Gym Activities

Asteroids in Space

• To begin this game, divide the players into two teams. Position the teams so each group occupies one side of the gym. Position a rope or volleyball net in the middle of the two teams. Give all of the players a bouncy ball. When you say "Go," the players all throw their balls over to the other side of the net. Once the teams receive a ball on their side from the opponent, they throw the ball back over the net. Keep a timer going. Once a minute elapses, blow your whistle. Count all of the balls on either side of the net. The team who has the least amount of balls on their side wins the game.

Find the Lighthouse

• Play this game with a group of younger students. Begin by selecting one player to be the lighthouse. Then, divide the rest of the players into either "rocks" or "ships." Blindfold all of the ships and position them at one side of the gym. Have the rocks all scatter themselves around the area, picking one place to remain throughout the game. Place the lighthouse away from the ships anywhere you choose. When you say "Go," the Lighthouse starts to make a beeping noise that helps the ships make their way to him. The ships have to move cautiously so they do not bump into a rock, which has been instructed to make the noise, "swish" to mimic the sound of waves. If a player bumps into a rock, he becomes part of the rock and stands with the player he touched. The first ship to make it to the lighthouse wins the game.

Hula Hoop Relay

• Try this energetic relay game to build a sense of teamwork in your students. Begin by dividing the students into two teams. Line up the teams horizontally. Have the left-most player of each team step into a hula hoop on the ground. Instruct all the players to hold hands. On the count of three, the first player picks the hula hoop off the ground with his free hand and moves the hula hoop up over his shoulders onto the next player's arm. That player then has to move his head through the hoop, then pick up his legs in order to step through the hoop. In this way, the player's body passes through the hoop without having to break hands with the next player in line. All of the teammates must keep their hands joined and step through the hoop until it reaches the end of their line. The team who has the hula hoop at the end of their line first wins the game.