For your Unified Game Day Event, invite your entire school down to the gymnasium or outside on the playing field to cheer on the athletes and partners as they go through their activity stations!
Have students from different classrooms create posters and banners, encouraging them to personalize them with the school name or participant names.
Line the halls or the school sidewalk and have students cheer for the athletes and partners as they head down to the gym or playing field. Continue the celebration after the event by congratulating participants and commending students for their sportsmanship and school spirit.
Another great way to build unity could be to help students come up with a few simple cheers. The athletes love to hear their fans. The goal is to spark enthusiasm and build school spirit!
Unified Game Days promote wellness and physical activity for all students. They often integrate all three components of UCS by featuring fun, inclusive sports events and activities, providing opportunities for Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners to lead activities, and by engaging the whole school community.
A Unified Game Day builds off a school's Inclusive Physical Education model as a culminating event to demonstrate skills and celebrate the friendships made in the classes. Unlike traditional field days, in which students with intellectual disabilities can be isolated from their peers and travel through stations in a segregated group, a Unified Game Day integrates all students together. Students without disabilities play alongside students with disabilities as teammates.
For more information about activity models that can be followed for your Unified Game Day, as well as letter templates, branding guidelines for t-shirts, and more, please look through the shared Google Folder below.
Special Olympics Massachusetts will also be able to provide medals for all students who participate in your Unified Game Day event!
For any questions or support as you plan your Unified Game Day event, please reach out to