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Around the USA Fitness
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Name of Activity: Around the USA Fitness

Purpose of Activity: The purpose of the activity is to have students improve their physical fitness while practicing the geography of the United States of America.

Prerequisites: Basic physical fitness skills, knowledge of the geography of the USA.

Suggested Grade Level: 6-8

Materials Needed: 20 cones, station signs, 2 jump ropes, chair, pull up bar, Station Cards (PDF)

Description of Idea

This is a station-based activity filled with fitness objectives at each station. Each station has a sign, labeled with the name of a city, fitness objective, and directions to the next city. Station signs are found here. (PDF). Make sure you go over safety instructions before starting. Stop the stations if you see any unsafe behavior/practices.

1. Tape the station signs to the cones and set up according to a map of the USA. Have one wall be the "Atlantic Ocean" and the opposite wall be the "Pacific Ocean" to help with direction.

2. Once the cones have been put in place, divide the students evenly, and position at each station; this will be their "home city."

3. Each student is to perform the activity listed on each station card.* There is no time limit.

4. A group is finished when they make it around the USA and back to their "home city."

The stations are as follows:
Chicago: 25 Jumping Jacks
Move on to Phoenix

Phoenix: Make up your own exercise to Atlanta and Back
Move on to Boston

Boston: 15 Push Ups
Move on to Houston

Houston: Jump Rope to Seattle and Back
Move on to Nashville

Nashville: 40 Crunches
Move on to Miami

Miami: Crabwalk while Saying the Pledge of America
Move on to San Francisco

San Francisco: Skip Around the Country 3 Times
Move on to Philadelphia

Philadelphia: 20 Chair Dips
Move on to Seattle

Seattle: 7 Cartwheels
Move on to Bismark

Bismark: High Knees to the Water Fountain & Back
Move on to Washington D.C.

Washington D.C.: 3 One-arm Push Ups with Your Partner
Move on to Las Vegas

Las Vegas: Do the “Macarena” 5 Times
Move on to Boise

Boise: Grapevine to the Locker Room & Back
Move on to Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach: Line Hop 100 Times
Move on to Omaha

Omaha: Spin in a Circle 15 Times, then Walk to El Paso & Back
Move on to New York City

New York City: 20 Arm Circles; Reverse 20 Arm Circles
Move on to El Paso

El Paso: 10 Coffee Grinders
Move on to Atlanta

Atlanta: 20 Knee Tucks
Move on to Denver

Denver: Lunges to Pull Up Bar, 1 Pull Up, Lunges Back
Move on to Appomattox

Appomattox: Crawl to Your Teacher and HIGH FIVE!
Move on to Chicago (We use Appomattox, the location of our school. Use your location!!)

Station Cards (PDF)

Variations:

Could do state capitals instead of states.

Teaching Suggestions:

Have high expectations for safety and proper behavior at each station.

Students have to repeat the exercise if they went to the incorrect city.

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Submitted by Stephanie Miller in Roselle, IL. Thanks for contributing to PE Central! Posted on PEC: 7/22/2008. Viewed 43677 times since 5/21/2008.

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Previous Comments:

Mark
Wednesday, October 05, 2011

I tried this out this week and the kids weren't thrilled with the idea of fitness, but once they started the activity the all had smiles on their faces. I had to make a few adaptations based on available equipment. The kids do seem to get bored with it the second day through it, and it lasted about 25 minutes with about 30 students.
Samantha
Monday, March 28, 2011

This sounds great! I will be trying this out this week and made my own Around the USA cards!! Wonderful idea!!!
Stephen Haines
Monday, October 18, 2010

The lesson went really well. This is an activity that I will do in the future.
Delaney
Monday, May 03, 2010

I tried this game with class and everyone loved it! we don't have a pull-up bar, so we did the lunges to the exercise room. This is something I will use again for sure!
Nicole Ingley
Thursday, October 15, 2009

I did the Around the USA Fitness. My 8th graders loved it and it was easy to manage. I just add a worksheet with it and a pedometer for assessing.
Emily
Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Great idea! I love the geography integration as well. Plan to use this year!

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