“Red Light, Green Light”
Presented By:
SPARK Trainer, Faith Grinder
The SPARK Programs
1-800-SPARK-PE
www.sparkpe.org
GREAT GAMES 5
UNIT: COOPERATIVE GAMES
OBJECTIVES
Social/personal skills
ACTIVITY
ORGANIZATION
AGES: 5-11
EQUIPMENT
4 cones for boundaries, music/whistle
TEACHING CUES
-PARTNER/GROUP DAY-
Roadway
-Pairs on an endline.
-The object of our game today is to give and
receive trust.
-Each pair establishes a “front”
-How quickly can you get Back-to-Back with a
and “back” partner. Front
partner?
partner (“car”) places her/his
hands at sides and closes
eyes. Back partner (“driver”) -Our first Great Game is called “Roadway.”
places hands on partner’s
-One of you is the “car” and the other the
shoulders.
“driver.”
-On START cue pairs walk to a
-Drivers, stand behind your car and place your
designated stopping point.
hands on the car’s shoulders.
Once they reach it, partners
change roles and walk back.
-Cars, hold your hands in front of you like stop
-After children guide each
signs and close your eyes.
other in a straight line, play
within a square and allow
-On START cue, drivers will guide their cars
them to move in any direction safely (walking) to the other endline. On
the driver chooses.
arrival, switch roles and return.
-If proficient, play using other
basic locomotor movements
(e.g., skip, slow jog, gallop).
-Drivers, your car trusts you to be a responsible
friend. Get them through our traffic jam
without a scratch!
Variation:
-Play using hoops: Front
partner holds hoop around
waist, driver pulls left or right.
-You did a great job working together to move
in a straight line and avoid collisions.
-With older youth, call this
activity “Trust Walk.”
SPARK AR rev. 11/2000
-On START cue, drivers may steer their cars
any direction within our square. When the
music stops, switch roles.
-Keep your headlights (eyes) closed!
UNIT: MANAGEMENT GAME
OBJECTIVES
Grouping students safely, quickly, equitably
ACTIVITY
Workout
Buddies
EQUIPMENT
4 cones for boundaries, boom box/music or whistle
ORGANIZATION
TEACHING CUES
-Students scattered within play area (20x20
paces).
-Today's game, Workout Buddies, will help
us remember our activity partners!
-Move students to music prompting different
locomotor skills, levels, tempos and pathways.
-On music start, move within boundaries.
I'll give you a locomotor skill to do (e.g.,
walk, hop, jump, skip, side-slide, gallop,
leap, jog).
-Introduce, creative movement and choice with
cue, "Scrambled Eggs!"
-Play Back 2 Back, changing ways to pair (e.g.,
toe to toe, elbow to elbow, etc.).
-Give a specific exercise with each pair; have
them practice and memorize their "workout
buddy."
-After 3-5 different pairings, see if students can
recall who their "thumb wrestling partner" was.
Prompt them to find her/him and exercise again!
-In addition to thumb wrestling, toe fencing, and
jogging, try:
1. Snapshot: One partner takes picture of other
doing "muscle pose." Switch roles.
2. Artist and Model: One partner is clay, the
other shapes and sculpts into a pose. Switch
roles.
3. Stretching Buddy: Pairs do a stretch
together. One chooses/leads, other follows.
Switch roles.
-Integration Tip: Name/discuss famous athletes,
photographers, and artists. Have students’
research and write a biography, choosing from
a list.
-If you hear, "Scrambled Eggs!" move any
way you want! Show your creativity!
-Each time you pair, I'll give you something
to do with your partner. Remember what
you do with each partner!
-Back 2 Back! This is your thumbwrestling partner! Turn around, shake
hands and thumb wrestle.
-Now, try the other hand. Can you thumb
wrestle with both hands at the same time?
-Toe 2 Toe! This is your toe-fencing
partner. Hands on shoulders. Try and tap
your partner's feet with yours; move your
feet to avoid being tapped! I think we're
dancing!
-Knee 2 Knee! This is your jogging
partner. Both jog in place for 15 seconds!
