PE ACTIVITIES
This page is a description of activities we do in Physical Education at Rainbow Elementary.
This is an ongoing list and more activities will be added as the years go by. It depends on facilities available, equipment available and the amount of time per period available as well as the yearly budget allowed for Physical Education.
· WARM-UP & STRETCHING
(This part is done every class for all 3 cycles and it should last between 6-8 minutes)
o Jogging (4 width of the gym)
o Slide and kick the feet sideways (1 width)
o Cross the leg (front – back also called Carioca) (1 width)
o Backward running ( 1 width)
o Hopping ( 1 width)
o Racing (2 width)
o Stretching (8 seconds per stretch)
§ Arms rotation FW – BW – Big – Small
§ Lats Stretching (Arm over the head sideways)
§ Inside of legs – Legs wide – Lean sideways (each side)
§ Sprinter position stretch – 1 leg in front, hands beside the front foot, long stride (each side)
§ Balance on one leg and stretch front of the leg (also called Quads) – Grab right ankle (each side)
§ Arm behind head – push with the other stretch back of the arm (also called Tricep)
§ Jumping Jacks (15)
§ The Warm-up and Stretch last approximately 8-10 minutes
TAG ACTIVITIES:
· X-RIVER (CROSS THE RIVER) TAG GAME (also known as British Bulldogs)
o Line students along the wall, choose one student to be in the middle as the Tagger
o Tell them they need to cross the river without being touched by the «Big Baluga» OR «The fisherman» in the middle
o When students are touched or tagged, they stay in the middle to help the main Tagger (Baluga / Fisherman)
o Say «Go» when everybody is ready and have caught up their wind.
o This tag game is played approximately 5 minutes
· FROZEN TAG
o Choose one team to be in the Black circle as the Main Taggers
o Taggers try to touch all the students (The goal is to freeze everyone)
o When touched, students FREEZE with their arms out and legs spread out at the exact spot where they got tagged
o You can «time up» the teams to tell them who was the fastest team to freeze everyone.
o This tag game is played approximately 5-8 minutes
· Hi-5 Tag
o To start the game, a team (group of 2-3 or 4) is chosen to be in the middle of the gym (black circle) as the Main Taggers
o Taggers try to touch all the students (The goal is to freeze everyone)
o When touched, students FREEZE with one arm and hand STRAIGHT UP at the exact spot where they got tagged
o Other players can FREE THEM UP by giving them the «HI-5»
o You can «time up» the teams to tell them who was the fastest team to freeze everyone.
o This tag game is played approximately 5 minutes
· BRIDGE TAG
o To start the game, a team (group of 2-3 or 4) is chosen to be in the middle of the gym (black circle) as the Main Taggers
o The main taggers are asked to demonstrate how to do a BRIDGE (On hands and feet with HIPS facing up // hands directly under the shoulders // feet directly under the knees)
o Taggers try to touch all the students (The goal is to freeze everyone)
o When touched, students FREEZE in the BRIDGE position at the exact spot where they got tagged
o Other players can FREE THEM UP by going CRAWLING UNDER THE BRIDGE
o You can «time up» the teams to tell them who was the fastest team to freeze everyone.
o This tag game is played approximately 5-8 minutes
· 4-PLANETS
o This activity can be done with grade 1 to 4
o Place 4 Blue Mattress (take them from my office behind the door)
o Put each team in one corner on the BLUE MATTRESS
o Place one bench along the wall in the middle of the gym to serve as your bench and the SPACE PRISON
o Select one good runner to start as the SPACE POLICE
o Call 2 colors nice and loud.
§ Those 2 teams must switch mattresses by running toward the other color without being touched or tagged by the SPACE POLICE
§ If students are TAGGED by the SPACE POLICE, they must go to the SPACE PRISON and stick their hand out to be delivered by their own team next time their color is called
- The game ends when the police touch or tag all members from the same team.
- You continue the game by changing the Police regularly.
- You use this to figure out if your teams are evenly matched before your next game.
· FLAG-A-TAG
o This activity is done with grade 1 to 6
o Student are given each a BELT with FLAGS ( also called FLAG-A-TAG BELTS)
o 1 STUDENT is asked to be in the middle as the FISHERMAN
o The fisherman has to take away the FLAGS of the students crossing the RIVER.
o Students are not allowed to protect their flags
o FISHERMAN is not allowed to grad the BELT, SHIRTS OR BODY PARTS
o FISHERMAN is not allowed to stop the runner or obstruct the way in any fashion possible
o Students really like playing this game and really get into it. They need to be reminded to be careful for collision
o This TAG game is played for approximately 25-30 minutes as most students need help in setting up their own belt.
