We know children need to learn about health and fitness.  These 
games will encourage children to get off the computer and into 
activity.  The games are divided into three categories: healthy 
lifestyles, nutrition and games that encourage activity.

Activity Tag

Materials
Activity Cards highlight activities like jumping jacks, sit-ups, 
push-ups, and other basic calisthenics.

Number cards from 1-10 to add to the tasks students complete.  (You 
can use a deck of cards if the jacks, queens, jokers, aces, and 
kings are removed.)

Directions  
Designate an “it” and give that person a stack of activity cards and 
the numbered cards.  When they tag someone they give the tagged 
person an activity card and a number card.  The person tagged is to 
perform the activity the number of times specified on the card.  
Once a child finishes the task, they may enter the game again.

You can designate a safety zone with a time limit so children can 
rest and be safe.

Dental Health Relay

Materials
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Cup
Water
Towel,
Mouth rinse
Dental floss

Directions
Students form two equal lines.  On the signal, the first student 
runs to the supply box, gets a toothbrush, and lays it on the 
picture of the teeth.  Then he tags the next student.  That student 
goes to the box and gets the toothpaste and the event continues in 
the same way with all tooth items.    The team that gets all the 
supplies first wins the event!


Healthy Bone Relay

Materials
Plastic eggs or Hard-boiled eggs
Two large spoons
Rubber band

Directions
Divide students into two teams.  Each team is given an egg, a large 
spoon, and a rubber band.  On the signal, the first person on each 
team will take the rubber band and wrap it around the egg.  Then, 
they will walk their egg to the other end of the field and hand it 
to their teammate.  The relay continues until all the students have 
taken their egg on a ride.  If a team breaks their egg, they will 
continue the race without an egg.  

Risk Factor Game

Directions
Discuss the risk factors for heart disease with the children.  
Scatter children around the room and have them respond to commands 
in the appointed ways:  

High Blood Pressure:  Jump as high as possible.
Smoking:  Cough as they walk.
Stress:  Move frantically in the circle.
Obesity:  Walk very slowly.
Inactivity: Sit or lie without moving.
Heart Attack:  Perform three or more of the risk factors.
Wellness:  Briskly walk around the area.

Healthy Lifestyle Game

Directions
Discuss ways children can keep themselves healthy.  Make a list of 
healthy habits.  Line children at one end of the play area.  Each 
time a child performs one of the healthy habits on the list, they 
get to take a step forward.  For each unhealthy habit or omission of 
healthy habits, they take one-step back.

Good Nutrition Relay Race

Materials
Pictures or plastic models of foods from the food pyramid
Masking Tape

Directions
Take masking tape and make a diagram of the pyramid.  Discuss the 
food pyramid and explain what types of food go into each category.  
Divide children into two teams.  Children in each team take a turn 
picking a food picture and placing it in the correct area of the 
pyramid before returning to tag the next person in line.  Have 
someone stand by the pyramid and help students who are having 
trouble with identifying food.

Food Pyramid Relay

Materials
Plastic or pictures of food
Three trays

Directions
Students form two equal lines.  On the signal, the first student in 
each line walks with their lunch tray to the circle of plastic 
foods.  They choose a food from the Food Guide Pyramid.  After 
choosing a food and placing it on the tray, they hand the tray to 
the next student.
The event continues in this way until the team has a food from each 
group represented on their tray.  If a student drops a food, that 
food must be picked up and put back on the tray.  The first team to 
compile the balanced meal sits down.  Then they will explain the 
food groups they have chosen and how they built a balanced meal.

Musical Hoops

Materials
CD player
Music
Index cards with exercises on them and a pair of dice

Directions
Scatter hoops around the gym with index fitness cards inside the 
hoops.  Students move freely from one hoop to another and when the 
music stops, each student goes to a hoop and reads the fitness 
card.  One student rolls the dice.  The addition of the two numbers 
from the dice indicates how many times the students must perform the 
activity listed on the fitness card.  Two sixes indicate the 
students must perform twelve of that particular activity.  Fitness 
cards can include jumping jacks, crunches, mountain climbers, sit-
ups, push-ups, running in place, skipping in place, and free choice.

UNO Fitness

Directions
Each student receives an UNO card.  They are to perform an activity 
based on the card.
      
Red Cards =push ups
Yellow Cards =mountain climbers
Blue Cards =curl ups
Green Cards=bell jumps/lateral jumps),
Skip Card -- skip one lap around the gym
Reverse Card -- jog/walk one lap backward around gym
Draw two Cards -- draw two cards from the regular UNO deck and 
perform the activities corresponds to the card color and number of 
the card
Wild Draw 4 Card -- draw four cards from the UNO deck and do all 
four activities.

So get off the couch and into fitness.  Before you know it, you will 
forget about moving and just focus on the fun.

Patton, Jeanie.  Training the Elementary School Child.  Ft. 
Lauderdale: Exercise ETC, 2004.