After he earned an associate degree at Westchester Community College in Valhalla, NY, Michael "Mike" Paulercio enrolled in a bachelors program at Manhattanville College. A resident of Yonkers, NY, Mike Paulercio aspires to become a physical education teacher (PE) after graduation.
Physical-education classes are ideal for engaging adolescents in whole-group activities that promote collaboration, teamwork, and communication skills. Here are a few enjoyable games that are appropriate for elementary- and middle-school students.
Elf Express
Divide the group into teams of four and give each team color-coordinated hula-hoops. The hoops are placed in a row on the floor, with one child in each hoop, to form a "train." To move it forward, the last student in line steps into the hoop in front of them, leaving theirs empty. The empty hoop is then passed forward down the line until it reaches the front of the train. Then, the first person in the train moves into the empty hoop, and the remaining team members move forward. In this fashion, the students work together to navigate around the gymnasium and collect bean bags. Bean bags are lost if any team member steps outside a hoop, other than to continue onward. The team with the most bean bags after 10 minutes wins.
Crows and Cranes
Divide the class into two equal teams: the crows and the cranes. Each team stands on one side of an imaginary line. The PE teacher calls either crows or cranes, and that team must run to a wall without being tagged. Tagged individuals join the other team. The game ends when all players are either crows or cranes.
Iceberg
Small teams of up to six people start by standing on a large cloth placed on the floor. After the teacher calls “iceberg,” students fold their cloths in half and stand on the now smaller area. The process repeats, making the cloth smaller and smaller. To remain in the round, all team members must fit on the cloth without touching the floor or being carried by their teammates. The last team left at the end of the game wins.
Physical-education classes are ideal for engaging adolescents in whole-group activities that promote collaboration, teamwork, and communication skills. Here are a few enjoyable games that are appropriate for elementary- and middle-school students.
Elf Express
Divide the group into teams of four and give each team color-coordinated hula-hoops. The hoops are placed in a row on the floor, with one child in each hoop, to form a "train." To move it forward, the last student in line steps into the hoop in front of them, leaving theirs empty. The empty hoop is then passed forward down the line until it reaches the front of the train. Then, the first person in the train moves into the empty hoop, and the remaining team members move forward. In this fashion, the students work together to navigate around the gymnasium and collect bean bags. Bean bags are lost if any team member steps outside a hoop, other than to continue onward. The team with the most bean bags after 10 minutes wins.
Crows and Cranes
Divide the class into two equal teams: the crows and the cranes. Each team stands on one side of an imaginary line. The PE teacher calls either crows or cranes, and that team must run to a wall without being tagged. Tagged individuals join the other team. The game ends when all players are either crows or cranes.
Iceberg
Small teams of up to six people start by standing on a large cloth placed on the floor. After the teacher calls “iceberg,” students fold their cloths in half and stand on the now smaller area. The process repeats, making the cloth smaller and smaller. To remain in the round, all team members must fit on the cloth without touching the floor or being carried by their teammates. The last team left at the end of the game wins.