· WHAT TIME IS IT MR. WOLF
o This game is only played in the first cycle (grade 1 and 2)
o Students are asked to line up along the wall, holding hands
o 1 students is asked to be the WOLF at the other end of the gym, FACING THE WALL
o The students holding hands are asked to ASK THE QUESTION to the wolf all together and loud!!
o WHAT TIME IS IT MR. WOLF?
o The WOLF answers the question with a number from 1 to 12 loudly.
o The WOLF decides at any time to say IT`S LUNCH TIME and turns around and chase the kids in trying to TAG them
o When students are tagged, they join the WOLF
o There is only one WOLF leader answering the question.
o When students get the answer from the wolf, they count the numbers loudly together as the take the number of steps asked by the WOLF
o This game is played for about 10-12 minutes
TEAM GAMES
· 4-CORNER-SOCCER
o Place 4 benches placed sideways in each corner ( 1 team per bench/corner)
o The class is divided into 4 equal teams in numbers and agilities (as much as possible)
o The goal of the game is to protect your own bench from the ball ( 1 goalie per team) and to contribute scoring on other teams to eliminate them from the round
o Place ball in the middle at the start of the game
o Remember: NO HANDS ON THE BALL (Except for goalies) – 1 minute penalty for touching the ball.
o Students have to be careful at the start of the game for collisions in the middle
o Say «GO» to start the game
o When a team is being scored on, they (the players on that team) sit down and wait the end of the round.
o Scoring system:
§ 1st team out gets = 1 point
§ 2nd team out gets = 2 points
§ 3rd team out gets = 3 points
§ The winning team gets = 4 points
o At the end of the round, a reminder is told to students.
§ Who is leading the game?
§ How teams can work together to get the LEADING TEAM out as early as possible to improve their chance of winning or leading.
o This game is very popular with the students and can be played for 15-30 or even for the whole period. The bigger the groups, the better the chemistry!!
· SOFTBALL: This activity has to be done inside which is not ideal. The reason is the 50 min. period does not allow to go to the ballfield and back and have enough time to play. It would be great if a ballfield was planned somewhere close to the elementary school eventually.
o This activity can be done with Grade 3 to 6 with some variations for the grade 3-4 (bigger and softer ball - closer bases etc)
o The class is divided into 2 even teams
o The class is given outside so make sure students are dressed for outdoor activity
o Help is necessary to bring bases, bat, gloves and pinnies.
o The teacher is the PITCHER for both teams
o The softball is gently thrown to the BATTER (The goal is to make everyone bat and touch the ball)
o The batter is asked to hold the bat properly, keep eyes on the ball and make contact with it and run on the bases
o After 3 outs or 5 points per inning, the team at BAT goes to FIELD and vice-versa.
o The is played for the whole period (75 minutes)
o This game is usually played 2 times in the fall and 2 times in the spring
· SOCCER-BASEBALL
o This activity can be done inside or outside with the grade 1 to grade 4
o The class is divided into 2 even teams
o The class is given outside on the fenced playground or in front of the school on the grass area
o Help is necessary to bring bases
o The teacher is the PITCHER for both teams
o The ball is rolled to the BATTER
o The batter kicks the ball with his/her foot and runs on the base
o After 3 outs or 5 points per inning, the team at BAT goes to FIELD and vice-versa.
o The is played for the whole period (75 minutes)
o This game is usually played 2 times in the fall and 2 times in the spring
· SNAKE THROUGH BRIDGE
o This activity is done with grade 1 and 2
o The students are asked to do a BRIDGE
o On hands and feet with HIPS facing up
o hands directly under the shoulders
o feet directly under the knees
o 2 TEAMS are asked to line up shoulder to shoulder with feet (toes) on the same line
o The first student in line on both teams has to CRAWL under the HUMAN BRIDGE which is called TUNNEL
o Once all students have gone through the TUNNEL, the team wins
o This game is played maybe twice (5 minutes)
· HUMAN PYRAMIDS
o This activity is done with the grade 1 to 6 with variation of the difficulty of the pyramids
o Students are placed in 3 or 4 teams
o Each team is given a mattress
o Students are asked to do different types of position and forms on the mattress
§ Candle
§ Reverse candle
§ Hand stand
§ Head stand
§ Pyramids of 2 – 3 – 4- 5 – 6 people
§ Students are shown a picture or drawing of a human pyramid and they are asked to reproduce it using all the people on the team
§ Students are shown basic support positions and how to stand on top of another person without hurting or causing injuries
· HUNTER`S DODGEBALL
o This activity is done with grade 1 to 6
o There are many forms of dodgeball
o We play with the yellow lines (badminton court)
o The class is divided into 2 teams
o Each team starts with 1 player behind the BACK LINE – YELLOW LINE
o When all the players are out (they have been touched by the ball without catching it), the game ends
o This game is played 15-20 minutes
· GOAL SOCCER
o This activity is done with grade 1 to 6
o The class is divided into 2 teams
o We usually play in one half of the gym
o Benches are placed in the middle of the gym to serve as boundaries
o All players are given a number
o All the players are standing in front of the wall, side by side covering the whole width of the gym
o When teacher calls a number, let`s say number 2. The number 2 on each team runs to the middle and battles for the ball
o When control of the ball is taken, the player tries to kick the ball so it touches the wall.
