by Neetu | May 26, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Aim
To work on the cognitive concept of color awareness and matching while practicing different verbal directions with the parachute.
Equipment Required
- Four cones for boundaries (same color).
- Spot marker for every kid.
- Fluff Balls or Bean bag that match with the color of the parachute
Play Area Set-Up
- Spread the parachute completely and lay it on the ground
- Have children hold the handles of the parachute or rolled up edges
Activity Description
- This makes for a nice short activity that can be done at the beginning of the class. It does not have to be done the entire 30 minutes if you are in a PE setting.
- Have children sit on the floor with their feet under the parachute and two hands holding the edge.
- 4-6 children (depending on how many colors are on the parachute) are given a bean bag (or Fluff Balls) that they set on the floor next to them. There should be one bean bag for each color on the parachute.
- Demonstrate the activity once with a bean bag before handing them out to students.
- Call out a particular color of bean bag and the student that has that color bean bag throws it onto the parachute.
- See if the beanbag landed on the same color or a different color on the parachute than the color of the beanbag. If it is on the same color, “Pop” the beanbag up into the air to send it flying.
- If it is on a different color, we do small shakes and wiggles, then stop and see if it has landed on the same color and keep going until it does.
- Gather the beanbags that have been popped and give them to children who have not had a turn. It works best with only one beanbag on the parachute at a time.
by Neetu | May 26, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Aim
“Today, as a class, we are going to take a camping trip to the top of a mountain. Let’s listen carefully and make sure we stay together.
Play Area Set-Up
- Spread the parachute completely and lay it on the ground
- Have children hold the handles of the parachute or rolled up edges
Activity Description
- Everyone, let’s sit down in our boat and begin to row to the little island.” Children sit down and put feet under the parachute and begin a rowing motion lying down and pulling themselves up.
- “There are a few small waves coming and then I see some really big waves.” Children shake the parachute softly and then more vigorously.
- “I see some fish moving under the water, look carefully!” Pick a few children to crawl under the parachute pretending to be fish.
- “We have finally made it to shore just before nightfall, so we must pitch our tent even with the rain and wind coming!” Children make the tent and sit under the parachute and then rock gently back and forth to make wind.
- “I think the storm is now over and we can finally go to sleep, so pull your blankets up.”
- Children get under the parachute with just their heads sticking out as if under a blanket.
- “What a beautiful morning, so let’s go for a hike up the mountains!” While holding the parachute with one hand, children walk in a circle. Then, the class makes 4 separate mountains (or the number of colors on your parachute) and the teacher calls different color groups to crawl onto the mountains.
- “We’ve reached the top and it’s cold so we must make a fire with the dry wood we see about us.”
- The teacher puts balls on the parachute and children start shaking the balls. “The wood is so dry, the fire is cracking and popping.”
- “After a long day of hiking and mountain climbing, let’s return to our boat and row back to the mainland.” Children walk in a circle, sit down and begin to grow again
“What a wonderful adventure!”
by Neetu | May 26, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Aim
To practice different directions while enjoying a fun, Halloween activity
Play Area Set-Up
- Spread the parachute completely and lay it on the ground
- Have children hold the handles of the parachute or rolled up edges
Activity Description
Spread the parachute out on the floor. Assign each student a handle on the parachute. Give each student a scarf. Place the Fluff Balls in the middle of the parachute.
Tell students they will listen for different “Halloween” words, and perform various actions on cue. First, have the students practice the following actions with the lights on. Then when they look like they appear ready, turn the lights off for a fun, glowing activity!
- Trick or Treat – the students will slowly pull the handles up and down from their knees to their shoulders. This should make waves.
- Popcorn – the students will quickly pop the handles up and down as fast as they can.
- Blast Off – the students will start with the handles at their feet. When the teacher says, “Up,” the students will slowly lift their handles up. When the teacher says, “Down!” the students will pull their handles down to the floor in front of them as fast as they can. The Fluff Balls on the parachute will shoot high in the air.
- Midnight – the students will do the same as Blast Off, except instead of pulling the handles down in front of them, they pull the handles behind them and sit down to trap the air inside.
- Ghost – while the students are inside the parachute the instructor will say, “Ghost!” At that time, the students will lie down on their backs and kick their feet in the air, kicking the parachute
DEBRIEFING
- Ask the kids what did we do today.
- Ask them to keep their hand on their chest and feel the heartbeat.
by Neetu | May 25, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Aim
Learn how a “kangaroo” looks like when it is jumping and sitting on the ground.
Equipment Required
- Four cones for boundaries (same color).
- Spot marker for every kid.
- Music Player & pen drive.
- Skill Cards of kangaroo jump
Play Area Set-Up
Layout letter cards over a large area. Show students the area around the cards where they will be walking/running and other locomotor skills.
Activity 1: Kangaroo tag
- Demonstrate to children what a “kangaroo” looks like when it is jumping and what it might look like when it is still.
- Have all children stand up and show you their “kangaroo” jumping.
- Explain that the children will play a game called “kangaroo tag”.
- If you get tagged you must jump on the spot like a kangaroo until someone comes and “high fives” you.
- Ask children to spread out around the activity space.
- Choose 1 or 2 children to be “it”.
- When I start the music, the game begins. If I stop the music, everyone has to freeze like a kangaroo.
- Change who is “it” every 60 seconds
- Participate in yourself to provide an example for children who might need help.
Activity 2: Spot Jumping
Prerequisites – Students should understand the difference between a two-foot take-off (jump) and using one foot (hop).
- Students are scattered about the desired area.
- Each child begins the activity by standing on a spot.
- The teacher tells the students to move around the general space while using a certain locomotor skill when the music begins. (Walking is a good method to use at first to control the speed of movement in general space.) When the music stops, the students will stand on the closest spot.
- At this time, the instructor gives them a jumping or hopping task to perform. After about 15 seconds, begin the music again. Be sure to reinforce which type of locomotor movement the students may use during the music time.
Examples of jumping/hopping tasks:
1) Jump on and off the spot.
2) Hop on and off the spot.
3) Jump side to side over the spot.
4) Hop around the spot.
5) Jump forward and backward over the spot.
6) Hop around the spot.
7) Straddle jump the spot. (Both feet on, and both feet off.)
8) In a straddle position, jump side-to-side changing which foot lands on the spot.
9) Jump up in the air in a straddle jump and land with both feet on the spot.
by Neetu | May 25, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Aim
Warm-up activity with math integration and cardiovascular workout
Equipment Required
- Four cones for boundaries (same color).
- Spot marker for every kid.
- Music Player & pen drive.
- Small cones
Play Area Set-Up
- Cones are placed randomly around the playing area of the gym.
- Two teams are formed. One team is called “Bob the Builder”, the other team is named the “Bulldozers”.
Activity Description
When the music starts, the Bulldozers knock down as many cones as they can be using only their open hand (no kicking). At the same time, the Builders have to pick up the cones that are being knocked down. Students may not kick the cones and students also have to stop when the music stops or their team is penalized.
When the music stops, they must stop playing and return to their group. Whichever team has the most cones up or down wins.
The teams then change positions and we do it again.
Math Connection:
Before we actually count the cones, we ask the students to estimate or guess which team won. Are there more up? (Builders will win). Are there more down? (Bulldozers win).
After they have made their estimates, we count the actual number of cones up or down and find the winner.
