Keeping Kids in Motion
Building a community where fitness and play are the foundation for all families.
Will You Be My “PAL”-entine? – A Valentine’s Day Tag Game
Are you searching for the perfect game for Valentine’s Day? I have the ultimate tag game which is sure to put smiles on everyone’s face. Will you be my “Pal”-entine?
Equipment:
- 3-5 deck rings or any other ring-shaped piece of equipment
- 2-5 red or pink pool noodles (depending on group size and space)
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Storyline:
It’s Valentine’s Day and Cupid plans on having some fun. He/she wants to turn everyone into a chocolate heart by tagging students with his arrow. When a student is tagged by Cupid, the student is transformed into a chocolate heart. This is demonstrated by standing with both feet stuck in the mud and the fingertips of both hands touching the top of the head. Have no fear! The spell can easily be broken with the help of a friend or pal who is holding one of the magical rings. Any student with a magical ring is immune to Cupid’s spell. To break the spell, the ring bearer must drop to one knee in front of the chocolate heart and ask one simple, yet meaningful question; “Will you be my “Pal”-entine?” During this proposal, the ring bearer places the ring on the wrist of the chocolate heart. The chocolate heart responds by saying, “yes, I will be your “Pal”-entine?” Now the former chocolate heart is a ring bearer and the previous ring bearer must flee from Cupid.
I preface the game with a conversation about the meaning of the word pal. “We are all friends and friends help each other. Are you ready to be a great pal to everyone?”
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The ICE CREAM PARLOR is OPEN!
Ice Cream Parlor – “The Ice Cream Parlor is about to open. The manager is hiring anyone who can scoop the ice cream into a cone. Be careful not to drop the ice cream on the floor.”
This is a favorite instant activity with my first-grade students. Before the students enter the gym, I greet them at the door and inform them that the ice cream parlor is open. The manager is hiring anyone who can scoop the ice cream into a cone. “Be careful! Keep the ice cream off the floor and always be a good teammate.” Students then retrieve a plastic scoop, a yarn ball, and a small cone to practice tossing the ice cream with their scoop into the cone. Then it’s time to work with a partner. “Can you scoop the ice cream and toss it to a partner at the other end of the counter?” The sillier the story, the more fun students will have!
If your searching for a goofy, yet effective way to work on tracking and catching skills, then it’s time to open and ice cream parlor in your gym!
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Pool Sharks – A PE version of BILLIARDS
Pool Sharks began as a station (center) with my second-grade students several years ago. I placed a hula hoop, half a pool noodle, and a 6-inch gator ball in the corner of the gym. Imagining the noodle as a pool stick and the hoop as a pocket on a billiard table, students were challenged to strike the ball into the pocket from varying distances. The station quickly became a favorite. Soon I added other ways to play pool sharks throughout the year. Below are several ideas that you may find fun and engaging.
See several variations of pool sharks listed below.
I featured pool sharks in my MASTER THE MINUTE (minute to win it) post several years ago. Watch this young contestant’s successful run!
During the pandemic, I introduced an at-home version of pool sharks using cans instead of hoops.
POOL SHARKS VARIATIONS
- EXPERIMENTATION – I spread out a bunch of hula hoops throughout the gym. I give students the freedom to shoot at any hoop from any spot. Students quickly experiment with accuracy and pace as they try to ease the ball over the edge of the hoop.
- HORSE – After the experimentation round, students pair up to play the basketball version of HORSE. Students take turns choosing a spot to shoot from. If the first student makes the shot then the second student must then make the same shot. If the second student misses, he/she receives the first letter, “H.” The first student to spell horse loses the round.
- AROUND THE WORLD – I spread out more hoops than there are students around the perimeter of the room. For a class of 20, I’ll spread out around 25 hoops. I place one poly spot in front of each hoop (vary the distances). This is where students take their first shots. Each student begins at a different hoop. When the game begins, they shoot at their hoops. If they miss the first shot, they shoot from wherever the ball stops. This continues until the ball goes into the hoop. Once the shot is made, students move counterclockwise to the next hole. Who can make it around the world before time expires?
- SHOOT FOR A HOOP – Spread out as many hoops as possible in the center of the gym. In pairs, students find a spot anywhere on the perimeter (use spots or the sidelines and end lines). Students take turns shooting the ball into the center, trying to land the ball inside a hoop. If the ball stops in a hoop, the student takes the hoop back to their spot. If the ball lands outside the hoop, the ball and pool noodle are returned to the partner who then takes a turn. The goal is for the entire class the clear the hoops in a given amount of time.
These are ways that we play pool sharks. I’d love to learn how YOU play.
Check out my TPT page for more 30-day Challenges!
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Check out my Facebook group called Keeping Kids in Motion!
Subscribe to my Youtube Channel for over 100 useful games for physical education!