When you think about a memorable event in Elementary PE, you will recall the Elementary PE Field Days. They are the highlight for so many young movers because their PE teachers are creative and fun and put that into their plans for Field Day.
Here are some of my students’ favorite Field Day Activities. I hope you find some ideas you want to try with your students.
1. Obstacle Course: This event can have up to 5 starting places depending on your equipment and the size of your classes. The students will jump through tires, crawl through tunnels, go under a limbo stick, jump over a hurdle, run around a cone, and go back through the obstacle to get back to finish. The next runner can start immediately upon the previous runner’s return.
2. Clamming Relay: All classes will participate at the same time. Students will line up with a partner standing side by side. The first and second sets of partners will have plastic spoons or small shovels for digging. When given the signal “Ready, Set, Go!” send only the first set of partners to your assigned Kiddy Pool. The students will dig in the pool for a “clam” (marble). When both partners find a marble (that’s two marbles, one for each friend), they will run back together to you. You will collect the marbles in the bucket, and then the next set of partners can take their turn. Relay style until everyone has had one turn, or you can time the event, giving enough time for each group to collect a specific number of marbles.
3. Spongeball Relay: All classes will participate at the same time. Each class participates as a team. Everyone will line up in one straight line. At the beginning of the line, there will be a bucket of sponge balls soaking in water. The first person will pass one sponge ball at a time over their head to the person behind them. We will see how quickly your class can pass all of the sponge balls. This is sure to be another way to cool off!
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All classes will participate at the same time, partners will line up in one straight line. This is a relay with their partner. Send only the first two partners. Students will take a spongeball out of the bucket and run (with their Partner) to the other end to fill up their team’s designated water bottle. Each partner will try to get as much water in the bottle as possible. They will return to your team and high-five the next runners. When your class is done, we will see which class conserved the most water and fill their bottle with the most water.
4. The Treasure Hunt: All classes will participate at the same time. Your students will line up with partners standing side by side. Each class will be assigned a colored golf ball to find in the field. Send one set of partners at a time to search and recover one golf ball each to bring back to your team; that is a total of two golf balls for each group of two people. Your team has to find 48 (or more) golf balls to complete this challenge. Once everyone in each class has had a turn, we stop the event. Then you can announce that everyone can go hunt for the treasure until all the golf balls are found. The first class to find all of their golf balls wins the event. All students then assist the other classes to find the remaining golf balls. This is a smashing success.
5. Parachute Popcorn: Classes will participate one at a time. If you have enough parachutes, you can have classes compete at the same time. You, your class, and parent volunteers will be timed to see how quickly you can pop the popcorn (20 gamma balls or yarnballs) off the parachute.
6. Parachute Water Balloons: Classes will participate one at a time. Similar to the “Parachute Popcorn” activity, you, your class, and parent volunteers will be timed to see how quickly you can pop 10 Water Balloons out of your parachute. There will be lots of shaking going on! It may just cool you off, too! Remember to work together.
7. Sneaker Hunt (Class Event): All classes will participate at the same time. Your whole class participates as a team. Everyone will remove his/her sneakers and leave them in a pile. Students will return to a starting line. Teachers will then mix the sneakers up so that finding them will be a challenge. On the signal, all classes will run to their designated pile and work together to find their sneakers and put them back on. Laces must be tied!!!! We will see how quickly your class can accomplish this task. Classmates can help each other!!! You can’t leave any teammate behind. All students from the class wait for everyone to get their own sneakers on, and then they can return to the starting line.
8. Class Spelling Relay (Class Event): All classes will compete at the same time. This event is a relay for your entire class. Line up your students in two straight lines (no partners needed). Students will run to the other end and pick up one piece of laminated cardstock. The cardstock will have a picture of a fruit and a letter. Assign each class a fruit to collect. Two students at a time will run to the specified area and turn over one card. If that card matches your fruit, they will take it to your group and tag the next runner. If the card does not match, they turn it back over and return to your class and tag the next runner. When all cards have been found, your class will unscramble the letters to find out the word. The teacher will let you know how many letters they need to find. Some words to assign are: Teamwork, Friendship, and Respect.
We ended our Field Days with popsicles from our Parents Club and participation certificates for everyone, including parent volunteers.
These games encourage teamwork and fun for all. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns. I am happy to assist. FIELD DAY is a lot of work, but so much fun for your students and families.
Here are the equipment ideas that I secured through GOPHER to run my Field Day:
