Description
Before taking a test, send youth on a short walk through the hallways of the school. Ask them to take deep breaths as they walk (and remember, no talking!). After 5 minutes, return to the classroom to take the test.
Duration: 5 Min
Race in Place
Description
Divide the class in half. Half of the students each write a word on an index card. The other half of the class each writes the definition. Shuffle the cards and hand one card to each student. The students walk around the classroom and match the word with the definition. For younger students, match up sight words, letters or numbers. Also works well with math problems.
Q and A Stretching
Description
Provide students with index size paper at desk. Ask a Multiple Choice questions (answer A or B, works best) and student writes the answers on one sheet of paper and holds paper up, with two hands overhead to stretch. Teacher checks answers.
Pass Through
Description
Hold the resistance band or PVC pipe with a wide grip (more than shoulder width) in front of your body. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. While holding the band or PVC pipe, slowly raise your arms over your head and then behind your head. Keep going until you reach a gentle stretch. Slowly bring your arms back to the front of your body. Repeat 10 times.
Modification Option
Poor balance: Lean back against a wall or sit in a chair with your feet flat on the ground, shoulder width apart.
Opposite Hunt
Description
Divide the class in half. Half of the students each write a word on an index card. The other half of the class each writes the definition. Shuffle the cards and hand one card to each student. The students walk around the classroom and match the word with the definition. For younger students, match up sight words, letters or numbers. Also works well with math problems.
Mobile Math
Description
Divide the class in half to review math problems. Each student stands by their desk (paper and pencil on desk). Call out a math problem such as 4+5=. One half of the class jumps 4 times, then the other half jumps 5 times. Each student writes down their own answer. Continue with other math problems, and vary the movements: clapping, touch toes, jumping jacks, side bends, high-knees. Have students pick the movements.
Love Football – make a goal post!
Description
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Raise your arms out at your sides and up to your shoulder level. Make a gentle fist with each hand. Bend each arm at the elbow with your fists pointed up at a 90 degree angle. Keep your neck relaxed. Your upper body will look like a goal post ready for a field goal. Do 50-100 small pulses up and down with your elbows, pushing your fists straight up toward the ceiling. Keep your goal post looking nice and perfect!
Modification Options
- Poor balance: Lean back against a wall or sit in a chair with your feet flat on the ground, shoulder-width apart.
- Do one arm at a time and stabilize self by holding onto a chair or table.
Leg Lifts (3 ways)
Description
1) Ask youth to pull their chairs out from their desks and sit in their chairs. Remind them to sit up straight, while holding onto the sides of their chairs. Then ask them to bring both of their legs up (keeping their ankles together and legs straight) and extend their legs as high as they are able. Hold at the top, do a small “pump” action and lower legs back to the floor. Repeat 15 times.
2) Ask the youth to stand behind their chairs, holding the back for balance. Then ask them to bring their right leg out to the side to a 45-degree angle. Hold at the top, do a small “pump” action and lower leg back to the floor. Repeat 15 times. Switch legs.
3) Repeat #2, lifting leg behind to a 45-degree angle.
Modification Option
Seated Options: Leg kicks, seated marching, moving legs apart and together (adding theraband for resistance)
Food and Fitness Freeze Frames
Description
Have students use their arms and legs to make body shapes to resemble foods from selected food groups from the MyPlate diagram (example – fruits – use your arms/legs/body to form the shape of an apple, orange, or banana).
Variation: Have the students stretch their muscles while they shape the form of a fitness person in action
(example, tennis player, basketball player shooting a basket). Hold each action shot for 20 seconds to stretch muscles and then rotate to a different position.
For the final stretch have the students’ think of their own fitness pose or fruit and on your call have them create the pose. If time allows – go around the room asking students what pose they have created or have other students guess their pose.
Clean a Mess
Description
After a messy art project involving paper, place four waste baskets around the room (one in each corner). Ask youth to clean up the mess by crumpling up the paper and shooting the paper balls into the waste baskets. Youth must be standing before making a basket. The game is over when all paper is picked up (including any paper around the baskets, floor and desks).
