Elementary Physical Education Activities

Exercise is important at any stage of life, but starting at a young age can help build healthy habits that will last a lifetime.  Making physical activity fun and stimulating will encourage youngsters to get active and school can be the perfect setting to introduce and increase interest in physical education.

okey Pokey Aerobics

This uses the childhood rhyme but stepped up a notch.  Students can have fun doing the hokey pokey letting their silliness shine through but also increasing their fitness level by incorporating the use of dumbbells or exercise bands.  Lunges can be done when “putting your leg in,” arm curls when “putting your arm in,” jogging in place when “turning yourself around,” etc.  Students can think of other exercises that can be done for other body parts, so they will feel as if they are designing their own exercise routine. 

Parachute Exchange

This requires the use of a large parachute, which students will hold on to by the edge.  Students will count off around the circle until they reach the number of half of the students and then begin again at one so that each person has a partner on the opposite side of the parachute.  Students will lift up the parachute edges using their upper body strength and the teacher will call out a number.  Those students with that number will run under the parachute and exchange places.  This allows students to have fun, never knowing when their number will be called.

Line Leader Activities

In this activity, students will be divided into groups and then get into lines.  The person at the front of the line will be designated the leader and can do any type of activity they desire (e.g. jumping jacks, push-ups, lunges, etc.).  Those in their line will follow their chosen activity.  When the whistle blows, the line leader will go to the back of the line and the next person will become the new line leader.

Field Day

If it is a beautiful day outside, children don’t like to be cooped up inside a gym.  Have a field day!  Traditional events such as three-legged races, wheelbarrow races, relay races, and water balloon tosses are sure to build teamwork and communication.  Gunny sack races and crab walk races will be a hit in the grassy field.  Games of tug-of-war test strength and dizzy bat test balance.  Let students choose what activities in which they want to engage; after all, everyone needs to have a field day once in a while!