May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. This month
also is the time of year when many schools hold their annual field
days. That's why Ed World's editors decided to jump in with dozens
of great activities that are sure to make your field day the best
one ever! Included: Five new lesson plans plus
links to many more.
Are you tired of having the same old activities at your school's end-of-the-year field day? Are you eager to hold a very special field day event this year? This week's lessons provide more ideas than you can possibly use -- and links to many more. You will find
- field day activities that individual students can excel and
have fun with;
- great relays for small teams of students that teach sportsmanship;
- activities that involve the whole class;
- more than a dozen themed field day ideas (if themes are your
preference); and
- a bubbly way to cap off the day!
We have provided all the ideas, all you need to do now is the
preparation. Field day success is guaranteed if you prepare and
plan well.
To help you get off on the right foot, we've put together some
field day preparation tips. You'll find those
tips in the endbar at the end of this article.
Below are five lessons that provide all the ingredients for a
fantastic field day. Click each lesson headlines for a complete
teaching resource. (Appropriate grade levels for each lesson appear
in parentheses.)
Twenty Field Day Activities
Any Kid Can Do (And Do Well!)
Twenty great field day activities that emphasize fun over skill.
(Grades Pre K-8)
Fifteen Field Day Relays
Relay races can be a fun part of any field day. Included: 15 great
relay ideas! (Grade K-12)
Field Day Games for Whole-Class
Fun
Field day games including a Teacher Sled Race, Water Balloon Volleyball,
more! (Grades K-12)
Bubble Blast
Bubbles inspire learning and fun -- and clean desks too. A nice
field day addition! (Grades PreK-8)
Try a Themed Field
Day
How about a themed field day this year? Included: More than a dozen
theme ideas! (Grades PreK-12)
With a little advance planning, field day can be as special
and as much fun as you choose to make it. Following are some
decisions you'll want to make before the actual field
day arrives…
* How many activities will you set up?
* How will the events be organized? Will students move from
activity to activity with their classmates (which will enable
the inclusion of relay activities), or will you set up 20 different
activities and let students select the ones they most want to
participate in?
* Will students receive awards as they complete an activity?
You might provide a different colored ribbon or
a different colored jellybean for each completed activity.
Each student might wear a card listing all the possible activities;
a star is placed on the card as each activity is completed.
Each student might earn a different colored link on a paper
chain for each completed activity.
* Will you hold an awards ceremony?
Awards might recognize the best "scores" for each
activity by grade level or class.
Special awards might be given to students who complete the
most activities, providing an incentive for students to do
as many activities as possible during the field day. That
keeps students moving and encourages them to participate in
activities with have shorter lines.
* Will teachers supervise the different activities? Or will
parents be involved so teachers can stay with their own classes
or serve as general assistants? (The more parents the better!)
* What other special activities will coincide with field day?
Might you plan a family cookout? Will the local
radio station be invited to broadcast live from and provide
music for Field Day festivities? Will older students dress
in costumes and provide a cheering section for younger students?
Will each class create a banner? Will a prize be awarded for
the best banner?
* Be sure to have a nurse available. |
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Article by Gary Hopkins
Education World®
Copyright © 2007 Education World
Originally published 05/30/2003
Links last updated 03/18/2007
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