o All the other players are goalies and try to protect the wall
o If the ball touch the wall, it`s a goal
o 1 or more numbers can be called. Same concept but the more players battling for the ball means less players to act as goalies
o This game can be played for 20-30 minutes
· PARACHUTE
o This game is played only with they CYCLE 1 (Grade 1-2)
o A big colourful round parachute
o Various type of activities are played with the kids
o This game is played for about 10 minutes
· BASKETBALL : You can view the Basketball page that gives the students more information, links and videos of Baskeball. Basketball is done approximately 6-8 times over the school year. It may vary from one cycle to the next. It varies with the interests of each group but as a general guideline, we try to initiate everyone to some basketball games. (It is not done with the cycle 1 students except for simple dribbling activities).
o This activity is done with all levels (grade 3-6)
o The class is divide into 2 teams
o Grade 1-2 concentrate on dribbling and passing. A type of relay race is done
o Grade 3-6, we review dribbling, passing, address shooting and concepts of offence and defence
o A garbage-basketball is played. Same as basketball but with a player standing on a chair with a Garbage can to catch the passes from it`s on team. Only passes to move the ball. No dribbling. This game is done in the first course as a build up game to a basketball game. The purpose is to promote passing and getting open.
o A baseball-basketball game is played; 1 team (all players) must pass the ball to eachother (all players must touch the ball) and then the last person must put it in the basket (hoop). The player from the other team must run to the other side of the wall touch the ball while dribbling and then must put the basketball into the hoop before the other team.
o Baskeball is the main activity at least 3-4 times during the school year sometimes it may go up to 6 times.
· GARBAGE-BASKETBALL
o This variation of Basketball is done with grade 3-6
o Same as basketball but with a player standing on a chair with a Garbage or a Bucket.
o The teams make passes to eachother and try to pass the ball to the player on the chair
o Only passes to move the ball. No dribbling. As they get better, dribbling can be added later on.
· SKIPPING CONTEST
o 1 skipping rope per student
o The activity is led by the teacher through various types of skipping moves
o A little competition is made with the students
o Students that skip the longest without missing
o Students that skip the fastest
o Students that cross their arms
o Long rope, double-dutch skipping (2 ropes)
o This activity usually last between 5-10 minutes
o The time without missing is recorded to create a competition amongst the students.
· RELAY RACES
o Various types of relay races can be done.
o Students are placed into 2, 3 or 4 teams
o The students have to perform various types of activities and go through obstacles and come back to their team so the next student can do it
o This activity can last 10-15 minutes
· BEEP TEST also called Léger-Boucher
o This is a cardiovascular test – a running test
o The test is adapted to the grades
§ GRADE 1-2 = 10 Meters
§ GRADE 3-4 = 15 Meters
§ GRADE 5-6 = 20 Meters
o Students leave from one cone towards the other cone
o Students have to make it to the other side before the BEEP
o The BEEP comes faster and faster so the kids have to run faster and faster
o When students misses 2 BEEPS in a row, the students is ask to sit down or quit
o The teacher records the LEVEL achieved by all students
o This test demonstrates the running abilities and fitness level but also a bit of mental toughness
o This activity usually last 15-20 minutes
· DRIVE BALL
o The class is divide into 2 teams
o The big KINBALL is used and placed in the middle of the gym
o Other HANDBALL balls are used
o Each student has a ball to start the game
o The students need to be behind the line and cone
o Each team tries to throw their balls on the BIG KINBALL to make it roll passed the other team back line
o This game can be played approximately 20-25 minutes
· STEEL THE FLAG
o The class is divided into 2 teams
o One team is the ROBBERS and the ROBBERS have a SNIPER
o The ROBBERS try to enter the zone of the POLICE to steel the flag (stick place inside the cone)
o The POLICE can touch the ROBBERS. Robbers that have been touched go sit down and let the game continue
o The SNIPER can touch the POLICE. Police that have been touched by the SNIPER go sit down until the end of the game.
