Keeping Kids in Motion
Building a community where fitness and play are the foundation for all families.
FEED THE FROGS/SWAT THE FLIES – Game of the Week
Feed the Frogs is another fun throwing game which includes throwing, striking, strategy, shooting, and fun. I play this game with 1st-5th grades. It’s based off the game Oscar the Grouch where students attempt to throw balls into the opposing team’s garbage can. In Feed the Frogs the flies that land inside the mats remain there instead of a student or two standing inside the circle of mats as they do in Oscar the Grouch who are charged with emptying the trash as balls enter. Feed the Frogs adds a few more exciting elements to the game, creating more action for every student.
What you’ll need for set-up:
- 10-20 small cones
- 6 medium-large cones
- 4 mats
- 4 swim noodles
- 4-6 medium size dice
- 8-10 foam paddles
- 20+ fleece or gator balls for throwing
How to Play:
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BEAT THE SPINNING HULA HOOP – Game of the Week
I recently posted a Game of the Week called Hula Hoop Twisting – 3 Engaging Activities. One of the activities included using the hoop as a fitness timer. Spin the hoop and complete as many repetitions of a specific exercise before the hoop stops.
This week, as a warm-up, I spread out a bunch of hoops before the students arrived. As they entered, they read the instant activity on the screen.
“Practice spinning the hoop. Count by 2’s as the hoop is spinning. How high can you count before the hoop stops? Repeat and count by 5’s.”
After several repetitions, I presented the challenge of the day called, BEAT THE SPINNING HOOP. We played several rounds where they were given an exercise and a target number. On my command, students would spin their hoops and attempt to reach the target number of the selected exercise.
Round 1: Jumping Jacks, Target: 12
Round 2: Sit-Ups, Target: 7
Round 3: Side Jumps, Target: 23
Round 4: Burpees, Target: 5
We completed each round twice. The students were highly motivated when presented with a target goal. Due to the widely positive response, I felt it necessary to share the activity with you. I hope you can use it.
If you enjoyed this post, consider following my blog to receive future posts.
Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/justybubpe.
Check out my Facebook group called Keeping Kids in Motion!
Subscribe to the FREE Keeping Kids in Motion Newsletter and get new games and activities
Check out my TeachersPayTeachers store.
WACKA-WACKA-WACKA! – The Ultimate Team Building Challenge – Game of the Week
Wacka-Wacka-Wacka is one of my absolute favorite team building challenges for students of all ages. It’s the perfect combination of cooperation, communication, patience, and fitness.
Set up:
- Create groups of 4 students
- Place stacks of six hula hoops around the perimeter of the gym (one stack per group)
- Spread out a bunch of cones throughout the space
How to play:
- Groups cooperatively work to build a sphere (pac man) with the six hula hoops
- Once a sphere is built, they lift it up and attempt to transport it to a cone (ghost)
- Groups slowly lower pac man onto a cone
- If successful and the sphere remains intact, one person in the group chooses an exercise. Each group member completes five repetitions of the chosen exercise.
- After five repetitions are completed, the students earn the ghost.
- Once again they lift up pac man, and transport it to another ghost. Groups must figure out how to transport pac man while holding onto each ghost they earned.
- If a sphere falls apart, it must be rebuilt immediately
- How many ghosts can pac man consume throughout the round?
Variation:
I have also placed exercises written on paper under each of the cones. This ensures students are working on a variety of movements.
If you enjoyed this post, consider following my blog to receive future posts.
Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/justybubpe.
Check out my Facebook group called Keeping Kids in Motion!