Playground School Activities
Because most school assignments require students to sit still and focus, they usually love to take a break on the playground. While it is important for children to be able to have free time on the playground, you can also structure activities to keep them engaged. Modify the activities as needed to fit your students' age and ability levels.
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Playground Fitness
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Students in gym class can use the playground equipment as a new way to exercise. Divide students into groups of two and give each group a task on the playground equipment at designated "stations." Some examples include running up and down playground steps, climbing up and down the ladder, running under swings or running laps around the equipment. Students could use a part of the equipment to do push-ups, pull-ups or wall squats. When the groups have been at one station for a minute, have them switch to the next activity and move around the equipment until they have exercised at all of the stations.
People-Watching Bingo
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During recess, or another time when the playground is busy, give students a "people-patching" bingo card and pencils. The cards should be set up like typical bingo cards but, instead of numbers, it should have pictures of certain characteristics other students have, such as glasses, a certain color of hair or a headband. When they are people-watching and they find a student who matches a square, they should cross the square off. For accountability, they can have the student initial their paper. The student who gets bingo first wins.
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Obstacle Course
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Encourage physical dexterity by telling students that they should try to stay only on playground equipment and off the ground. This game works well with playgrounds that have more than one playground set. Allow students to climb around the equipment and place fabric circles---a few feet apart from each other---in between different playground structures, so that students can move from one play area to another without touching the ground. As the competition becomes stiffer and fewer students are left in the game, move the fabric circles farther apart, so that children have to jump further to get to a new piece of equipment.
Playground Maps
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When your class is studying maps, atlases and other aspects of geography, have them divide into groups and make a map of the playground. Ask them to include all parts of the playground. They can use markers, colored pencils or paints. When the groups are done, have them compare their maps.
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References
- Photo Credit playground equipment image by Kathy Burns from Fotolia.com