o If the ROBBERS enter the POLICE zone and get to STEEL the flag. The Robbers earn the point.
o If the POLICE get to touch all the Robbers or touch the Robber trying to steel the flag, they earn the point.
o This activity can last 20-30 minutes
· KNOCK THE CONES
o The class is divide into 2 teams
o One team at bat, one team at field
o The team at field place the 15 cones all over the gym
o The player on the team at bat, rolls the ball anywhere in the gym and starts running all over the gym to knock the cones down
o When the player can decide to come back at any time.
o The team at field can not run with the ball
o The team at field need to pass the ball to eachother to trap the runner and hit him/her with the ball below the shoulder
o After 3 outs, the roles are reversed.
o This activity can last 20-30 minutes
· HOCKEY
o Usually, the class is divided into 3 teams
o Usually, we use the small nets because we do not have to have goalies. We do that to waste less time with goalie equipment. Once in a while, we have goalies.
o The winning team stays on the court.
o This is also a popular activity with all the classes
o This activity can last 20-30 minutes
· BROOMBALL
o Usually, the class is divided into 3 teams
o Usually, we use the small nets because we do not have to have goalies.
o The winning team stays on the court.
o This activity can last 20-30 minutes
· RINGETTE
o Usually, the class is divided into 3 teams
o Usually, we use the small nets because we do not have to have goalies.
o The winning team stays on the court.
o This activity can last 20-30 minutes
o Sticks and Ring are used
· BADMINTON
o Students are asked to work with a partner
o There are 3 courts and a maximum of 12 students playing at the same time
o The other pairs are sitting on the side and wait their turn
o Students are show basic moves with the racket but the most important thing is to simply rally the birdie back and forth
o Rotation is made every 3 minutes
o All groups rotate around and points are not really kept.
o Eventually, we will start counting points
o This activity can last 45 minutes
· MAT ACTIVITIES
o Various moves are shown on the mattress
o Head stand
o Hand stand
o Front roll
o Back roll
o Wheel
o 2-man front roll
o Wrestling matches (KING OF THE SOCK)
o Also some human pyramids are performed
o This activity can last 20 minutes
· AGILITIES CIRCUIT
o The class is divided into 2 teams
o The students are shown the circuit
o The circuit includes;
§ FRONT ROLL
§ CRAWLING UNDER BENCH
§ SKIPPING
§ WALKING OVER UPSIDE DOWN BENCH (BALANCE)
§ CLIMBING AND GO THROUGH HOOPS INTO THE LATTER
§ RUNNING FORWARD
§ THROW BALL INTO BASKET (HOOP)
§ RUN BACKWARD
§ SPRINT FORWARD AND SIT DOWN
o 2 students are performing the circuit at the same time in a type of race
o Other students watch. 2 students are asked to count the skipping (20)
o This activity lasts all period
o A huge ball is used
o 3 teams of 4 are made
o 3 students of a team hold the ball with their arms up and one knee down, the other player has to call «OMNIKIN – YELLOW/GREEN/RED»
o The team called out has to catch the ball without it to fall on the ground
o If a team makes a calling mistake or do not catch the ball, a point is given to the other 2 teams
· ULTIMATE FRISBEE
o The class is divided into 2 teams
o The goal of the game is to catch the FRISBEE as close to the opposing wall so they can touch the wall with the Frisbee
o The player with FRISBEE can not run or walk with it
o Player with the FRISBEE tries to complete a pass and make his/her team move forward closer to the goal (wall)
o If the FRISBEE is not caught or dropped, a change of possession occurs. Frisbee goes to the other team
o When a team does not have the FRISBEE, they have to cover a player and stay with them but not allowed to touch them.
o This game can be played 25-30 minutes
· MINI-VOLLEYBALL
o This is a modified way of playing volleyball. In order to make it easier to the young kids, we allow the students to catch the ball in a continuous movement instead of bouncing or volleying the ball which is a little hard for them to do at this stage
o We start practicing bouncing and volleying with a partner. This usually goes fine.
o Then, in groups of 4-6, they try to keep the ball in the air just as in HACKY SACK
o Then a mini-volleyball game is played with the modified rules and also sometimes a beach ball is used to make it
