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Activity: Super Chicken

What you Need: Nothing

Get Ready: Have students stand behind their chairs and put all backpacks and
materials under their seat

The Why: To become an immortal chicken.

How to Play: Review normal rock-paper-scissors (rock beats scissors; paper beats
rock; scissors beat paper). “Rock-Paper-Scissors-SHOW”

Demonstrate the full body movements (rock = crouch and hug knees,
paper = spread arms and legs as wide as possible, scissors = one leg
forward one leg back, one arm forward one arm back). Check for
understanding by having students perform each movement

Demonstrate chicken (chicken wings like in the chicken dance), super

chicken (arms forward like superman/woman), and immortal chicken
movement (arms up to the sky like you’re immortal). Check for
understanding by having students perform each movement.

Explain basic rules of the game. Everyone starts as a chicken and

challenges someone to full body rock, paper, scissors. Whoever wins
moves up a level toward immortal chicken; whoever loses moves
down a level. Once immortal, students do not move down a level
even if they lose. Continue playing the game until everyone is an
immortal chicken.

Options/ Ideas: Students unable to do full body movements can do traditional rock
paper scissors.

Activity Contributed by:

University of Northern Colorado Active
Brian Dauenhauer [email protected]
Schools Institute

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Activity: Bowl and Bound

What you Need: Crumpled paper, bean bag, soft ball, or other slidable object

Get Ready: An open space is needed to play this activity. Divide

students into groups of 4–6. Within each group, choose half
of the students to be “sliders” and the other half of the
students to be “jumpers.”

The Why: In this activity, there are 2 groups: "sliders" and "jumpers." The
sliders will try to slide or roll their object (paper, bean bag,
etc.) and hit the jumpers’ feet. The jumpers will utilize a 2-
legged jump to jump over the sliding objects. Sliders may
keep track of their score: one point for each time their object
hits the feet of a jumper.

How to Play: Position the sliders on either side of the jumpers, and
provide a boundary (e.g. a line of tape on the floor or an
imaginary line between two objects) to divide the sliders’
space from the jumpers’ space. On "go" the sliders begin
SLIDING/ROLLING their objects to try to hit the feet of the
jumpers. This will continue for about 60 seconds, at which
time, students will switch roles. Each students keeps track
of their own score. Play as many rounds as you'd like!

Options/ Ideas: Progressions:

1. Sliders are positioned in a circle around the jumpers.
2. Each slider has multiple objects for sliding.
3. Jumpers balance and jump on only one leg

Activity Contributed by:

Athlos Movement & Character Program Michael Jennings [email protected]

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Activity: Silent Speed Ball

What you Need: One or more balls

Get Ready: Students form a circle

The Why: Practice throwing skills and a fun brain break!

How to Play: First, students make a circle. They can play either sitting
or standing. You start with one ball. The students have to
pass the ball across the circle to another student. The
goal is to complete as many passes as possible. Students
cannot talk during the game. If a student talks, the trial is
over. The trial is also over if a pass is wild, or incomplete.
Use a soft ball that is easy to catch (ie. fleece balls or
foam balls). The teacher can choose whether or not to set
a limit on the amount of time a student can hold the ball
before passing.

Options/ Ideas: Keep track of the class record. Each time you play,
challenge the class to beat their record.
You can form smaller circles with less students, and for an
added challenge add in more balls to pass. This activity is
featured in this blog post along with a few other activities.

Activity Contributed by:

S&S Worldwide Chelsea Brown [email protected]

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Activity: fit Field Day: An Inclusive Workout for Kids

What you Need: Computer or Tablet

Get Ready: Students may be sitting or standing.

The Why: Provide kids with an energizing activity that can be

done sitting or standing and viewed in either English
or Spanish.

How to Play: Kids can follow along with the virtual field day in a
classroom or any activity area.
 Video LINK

Options/ Ideas: The video presents both standing and sitting options
for kids as they progress through virtual field day
activities.

Activity Contributed by:

Sanford fit Donna Hardie [email protected]

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Activity: One Minute Pop Up

What you Need: Nothing

Get Ready: Start the activity with all students seated at their desks

The Why: The purpose of this activity is to promote communication and

teamwork amongst students while incorporating movement.

