1. Place cones within a playing space.
2. Place cones within a playing space. On 'Go' children run around the space.
3. On a whistle, students stop, the teacher initially calls out a number and students then run to a cone and form groups of that number.
4. The teacher then calls out a letter - students use their bodies to form that letter shape.
5. Students observe a group that has done a good job of forming the specific letter. Teacher selected.
6. Activity begins again.

Mix it up:

Change the mode of moving around the space. Try skipping, hopping or leaping.

Equipment:

Cones, whistle

Space needed:

Indoor friendly – small or large space

1. In a defined space spread out playing cards set face up approx. 20 metres away from a start line.
2. Divide children into 6 teams of 4 (or similar) and have them line up in their teams at the start line for a relay style game.
3. On 'Go', one at a time each member of the team runs to the cards to find a pair (eg: 3 and 3) and then return to their team where they tag the next team member.
4. When all cards have been collected, the team with the most pairs wins a cone and the race resets and begins again.

Mix it up:

Change the mode of travel. Try skipping, hopping or sidestepping.

Equipment:

Pack of Cards

Space needed:

Indoor friendly – large space

1. In a defined space spread out a number of specially designed cards, set face up approx. 20 metres away from a start line.
2. Divide children into 6 teams of 4 (or similar) and have them line up in their teams at the start line for a relay style game.
3. On 'Go', one at a time each member of the team runs to the cards to find two cards that make a correct sum (eg: 2+2 and an =4 card) and then return to their team to tag the next runner. They then place the sum on the ground next to their team and the waiting team mates check it is correct.
4. When all cards have been collected and correctly matched, the team with the most correct sums collected wins a cone and the race resets and begins again.

Mix it up:

Differing modes of travel (hopping, skipping etc) to and from the cards can be stipulated.

Equipment:  

Ability specific equations formulated on cards. Eg: 2+2 and =4, 6+1 and =7, 5-2 and a =3, 4 x 4 and an =16. These will depend on the age and stage of your class.

Space needed:

Indoor friendly – small or large space

1. Ask students to form pairs.
2. Each pair shakes one hand three times.  On the third shake, they put out as many fingers on that hand as they want.
3. Both partners add the total number of fingers together. Whoever shouts out the total first flees as the other partner chases.
4. Once the fleeing partner is tagged, the partners repeat the activity several times.

Mix it up:

To increase the difficulty of the game, you could have partners use both hands (rock paper scissors style) or perform multiplication. Different modes of travel can also be stipulated

Equipment:

None

Space needed:

Indoor friendly – small or large space

1. Divide students into pairs.
2. In each pair one student has the job of listening and watching whilst the other is skipping.
3. The teacher directs the starting number and the skip number. Eg: Starting at the number 4, skip count by 2. Students would begin by saying 4 and on each skip thereafter call 6, 8, 10,..
4. Students skip and skip count at the same time. When a mistake is made, students swap roles.

Mix it up:

Teacher can vary the difficulty depending on ability levels.

Equipment:

Skipping Ropes

Space needed:

Indoor friendly – large space

thanks to Nicole White while at St Aloysius Catholic College

1. Balancing – students move around in free space with the beanbag being balanced on a range of body parts eg. head, shoulder, arm. When the whistle is blown the students freeze trying not to drop the beanbag.
2. Number, shape, letter recognition – as above but when whistle goes a command or challenge is given by the teacher and students must perform as quickly as possible without dropping their beanbag. Challenges might include – find a partner with the same coloured beanbag, find a group of 4, find a partner with the same numbered beanbag, find a partner and balance together on one leg each …
3. Throw and catch – students throw and catch individually and with a partner. Students focus on using a basket (hands together in basket shape) to catch.

Equipment:

Beanbags