1997-98 Instant Activity Archives

Week 19: Jan. 12-16, 1998

IA Name: Germ Tag

Grade Level: 1-5

Equipment: Cones to define playing area, 2 red foam balls, 2 green foam balls

Directions:

Have students find a good self space in the activity area. Give 2 students a green ball (make sure it is a ball they can hold in one hand) and give 2 students a red ball. The students with the red balls are the "germs" and the students with the green balls are the "doctors".

On the teachers signal the students are to move throughout the area according to the teachers locomotor movement choice (i.e., walking, sliding, skipping, etc.) trying to avoid beign tagged by the students with the red, "germs" ball. If the students without the ball get tagged (no throwing the ball) by a red, "germ" ball, then they are to get on their back and flail their arms and legs in the air. To get unfrozen they have to be tagged by students with the green, "doctor" ball. They are free to move in the game again after being cured (i.e., tagged) by a person with the green, "doctor" ball.

Stop the game after a minute or so and have new students carry the doctor and germ balls.

Teaching/Safety Tips:

When explaining the game make sure you tell the students that the ball has the germs and not the students. Some students/parents may object to students being called "germs."

Have students walk before doing other locomotor movements.

Remind students to watch out for their friends on the floor that are the germs. They need to keep their eyes up while they are moving.

Do not allow throwing of the balls.

Submitted by Ashley McKnight and Julie Echols. Ashley teaches PE at Lincoln East Middle School in NC and Julie is a student at Radford University in Radford, VA. Thanks for contributing to PE Central!

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