This game was a favorite this fall with my 3rd and 4th graders. I also played it with 5th & 6th. Class is divided up into two teams. They each form a line on opposite sides of the field. The offensive team has small token (I used a bottle cap). Each team member holds their hands together as if holding the token and runs to cross the line of the defensive team. The defensive team starts tagging members of the offensive team. When tagged, they must stop and show what is in their hands. If they don’t have the token they just move on. If the person with the token is tagged then the defense becomes offense. If the token makes it across the line, it is a point for that team and they retain possession. Leadership ability really comes out during this game. I saw teams work together doing things such as blocking for the person with the token or faking who had it while someone casually crossed the line. Teams with out a clear leader struggled to be successful in scoring a point. As the game ended, I pointed out the need for strategy and teamwork and we talked about why or why not a team was successful.
Category Archives: 3rd/4th outdoor games
Dribblerama
I tried another couple of basketball-based games with 3rd and 4th graders this week. These focus on dribbling skills. I divided my class of 35 into 3 groups. One group had shooting practice while the other two played dribbling games.
Dribblerama: everyone has a ball. I used a big circle painted on the black top as boundaries. They must stay in the circle and dribble their ball. While dribbling they try and knock another players ball, causing them to lose control. If you lose control of your ball you are out. They played until their were 2-3 players left and those were declared winners. I had the “out” players dribble on the line around the edge to practice while they waited.
Stealer Ball: 1/2 the players have a ball. They must dribble continuously. Other players try and steal a ball. If stolen, then the stealer gets that ball and begins t0 dribble. The person who lost their ball must then try and steal from a different player. I used a half court as their boundaries.
Before these games I taught basketball standards of traveling, double dribble, etc. They could not stop and hold the ball or dribble with both hands.
PROS: Good dribbling practice with everyone engaged. More fun than just dribbling up and down and also gave them practice of staying in control in a game-like situation.
CONS: For dribblerama, you need a lot of balls (luckily my school has a good supply of equipment). Kids wore out quickly, don’t do for too long (5-7 minutes)
Basketball Passing Game
My 3rd and 4th graders have been working on a basketball unit. It is a challenge to find games that challenge those who are more skilled and experienced and give the others the practice they need. This game worked really well as a follow-up to our work practicing bounce and chest passes:
Circle Guard and Pass
Form 2 teams: offense and defense. Offense team makes a large circle with one team member in the center. Defense team makes a smaller circle inside the offense circle. It works best if you have actual circles drawn for them to stand on. (Our school has 2 large circles like this painted on the black top outside — perfect!) The offensive team tries to get the ball into the person in the center with a bounce pass or a chest pass. The defensive team tries to swat or steal the ball as it passes through. All team members must stay on their designated lines, but can slide along them. I really worked with the offensive to move the ball quickly and look for holes in the defense to pass through. It took some time for them to quite throwing the ball overhead and look for ways to bounce pass instead. After about 5 minutes I would rotate the teams. We played this two weeks in a row because they were just catching on at the end of the first session. The second week they really had a good time with it. They all love being the person in the middle.
PROS: Only need one ball to play, if played right all children can be involved and active, great way to show the correct way to use a bounce pass and its potential effectivness
CONS: Tendency to just chuck the ball overhead must be overcome, some kids can get ignored and never touch the ball. I solved both these by playing the game along with them. I had to play it inside one day due to bad weather and without the drawn lines it didn’t work as well. They really need a line they have to stay on.