How to Play: The objective of the game is for students to work together as a
class to count from 1-10. When the teacher says "Go", students
will randomly stand up, taking turns, counting from 1-10 in
consecutive order. For example, the first student will stand up
and shout "one!", and then sit back down. The next student will
stand and shout "two!" and sit back down, etc. The catch is that
they cannot use words to communicate with one another, and
two students cannot stand up and shout a number at the same
time. If this happens, the class must start back at one. The
game is over (1) at the conclusion of one minute, or (2) when
the class counts to 10 consecutively without any misses.
LINK to Activity Plan

Options/ Ideas: If a student is unable to stand-up, modify the activity so that

students raise their hands, or adjust to another form of activity
that may be suitable. Additionally, give students more time to
complete the activity.
To challenge students, decrease the time, or increase the
number that they will count to.
Keep track of the highest score achieved and challenge class
to break it next time!

Activity Contributed by:

Active Academics® Olivia Mackey [email protected]

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Activity: Dance of the Month

What you Need: Screen or Projector

Get Ready: Movements are designed to be performed without

moving classroom furniture. Students need a
personal space bubble and a positive attitude!

The Why: Develop self-confidence and social awareness as

you learn a new dance from around the world.

How to Play: Login in to the Educators' Club on catch.org and

select "Dance of the Month" in the February featured
content. Invite students to stand up and follow along
as they learn cultural context along with fun and easy
steps for February's dance of the month: The
Charleston!
 Dance of the Month Link
 Web Link
 Video Link

Options/ Ideas: Modifications are described in our supplemental

resource. (LINK)

Activity Contributed by:

CATCH Global Foundation Margot Toppen [email protected]

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Activity: H.Y.P.E. Breakin’ it Down Vol. 2

What you Need: Projector or Screen

Get Ready: Students can be sitting or standing with an arms'

length distance (or more) between them.

The Why: This 2-minute video will help students develop their
physical literacy through easy, and fun, hip hop
dance moves. Suitable for all ages and abilities

How to Play: Follow this LINK and get ready to move!

Options/ Ideas: Follow this LINK for more videos - H.Y.P.E. Breakin' It
Down - Volume 2

All videos include seated modifications and varying

levels of intensity so everyone can participate.

Activity Contributed by:

Hip Hop Public Health Lindsey Harr [email protected]

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Activity: 0 to 60

What you Need: TV/Projector

Get Ready: Students stand next to their desks

The Why: A fun and easy energizer activity to gets kids

moving.

How to Play: Follow along to the video. (VIDEO LINK)

Options/ Ideas: The video shows seated options for the exercises.

Activity Contributed by:

National Center on Health Physical
Alex Martinez [email protected]
Activity and Disability (NCHPAD)

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Activity: Alphabet Hide & Seek

What you Need: Sticky Notes

Get Ready: Write each letter of the alphabet on individual sticky

notes and place them on the floor in a specified room
or area.

The Why: Create more movement in the classroom by having

students run to each letter of the alphabet.

How to Play: Have students move to each letter.

Blog Link with Activity Plan

Options/ Ideas: Give the sound of the letter

Give a word that starts with that letter
Call out a letter you want them to run to
If the weather permits, you can easily do this outside
with some chalk! Another variation of this activity
would be to give your students a piece of chalk and
write a word next to the letter they run to.

Activity Contributed by:

Moving Minds by Gopher Simone Steiskal [email protected]

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Activity: Animal Movements

What you Need: Nothing

Get Ready: Have students spread out in an open area.

The Why: Students move like animals

How to Play: Call out an animal and have your students mimic its
movement.

For example, if you call out “frog,” your students

would jump on all fours like a frog. To make this more
educational, have your students mimic the animal
and shout out a fun fact about the animal.

Other animals – Bear, crab, gorilla, bunny, inch-worm,

alligator, seal, dinosaur, duck

Blog Link with Activity Plan

Options/ Ideas: Allow students the opportunity to choose their

favorite animal to mimic.

Activity Contributed by:

Moving Minds by Gopher Sport Simone Steiskal [email protected]

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Activity: Airplane

What you Need: Nothing

Get Ready: Students will stand up and spread out throughout the
classroom

The Why: To get students moving and refueled!

How to Play: Students start in a standing position, and you will say
“Airplanes, Start Your Engines.” The students are to make
an airplane noise and put their arms out like wings. You
then say, “Airplanes, Fly.” The students then move around in
the general space (without bumping into each other) to the
movement of your choice. The movement can vary: bear
walks, skipping, hopping, jumping, skipping, bunny hop,
hopping on one foot, etc. You can get as creative as you
want. Be sure to emphasize safety. When you say,
“Airplanes Refuel,” the students must freeze and do an
exercise to "fuel up their tanks". You can choose the
exercise. Repeat as many times are you'd like. When you
are done, the students will literally be refueled and ready to
learn!

Options/ Ideas: The activity is featured in this blog post along with others.

