3-5 PE Lesson Ideas

Set up as many game areas in your instructional space to safely accommodate small group games of 3-vs.-3 or 4-vs.-4. One team in each game should wear the pinnies.

One person on each team is designated the "basket". Using the cones, he or she should mark off a goal area in the opponent's end area that is large enough for him/her to lunge step and reach out without passing over the boundaries.

After the game begins (students should cooperatively decide a fair way to begin play), teammates should (bounce, allie oop, chest, etc.) pass, dribble, and catch the ball in order to move the ball down the "court". The offensive strategy of moving away from the defensive players in order to get open for a pass should be emphasized throughout the game. The following rules also apply:

• There is no stealing of the ball while someone is dribbling, and no contact during play.
  
• A player who lands on the floor loses possession of the ball.
• There is no penalty for double dribbling.
• There is no penalty for travelling; if it occurs, the defense nicely informs the dribbler that he or she is travelling, and the game continues.

One point is scored when your "basket" (a teammate who has at least one foot on the rug) receives a pass. No one but the "basket" student may be in the goal area. After a point is scored, the "basket" must throw the ball to the other team.

The defense takes possession of the ball at the spot where it is intercepted in flight, a pass is blocked and the defense recovers it, the ball is rolling/bouncing away from the dribbler (a free ball), or the other team scores. Defensive players should work on using the defensive strategies of guarding (but not contacting) offensive players, and keeping their body between the offensive player with the ball and their goal (whether this be the goal area or another player).