Physical education (PE) is an essential component of a child’s development and should be implemented as much as possible. Children benefit both mentally and physically when they engage in vigorous activities.
The PE activity chosen needs to be challenging, energetic yet easy to follow for children so that they can engage properly with it. In this post let’s take a look at ten activities you can incorporate to get children moving, laughing and working together, no matter their age or skill level.
1. Animal Relay Races
Who said relays have to be boring? Turn them into a wild adventure with animal-themed races! Assign each team an animal to imitate, like hopping kangaroos, slithering snakes, or galloping horses. The first team to cross the finish line in their animal style wins! This activity is great for promoting teamwork, coordination, and a little bit of silliness.
2. Parachute Play
Parachutes aren’t just for rainy days! They’re also a fantastic tool for PE classes. Let the kids work together to raise and lower the parachute, creating waves and tunnels and even launching beanbags into the air. This activity develops cooperation, communication, and problem-solving skills, all while providing a ton of laughter.
3. Capture the Flag
This classic game can be an instant hit with children. Divide the class into two teams and assign each team a flag to protect. Kids must strategise, work together, and use their speed and agility to capture the opposing team’s flag while defending their own. Capture the Flag is a fantastic way to promote teamwork, critical thinking, and physical fitness.
4. Cooperative Challenges
Not everything in PE needs to be competitive. Cooperative challenges are a great way to build teamwork and problem-solving skills. Activities like human knot untangling, blanket balance relays, and group scavenger hunts all require students to work together and communicate effectively to achieve a shared goal. These activities also foster a sense of camaraderie and support among classmates.
5. Dance Party Fitness
Who doesn’t love a good dance party? Turn up the music and let loose! Dance fitness activities are a fun and effective way to get kids moving and burning calories. From classic dances like the cha-cha and the waltz to modern routines inspired by popular music videos, there’s a dance style for everyone. You can even create your own dance routines based on different themes or fitness goals.
6. Nature Scavenger Hunt
Take PE outdoors and explore the natural world with a scavenger hunt! Create a list of items for students to find, such as different types of leaves, rocks with specific colours or textures, or insects (from a safe distance, of course!). This activity encourages observation, exploration, and appreciation for the environment while getting kids moving and breathing fresh air.
7. Target Games Galore
Throwing, catching, and aiming are fundamental motor skills that can be honed through a variety of target games. Set up beanbag toss stations, hula hoop targets for frisbees, or even create your own archery range with pool noodles and foam arrows. Kids of all ages will enjoy the challenge of hitting the target, and these games can help improve hand-eye coordination and accuracy.
8. Story-Based Movement Games
Turn PE class into a giant interactive story! Choose a familiar children’s book or invent your own story, and then create movements and actions that correspond to different parts of the narrative. For example, students can gallop like horses during a chase scene, crawl like snakes through a forest, or jump like frogs over a pond. This activity brings imagination and movement together, making PE a truly immersive experience.
9. Sensory Movement Exploration
PE can be more than just muscle movement; it can also engage the senses. Blindfolded obstacle courses, “silent disco” dance parties with different music genres on individual headphones, and textured movement stations with materials like sand, water, and beanbags all provide unique sensory experiences that challenge kids to move in new and creative ways.
10. Fitness Bingo Challenge
Bingo gets a fitness twist in this fun and motivating activity. Create bingo cards with squares containing different exercises, such as jumping jacks, squats, lunges, or push-ups. As students complete the exercises, they can mark off their squares and whoever gets a full house wins. It gets children moving, communicating and most importantly, having fun.
Implementing PE Office into your activities
PE Office is an online virtual learning platform that includes a breadth of physical education lesson plans and schemes of work. Make sure to take advantage of the fun activities and exercises included so you can keep your students engaged. You can take a look at the resources on offer here.