Activity Contributed by:

S&S Worldwide Chelsea Brown [email protected]

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Activity: Energize in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

What you Need: Nothing

Get Ready: If indoors have students clear the space around them
(i.e push-in desk chairs). If outdoors, students spread
out.

The Why: Get your heart pumping and brain activated for
learning!

How to Play: Get hearts pumping with a quick sequence of

exercises. Call out 5 actions for your students to do as
quickly as they can. For instance, 5 jumping jacks, 4
butt kicks, 3 arm circles, 2 frog jumps, 1 tree pose.
Then, call on 5 different students to each pick a move
to repeat the activity. Emphasize good technique.

Options/ Ideas: Teachers can write the exercises/movements on the

board and should demo each one before starting. They
can also provide alternative moves for kids with limited
mobility.
Have students generate the list of movements.

Additional resource – www.marathonkids.org/connect

Activity Contributed by:

Marathon Kids Anna Kilarski [email protected]

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Activity: Spell your Name Fitness

What you Need: Print copies of the name cards (LINK); one per group.

Get Ready: Students can do in their classroom in their own safe

space or beside their desk.

The Why: Brain Boost

How to Play: Follow the video (LINK)

Options/ Ideas: Save paper! Project the name card key onto a screen.

Activity Contributed by:

Mike Smith [email protected]
School Specialty/Sportime
Brittany Govednik [email protected]

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Activity: FUTP 60's In Class Physical Activity
“Dance Walking”

What you Need: Computer and screen

Get Ready: Access this Video LINK

The Why: Dance walking is a fun and active way for the class
to move from location to location.

How to Play: The teacher shows the video and demonstrates

how to lead the class with a dance walk. Randomly
select students to be the leaders.

Options/ Ideas: Check out more activities at

www.fueluptoplay60.com

Activity Contributed by:

GENYOUth + FUTP 60 Lauren Izzo [email protected]

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Activity: Mindful Scarves

What you Need: 1 juggling scarf or plastic grocery bag per student

Get Ready: Students standing in personal space around the classroom.

The Why: Students will use juggling scarves to practice being mindful (or
in the present moment) as a strategy for when they might be
feeling strong or complex emotions.

How to Play: Excerpt from health. moves. minds. Mindful Scarves mini-lesson:

Lead a discussion on the various types of feelings a person

might have (e.g., scared, mad, sad, happy, excited, nervous,
worried, overwhelmed). Explain to students that it is normal to
feel a variety of feelings and sometimes some feelings will be
more intense, or stronger, than other feelings. A part of being
healthy is learning how to manage feelings in healthy ways.
Today students will practice being mindful as a way to help
manage big feelings. Be sure to communicate/connect the SEL
competency of self-management along with its sub-
competencies with students.

Example script: “We’ve been talking about all the different

feelings we might feel. Sometimes certain feelings might feel
stronger than other feelings and that’s okay. What we are doing
in PE class is learning different tools we can use when we might
have some of these big feelings. Feelings are normal and
healthy and all of them are okay, we just want to make sure we
do healthy things when we have big feelings. Today we are
going to use our scarves to practice being mindful. That means
we are going to pay full attention while we use our scarves and
we’re taking our time, and we are focused and relaxed while we
use the scarves.”

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Page 2 Lead students through the following activities:
• Take one of the juggling scarves and hold it out in front of you
above your head. Let go of the scarf and watch it fall. What do
you notice about the scarf as it falls? How does it seem to be
falling?
• Now take all three of your juggling scarves and do the same
thing. What do you notice now? Which scarf hit the ground first?
How are the scarves falling?
• Take a juggling scarf and rub it between your hands. What
does it feel like? What does it sound like?
• Take the juggling scarf and gently rub it against the back of
your hand. What does it feel like? Does it tickle? Is it itchy?
• Slowing down to notice things you normally wouldn’t pay
attention to about an object is one way of practicing being
mindful. It allows us to be in the present moment and not think
about things that have already happened or things that might
happen in the future.
LINK to Resource

Options/ Ideas: • Allow students to choose different ways they can use the
scarves to practice mindfulness.
• Break each step down for students who may only be able to
process one step at a time.
• Provide students with pictures, dramatic actions, or a video
demonstration.
• Students without the lung capacity to take controlled deep
breaths may do a slow repetitive movement with their hand or
foot as a method to control the emotions and improve focus.
• Allow students to move the scarf as they breathe, but not
actually breathe onto the scarf.
• Play calming music with the lights dimmed.

Activity Contributed by:

SHAPE America Michelle Carter [email protected]

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Activity: Counting by Tens Train

What you Need: Pencils

Get Ready: Students should stand up and have room to run in

place and move their arms.

The Why: Students move while counting by 10s to 100.

