Embedded Files
Shakedown
Shakedown
Grade Level: 1st-5th (or really can be used for any grade)
Skills Practiced:
Self-control
Active Listening
Counting
Materials: None
Preparation:
Make sure students have room around them to shake their hands and legs without hitting anyone besides them
Discuss how to complete this in a safe way(Have a student model)
If needed, go over what is means to “cut the numbers in half”
What is half of 16? What is half of 8? Etc.
Have students stand when doing this a safe area
Description/Directions:
Have students stand up beside their desk and make sure they have room around them
Start with 16 counts for each hand and each leg(by shaking one hand at a time, count up to 16 then switch to next hand, then one leg, then the other leg)
Once completed for the 16 counts say all together as a class “Cut it in half!” then do 8 counts on each hand and leg
Continue with this process with “Cut it in half!” and go down to 4, 2, and complete until you get to 1 count of each hand and leg
When finished with one count, all say “Shake it down” as you twist down to ground
Great for getting out extra energy after lunch, recess, or specials before getting back into work for the classroom
Do what I said, Not what I say
Do what I said, Not what I say
Grade Level: 3-6
Materials needed: none
Skills Being Practiced: Concentration, self-control, listening, memory, and coordination.
Description: Students will remain standing at their desks. The teacher will call out a list of commands, the students are responsible for doing the command that was mentioned prior to the current command. For example, I say, "...Hop on one foot, flap your arms...," students would do the command mentioned before hop on one foot, before they actually hop on one foot.
Students will repeat until the commands get students sitting in their seats and ready to move on.
Modifications: 1. The number of commands can be cut down to 4 or 5, as to not exhaust students who have a hard time moving. 2. Commands can be altered to hand gestures, such as clapping hands or snapping fingers.
Left and Right Story
Left and Right Story
Grades: 1-6
Skills Being Practiced: concepts of left and right and listening skills
Description: The students will all sit in a circle. There will be three objects that will be passed around. Each object will start at a different spot in the circle. The teacher will read a story to the students that uses "left" and "right" numerous times in different contexts. The students will be instructed to pass the object either to the left or to the right when they hear that direction in the story.
For example, if the teacher reads, "I took a wrong turn, but somehow I still ended up at the right place," the students who are holding the objects will each pass them to the person on their right. This will continue on until the story is over.
Modifications:
-If need be, students can do this at their seats and move to the seat to the right or left depending on the word in the story.
-the number of objects being passed around can be more or less than three depending on the age, energy, and the number of the students.
Zoo.mp4Zoo
Zoo
Grade Level: 1-3
Skills Practiced:
Self-control
Memory
Listening
Focusing
Materials Needed: None
Preparation:
Explain that I will show them all the animals that we have in our zoo
I will ask them to follow along in our zoo by practicing the animals with me
Explain that the point of the game is to be the last one standing
Explain that on each count of three, we will all hold up the sign for the animal. If your animal matches my animal you are out. If your animal is not the animal I choose, you are still in.
You demonstrate a safe way for your students to do an animal sign, then ask a student to model what a safe way to do an animal sign would look like.
Directions:
Students will stand in a circle or remain at their seats in a place that they are able to see the teacher.
After being shown all the animals that will be at the zoo today then the round will start
The round will only conclude once there is only 1 person left standing
On a count of three (done by the teacher) we will all hold up the sign for the animal. If your animal matches the teacher’s animal then the student will be out. If the animal does not match, then you remain in the game.
Keep repeating the counts of three until you have one student standing
You can repeat as many rounds as you would like depending on time, you can also add or take away animals from your zoo depending on time as well!
Set the Table
Set the Table
Level: Grades 3-6
Skills Practiced: Focusing, listening, self-control, rhythm, memory
Materials Needed: Chart paper is optional, but I will not use it for mine
Set the Table is an energizer that challenges students to think of as many objects that can go on a dining table as possible. I, the teacher, will say the chant Mabel, Mabel Set the table Just as fast As you are able! with alternating thigh and hand claps. After I say this chant, students, who are standing in a circle, will each name one items that can be found on a table (ex: plates, napkins, forks, etc.). Students will be challenged to keep the flow of the chant and the claps consistent, and to try not to struggle and think of an item to say. If a student can't think of an item, or accidentally says a repeat, I will start the game over with the chant.
Modeling: I will model how to properly stand at a circle and clap our hands without disrupting those around us. I will ensure that students know there can't be any repeats to the items said. I will establish the beat/speed of the chant so students are aware of when to say their item.
