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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.
. Training the Middle School Child. Ft. Lauderdale: Exercise ETC, 2004.
PE Centralhttp://pecentral.org
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