Introducing children to physical education in Pre-K allows them to begin developing physically and mentally. They improve gross and fine motor skills, space and body awareness, balance, problem solving and social skills. In an article published in the Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, Steve Sanders says: "When children participate in a variety of movement experiences at a young age, they develop a foundation of motor skills upon which they can build and can refine throughout their school years."
Hungry, Hungry Hippos
For this game, you need scooter boards, 4-inch balls in a variety of colors and matching colored buckets. To set up for the game, place the buckets, with eight to 10 balls in each, in the middle of the playing area. This area is considered the "island." Each student has a scooter board, or a "raft." Explain to the students that they are "hippos" trying to find food. The object of the game is for the "hippos" to gather as much food in their bucket as possible. Before beginning, throw all of the balls across the "water," or the gym floor. When you say "Go," the students travel on their scooters and put as many balls in their matching buckets as possible.
Musical Hoops
You need one big hoop for each student. Set up by making a path of hoops across the playing area. As the music plays, the students travel from hoop to hoop until the music stops. The students then "freeze" in their hoop. You can then make a large area with cones, tape or painted lines around the hoops that the students must move around. When the music stops, the students enter the area, find a hoop and freeze. As a variation, remove a hoop each round. Avoid eliminating children if they don't find their own hoop. Instead, encourage the students to share a hoop. Eliminate hoops until all of the students are sharing only a few hoops.
Shadow Tag
The game of shadow tag requires no equipment, just a sunny day. Begin by having the children stand with a partner. Each pair needs plenty of open space. Within each pair, designate a "tagger" and a "walker." Tell the students to find their own shadows and their partner's shadow. When you say "Go", the "tagger" tries to step on the "walker's" shadow to tag her. You can have the children switch roles after a length of time, or when a the tagger tags the walker. If the students have trouble knowing when their shadow gets stepped on, have the tagger yell "Gotcha" when he tags the walker.
Hot Hoops
You need one large hoop for every child. Have a variety of colors. Spread the hoops across the playing area and have every child stand in her own hoop. Begin by choosing a color to be "hot" and say, "Red hoops are hot!" Whoever is standing in a red hoop then jumps out of the hoop and into one that is not "hot." Continue by choosing different colors to be "hot." Allow up to four children in one hoop at a time. Emphasize jumping out of the hoop on both feet and landing on both feet.
References
- PE Central: Preschool Lesson Ideas
- "The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance"; Preschool Physical Education: Challenges for the Profession; Steve Sanders; Vol. 65 1994
