Instant Activity

This lesson is to be used as a reward for having a good PE day. Have the students line up on the far basketball sideline with a good space between them. Tell them that there are very magic happy horses that come out only when the students are quiet and listening. The teacher will call for the horses by making a clicking noise. Their horses can be any color they want--it's up to their own imagination. Tell the students that all happy magic horses need lots of love and hugs before they can do anything—give hugs and love to your horse. Show students how to hold the reins and get on the horse. Let students know that the goal is to have their horse get to the other basketball sideline first (without going over the sideline).

Horses are only to gallop when the teacher says “giddy up” and stop when the teacher says “whoa.” If they move when the teacher doesn't say "giddy up" or the don't stop when the teacher says "whoa", they have to go all the way back to the sideline and start again. The tune to the "Lone Ranger" can be used (start music and say "giddy up" and students move, stop it and say "whoa" and they freeze). You can try to fake them out by calling out goolosh and green been etc. instead of giddy up.

Remind them that instead of them not stopping, their happy horse is the one that’s not stopping on "Whoa." After about 2/3 have made it to the other sideline, tell them that all the horses are going back to “stable” and have them walk to their exit line.