How to Play: Students move their arms in circles like train wheels
as they run in place and count by 10s to 100.

Options/ Ideas: Students without use of their arms can do the activity
by running in place. Students without use of their legs
can move their arms only. Students can also do
another movement as they count by 10s.

Activity Contributed by:

ActivEd/Walkabouts Jennifer Weaver-Spencer [email protected]

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Activity: Balance Challenge

What you Need: Computer, SMART board or projector, video link

Get Ready: Students remain in their desk/table space

The Why: Improve focus through targeted movement to

prepare students for learning.

How to Play: Follow along with video instruction.

 Video Link
 Lesson Plan

Options/ Ideas: Students can support themselves with one or two

hands as they practice their balance. Students can
keep their eyes open during all balance practice.

Activity Contributed by:

Chief Movement Officer Cadre
Amy Riggio [email protected]
Focused Fitness

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Activity: Pointers

What you Need: Computer, SMART board or projector, video link

Get Ready: Students stand or remain seated at their desk space.

The Why: Improve focus through targeted movement to

prepare students for learning.

How to Play: Follow along with video instruction.

 Video Link
 Lesson Plan

Options/ Ideas: Students can move at a slow pace to practice

'pointers'

Activity Contributed by:

Chief Movement Officer Cadre
Amy Riggio [email protected]
Focused Fitness

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Activity: Alphabet Relay

What you Need: Nothing

Get Ready: Assign students to teams (teammates should be in close

proximity to one another). Students should be standing beside
or behind their desks with room to perform a jumping jack.
Teammates decide who will be first, second, third, etc.

The Why: Connect spelling and word associations from A to Z while

working in teams.

How to Play: On "Go", student number one from each team performs 3
jumping jacks and then shouts out a word that starts with the
letter A. Then, student number two from each team
completes three jumping jacks and shouts out a word that
starts with the letter B. Student three, three jumping jacks,
then a word for letter C. Students continue to rotate through
team members, performing jumping jacks and saying words A
through Z. The first team to finish wins! Try different
categories, for example, fruits and vegetables, state capitols,
verbs, etc to integrate cross curricular content. (LINK)

Options/ Ideas: In place of jumping jacks, students can jump a virtual rope, or
they can remain seated and perform movements with just
their upper body. Silent or spelling version - have students
perform the jumping jack and then write their word, the team
passes word list around, each adding to it when it is their turn.

Activity Contributed by:

PowerUp Your School Stacy Baugues [email protected]

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Activity: Rock, Paper, Scissors Fast Feet Challenge

What you Need: Nothing

Get Ready: Pair students up with a partner.

The Why: Try to see if you can beat your opponent with Rock,
Paper, Scissors Fast Feet Style

How to Play: Rock-Paper- Scissors - Students pair up and play

rock-paper- scissors using their feet. While they are
saying “Rock, Paper, Scissors, Go!”, they jump in
place. If they choose “Rock” they jump one more time
and land with both feet together. If they choose
“Paper” they jump and land with feet wide apart
(horizontally). If they choose “Scissors”, they jump and
land with feet crossed (one foot in front of the other).
Students play best 2 out of 3 and then find a new
partner until the song is over.

Options/ Ideas: Students play RPS using just their mouths. Rock =
mouth opened wide. Paper = lips pursed together.
Scissors = mouth open wide with teeth clenched.
Students nod their head 3x’s then show.

Activity Contributed by:

Soaring Heights PK-8 Tanya Peal [email protected]

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Activity: Lower Body Workout

What you Need: Projector or Screen

Get Ready: This is a video that can played in front of a class for
in-person learning and/or shared with students for
at-home use. Students should be spaced about 6-8
feet apart to avoid collisions during lateral
movement.

The Why: Strengthen lower body and improve balance.

How to Play: Play video and have students follow along.

Options/ Ideas:

Activity Contributed by:

Fit Kids David Jacobson [email protected]

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Activity: Breathing Exercises
with the U.S. Soccer Foundation Team

What you Need: Projector or Screen

Get Ready: Students may be standing by their desk or sitting on a

chair or on the floor.

The Why: These deep breathing exercises aim to reduce stress,

lower heart rate, and find a sense of calm.

How to Play: Students will watch the breathing exercises

demonstrated in the video and choose which
exercises are best for themselves. Once they have
practiced a few times, students can perform these
deep breathing exercises whenever they feel
overwhelmed and need to hit the reset button at
school or at home. (Video LINK)

Options/ Ideas: The breathing exercises demonstrated allow for

students to choose which exercise best suits their
needs and abilities.

Activity Contributed by:

U.S. Soccer Foundation Jenny Herold [email protected]

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