• Source:  Paul Darst

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students work on cardiovascular, muscular strength and muscular endurance. It can also be a fitness "pre" activity.  

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be used in elementary too

Equipment:

1. Medium or large gym
2. 4 cones used as outside boundary limit
3. Center circle area for mystery cards turned upside down so they can't be read without being selected
4. Mystery Cards
   • 20 Line jumps
   • 15 Step ups
   • 10 Inverted push ups
   • 20 seconds Hop on right foot
   • 20 seconds Imaginary jump rope
   • 20 seconds Crab walk
   • 20 Sit ups
   • 20 seconds Choice
   • 20 seconds Tread mill
   • Go get a drink
   • 20 seconds Hop on right foot
   • 20 seconds Jumping Jacks
   • Touch all four corners of the gym walls
   • Go and copy someone that is doing a workout
   • Jog around the gym two times
   • Power walk around the gym three times
   • 10 seconds of hamstring stretches
   • 10 seconds of any stretch
   • Or anything else creative

Game:

1. Students can work in groups of two or three
2. On the start signal, one person from group comes to the middle and looks at a card
3. They then place the card back turned upside down so it can't be read unless selected
4. They do the activity then get another card
5. Repeat until teacher stops the activity

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those students working hard
2. Take resting pulse before activity. Play one game, take heart rates to see if they reached their target, tell them to adjust, and start the final game. Monitor again.
3. Music works well to motivate students
4. Add more activities to add a variation
5. Make sure and train the students to put the cards upside down so they can't be read until selected

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity
2. Make sure students know how to move around other students
3. Make sure students stay away from walls and the middle where the cards are

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Squad Leader Fitness --- Appendix #22

Name of Activity: SQUAD LEADER FITNESS

• Source:  Paul Darst

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students work on cardiovascular, muscular strength and muscular endurance. It can also be a fitness "pre" activity.  

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be used in elementary too

Equipment:

1. Medium or large gym
2. 4 cones used as outside boundary markers
3. One large leader card posted so everyone can see, or small individual ones that have these activities
   • Muscular Fitness:
     • Shoulder stretches
     • back stretches
     • Abdominal stretch
     • Groin stretch
     • Hip stretch
     • Quad stretches
     • Hamstring stretches
     • I.T. Band stretches
     • Calf stretches
   • Muscular Strength
     • 4 count push ups
     • Legs raised 2 inches off ground
     • Crab kicks
     • Treadmill
     • Reverse push ups
   • Muscular Endurance
     • High Jumps
     • Wall push ups
     • V sit
   • Cardiovascular
     • Jump rope
     • Follow partner
       • Skip
       • Slide
       • Grape vine
       • Hop
       • Jog
     • Jumping jacks
     • Ski jumps

Game:

1. Students use their roll call lines for their fitness exercising group
2. Each squad has a fitness activity card that is divided into the four components of fitness
3. The teacher calls out the first component of fitness and the squad leader with the card selects an activity from that category
4. Student perform the activity while the music is playing
5. The card is passes to the next student leader in that roll line when the music pauses
6. The teacher calls out the next component of fitness and the new leader selects the activity and then leads the squad in that activity
7. This continues until the teacher tells the students to stop

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those students working hard
2. Take resting pulse before activity. Play one game, take heart rates to see if they reached their target, tell them to adjust, and start the final game. Monitor again.
3. Music should be on for 40-45 seconds and off for 10 seconds
4. The teacher cans top the activity by stopping the music and leading the class in a large group activity or giving directions

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity
2. Stop activity if horseplay begins

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Fastest Tag --- Appendix #23:

Name of Activity: FASTEST TAG

• Source:  Paul Darst

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students work on chasing, fleeing, and dodging skills. If students are encouraged to keep jogging and moving even when a pac person is not close to them, it can be a fitness "pre" activity

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be adapter for elementary.

Equipment:

1. Upper or lower gym
2. 4 boundary cones to keep students away from the walls

Game:

1. All students are it
2. Start students with a walk, then slide, then skip and the grape vine  
3. When students are tagged, they can kneel and tag others form that position
4. You can have running students freeing the down or tagged students by having them give a high five

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those who are working hard.
2. Use only short bouts of activity
3. Start a new bout often in this warm-up period
4. Focus students on safety and watch that they are moving in a safe manner
5. Encourage and acknowledge honesty.
6. If it is a fitness activity, encourage students to keep moving and acknowledge students who are continually moving.
7. Take resting pulse before activity. Play one game, take heart rates to see if they reached their target, tell them to adjust, and start the final game. Monitor again.

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. Set up boundary cones.
3. No pushing or shoving allowed.

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Name of Activity: FITNESS SCAVENGER HUNT

• Source:  Paul Darst

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To work at Target Heart rate for an extended period of time whil strengthening their abdominals and shoulders

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be adapter for elementary.