-Can you find your thumb-wrestling
partner? Exercise with her/him!
GREAT GAMES 33
UNIT: AEROBIC GAMES
AGES: 8-14
OBJECTIVES
Agility, cooperation
ACTIVITY
EQUIPMENT
4 cones for boundaries, music/whistle
ORGANIZATION
TEACHING CUES
-GROUP DAY-
Triangle Tag
-Groups of 4, scattered within
boundaries (20 X 20 paces).
-Today we’re going to play
“Triangle Tag.”
-Explain/demonstrate game.
-Mingle-Mingle 4’s!
-Start/stop activity until all
have had a turn as tagger.
-Number yourselves 1-4.
-Let’s watch this group
demonstrate. They were first to
get ready.
-Numbers 1-3 in your group, form a
triangle and grip wrists. #4 is the
first tagger.
-Object is for #4 to safe tag #1.
The triangle moves to prevent that
from happening!
-No diving in or through the
triangle.
-On START cue, begin. On STOP
cue, have a new tagger and
“tagees!”
-We’ll play until everyone has a
turn as tagger.
SPARK AR rev. 11/2000
GREAT GAMES 15
UNIT: COOPERATIVE GAMES
AGES: 8-14
OBJECTIVES
Cooperation, problem solving
ACTIVITY
ORGANIZATION
EQUIPMENT
1 flag or rag/3 youth, 4 cones for boundaries,
music/whistle
TEACHING CUES
-GROUP DAY -
Flag Grab
-Groups of 3 in activity area.
-Today's Great Game is called "Flag Grab!"
-Explain/demonstrate game.
-The object is to capture the most flags.
-Groups practice moving safely -Stand single file with your hands on the
within boundaries, then give
shoulders of the person in front of you.
each a flag.
-Every 3 minutes, give a signal
for players to switch positions.
-Let’s practice moving in our groups without
making contact with any other group. When
you show you can do that safely, we will begin.
-Now, we are ready to play. I will give a flag to
the last person in each line. Wear it tucked in
your belt, back pocket, or waistline.
-Play until all get a turn with
the flag.
-On START cue, all groups move to try and
capture the other groups’ flags.
Variation:
-If your group's flag is taken, I'll replace it.
-Each youth has a flag.
-Everyone tries to capture as
many flags as they can during
the time allotment (e.g., “How
many flags can you get in 1
minute?”).
SPARK AR rev. 11/2000
-We'll see which group collects the most flags!
LINE DANCE
5-6-7-8
Ready...
• Music: “5-6-7-8” (SPARK 3-6 Music CD, #7)
• Music player
• 4 cones (for boundaries)
Set...
• Create large (30X30 paces) activity area.
• Scatter students in area.
• 5-6-7-8 Prompt Page (SPARK Instructional
Media CD).
GO!
1. The object is to perform a line dance using an “addon” format.
2. On music, move throughout our area. When the music
stops, find a partner.
3. This is your “Jumping” partner. Together, jump 4X and
say “5,6,7,8” (4 counts).
4. On music, leave your partner, and move again. When
music stops, find a new partner.
GRADES 3-6
6. Move on the music. When it stops, find a 3rd partner.
CUES
DANCE
5. This is your “Grapevine” partner. Grapevine step R
(step R, L behind, R, touch L) then Grapevine step L
(step L, R behind, L, touch R) (8 counts).
Find partners quickly.
Move to the beat.
7. This is your “Skating” partner. Together, skate slowly
by sliding R foot forward, then L foot forward, R foot
forward, L foot forward (8 counts).
8. Move on the music. When it stops, find a 4th partner.
9. This is your “Hip” partner. Touch your R hip with R
hand, L hip with L hand, R glute, L glute, clap 2X,
“Raise the Roof” (push hands from shoulders to sky)
2X (8 counts).
10. Move on the music. When it stops, find a 5th partner.
11. This is your “Back-walking” partner. Together,
backward-walk 4 steps, counting “1,2,3,4” (4 counts).
12. Now, we’ll play the music, and combine all the steps.
The music has a prelude, then on cue, “5,6,7,8,” begin
jumping.
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