Before we start: I will make sure students form a circle correctly, and make sure everyone knows the instructions at hand before we begin
Top-It
Top-It
Energizer Name: Top-It
Level: 3-6
Skills practiced: Focusing, memory, language arts, and creativity
Materials needed: None
Preparation:
Discuss with students about the concept of playfully one-upping a person.
Brainstorm topics
Description: The teacher will provide the topic and they will go around the room, the next student will try and top the statement provided by the previous student. Exaggerating and stretching the truth is highly encouraged. The game ends when each student has had a turn to top one another.
Example: Topic - Running
Student 1: I ran a mile in 7 minutes.
Student 2: I ran to school in 15 minutes.
Student 3: I ran 3 miles to school in 20 minutes.
Student 4: I ran 3 miles to school in the pouring rain with no shoes on.
Modifications: Provide a chart with sentence starters and certain ways to top a sentence.
THe Wave
THe Wave
Preparation
Have students come to the open area in the classroom and stand in a circle.
Brainstorm, model, and practice appropriate actions that are respectful and manageable for all to do.
Discuss and model starting the action when the person before you is halfway through the action.
Share ways to maintain self-control while staying in one place and waiting for your turn.
Instructions
This energizer is intended for grades 3-6. All students stand in a circle with enough room in between them for safe movement. The leader models a movement, such as raising and then lowering the arms or clapping their hands gently. One at a time, the students then repeat the movement. Once the movement returns to the person who started it, the next person begins a new movement, which will go around the circle. Continue doing this until several students have had a chance to come up with and perform a movement.
Compliment Circle
Compliment Circle
Energizer Name: Compliment Circle
Grade Level: any
Skills practiced: focusing, listening, respect
Materials needed: none
Preparation: none
Description: Each student will compliment another student in the circle at the rug. They will be asked to select a person at the rug to compliment. This is good during times like final week when everyone needs reminders of how great they are. It is also good to do if there are a lot of issues with other students in the classroom. Students will go around until everyone is done.
Example: If I pick Austin, I will say " Austin you are such a detailed and organized person."
Modifications: For the younger grades, I can provide a chart with some responses that they may say. I also can modify it to that students have to pick someone to compliment that they are not best friends with.
Chase the Bunny
Chase the Bunny
Preparation
Bring students to an open area and form a circle
We will play 5 rounds and the goal is to get the shortest time to “catch” the bunny
Discuss safely passing the balls or beanbags while doing so as fast as possible
Demonstrate
Have two students demonstrate
Discuss “what-ifs” - What if the ball or beanbag is dropped, etc.
We will carefully pick it back up and continue with the game
Demonstrate
Have two students demonstrate
Remind students that they must remain in the circle and that only one student at a time may hold a ball or beanbag
Discuss how the farmer wins
In order for the farmer to win, they must tap the bunny ball with farmer ball
We will not prevent prevent someone from tapping
Demonstrate
Have two students demonstrate
Instructions for time keepers:
Timer starts as soon as the “farmer” is released
Timer stops as soon as the “farmer” touches the bunny
Further Instruction
The smaller object is the bunny; the larger one is the farmer. Begin in a circle in your meeting area. Assign a student to time the chase and start the bunny around the circle. About halfway through the circle, start the farmer in the same direction. The farmer may change directions to try to catch the bunny, but the bunny may go in only one direction.
The farmer catches the bunny by touching it; this ends the first round of the game.
Repeat the game, and for each round, assign a student to time the chase. The goal is to be able to catch the bunny in the least amount of time.
Descriptions
Descriptions
Level: Grades 2 and up
Skills practiced: Collaboration, attention to detail, descriptive language.
Materials: Paper and pencil
Description: We begin by putting students in pairs and giving each pair a pencil and a piece of blank paper in which they write their names on. Students sit facing each other, but one must be facing the board, and the other must be facing away from the board. The student facing the board will be known as the communicator, and the student facing away from the board will be known as the artist. First, the teacher will ensure that none of the artists can see the board. Next, the teacher will display a random drawing filled with different shapes in a randomized figure on a piece of paper and start a 45 second timer. It is now the job of the communicator to describe the figure to the artist using descriptive phrases such as "large circle" and "center of the page". The trick is, the communicator cannot rephrase their words after they have been said, they cannot clarify if the artist is doing the right thing or not, and they cannot go right to the point and say, "it's a bunny" or "it's an ice cream cone", they must describe using general shapes and terms. At the end of the time allotted, the teacher will say "pencils up" and students will put their pencils in the air to ensure no cheating is happening. The teacher will then collect each drawing and compare it to the original drawing in front of the class and determine which one is closest.
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