Equipment:

1. Upper or lower gym
2. One bench pulled out of bleachers, or step up benches
3. Jump ropes one for each person in the groups
4. Cones for students to do jumping jacks
5. Enough cards for each group, cards starting with different exercises
   • jog to each corner of the gym and perform 20 curl ups
   • Find the bench and perform 25 step ups.  The count should "up, up, down, down"
   • Skip to the center of the gym and perform 2 standing stretches and hold for 8 counts
   • Grape vine to three other groups and tell them that they are doing a good job
   • Jog to an open area and perform 2 sitting stretches and hold for 8 seconds
   • Run and find the jump ropes.  Complete 25 jumps with a jog step
   • Jog with your group and touch 4 walls, 2 red lines, and 3 black lines
   • Slide to the jumping jack cones and perform 25 jumping jacks with at least 4 variations in arm or foot movement patterns
   • Ask your teacher for a good spot to perform a set of 25 treadmills
   • Jog and find 5 students to give a high five with and 5 more to give a low five with

Game:

1. This is a group effort and should be completed as a group
2. Each group has a scavenger hunt card
3. Students should take turns reading and carrying the card.
4. Students should carry the card with them as they move to each activity
5. Students should try to exercise together and count off the exercises together
6. Each card is set up so that all groups start with a different task

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those who are working hard.
2. Teachers should focus on leadership and working together
3. Focus students on safety and watch that they are moving in a safe manner
4. If it is a fitness activity, encourage students to keep moving and acknowledge students who are continually moving.
5. Take resting pulse before activity. Play one game, take heart rates to see if they reached their target, tell them to adjust, and start the final game. Monitor again.

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. Set up boundary cones.
3. No pushing or shoving allowed.

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Fitness Scavenger Hunt --- Appendix #23:

Name of Activity:  FITNESS STATIONS

• Source:  Paul Darst

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students work on chasing, fleeing, and dodging skills. If students are encouraged to keep jogging and moving even when a pac person is not close to them, it can be a fitness "pre" activity

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be adapter for elementary.

Equipment:

1. Upper, lower gym, mat room or cafeteria
2. One bench pulled out of bleachers, or step up benches if available
3. Cones at different stations with cards telling what the activity is at each
4. Alternate between strength and endurance at each station
5. Use 30 second music tape with 10 second silence tape for switching to next station
6. Encourgae to start working out before music begins
7. Stations are
   • Jog in place
   • Push-ups
   • Jumping Jacks
   • Crunches or sit-ups
   • Mountain Climbers
   • Reverse Push-ups
   • Arm moving ski jumps
   • Leg raisers
   • Leg moving shoulder stretches

• Students take heart rates after one full circuit

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those who are working hard.
2. Teachers should focus on leadership and working together
3. Focus students on safety and watch that they are moving in a safe manner
4. If it is a fitness activity, encourage students to keep moving and acknowledge students who are continually moving.
5. Take resting pulse before activity. Play one game, take heart rates to see if they reached their target, tell them to adjust, and start the final game. Monitor again.

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. Set up boundary cones.
3. No pushing or shoving allowed.

Snowball Wars --- Appendix #24:

Name of Activity: Snowball Wars

Rationale/Purpose of Activity: To have students practice running, jumping and throwing skills. Fitness: to raise the students heart rate to their target heart rate.

Suggested Grade Level: Used at the middle school level, but could be adapter for elementary

Equipment:

1. Mat room, small or large gym
2. As many nerf balls or Lufa's as you can find - we use about 100 donated donated Lufa's
3. Boundary cones to keep students away from walls

Game:

1. Spit students in half , roll lines or by Gender works well
2. The lufa's are the snowballs
3. Trash can lids are placed on the floor, two on each side, that the students try and throw the snowballs into
4. One trap is place closer to the mid-court line (worth 1 point) and one is placed farther back (worth 3 points)
5. Play games for about 1 minute, count up points in traps and then let the losing team pick one boy and one girl to join their team.
6. If a snow ball hits you and hits the ground you go to the back wall and do either
   • How ever many push-ups you think you should do to improve your upper body strength
   • How ever many sit-ups you think you should do to improve your abdominal strength
   • Place your hand on the wall for a 25 count to take a break
7. Finer rules
   • Can only hold a snowball to block for 3 seconds
   • I stress honesty or positive comments during the game

Teaching Tips:

1. Give feedback to those who are working hard.
2. Between games ask how many positives they gave to team mates or opponents

SAFETY/TEACHING TIPS:

1. Stretch before activity.
2. Set up boundary cones.
3. Make sure your students have a good grasp on moving in general space with others in a dynamic setting.
4. Do not throw the ball at other students faces

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