1997-98 Instant Activity Archives

Week 35: May 4-8, 1998

IA Name: Searching for a Bear

Grade Level: K-5

Equipment: Cones to mark off activity area, a big mat for the "home base" or "camp"

Directions:

This warm-up activity uses a story to help students practice their locomotor movements. The teacher tells the story of movements involved in a bear search and the students will respond to the teacher directions.

When the students come into the classroom gather them in front of you in a circle or a bunch formation. It is best to put them on a mat and call this mat "home base". Then tell them to be very quiet because they are going to go on a trip today. They are going to go on a search for a BEAR! Next, ask them what they would bring if they were going to go on a bear search. Students may tell you to bring tents, first-aid kits, sleeping bags, flashlight, matches, food, etc.

Tell them those items are great.Ê Now you would like them to put all of those things into their imaginary backpack.Ê Let them actually act out putting the items in their packpack.Ê Now tell them to put it over their shoulders and it is time to start the story and the search.

Teacher states and the class repeats like below:

Next, tell the students that when you go searching for the bear, they will do things such as climb hills, swim through rivers, climb in trees, go through tunnels, swing from vines, etc.ÊWhen the students start the search, the teacher will sayÊ "You are now searching through a tunnel."Ê Students will act like they are crawling on the floor.Ê Let them do this for 30 seconds.Ê Next state,Ê "now your swimming though the river."ÊThe students will act like they are swimming.Ê

Let each search go about 30-60 seconds doing 3-4 locomotor movements, then the teacher will state that they have come upon a cave, end of a tunnel, top of a hill, etc.Ê One of these choices will have the bear present.Ê

Part of the trick of this activity is to keep the suspense of finding the bear alive after doing some of the locomotor movements. For example:

"We have come to the end of the tunnel...Bear? -class responds, "BEAR?" teacher states "Are you there?"..class responds, "Are you there?"Ê if no, state "Nope!" and continue search...if yes, yell "ROAR" and chase kids to their base (please be careful of this as kids may get knocked over).

Safety Precautions:

After you have the kids actually find the bear the students need to move safely to home base. Please encourage them to walk or use a different locomotor pattern other than running.

Submitted by Shawn M. Roney & Dr. Helion who teach at West Chester University in West Chester, PA. Thanks for contributing to PE Central!

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