Want a low maintenance way to get active during those dreary winter months when the weather doesn’t allow for outdoor play and the kids are getting antsy? This is an easy go-to when you’re out of indoor recess ideas!
I actually had this posted on my blog a long time ago, but when I switched platforms it somehow didn’t get moved over, and it was pinned tens of thousands of times on Pinterest so I wanted to make sure people still had access to it. Obviously a teacher can never have too many indoor recess activities in his/her repertoire!
So here’s the scoop:
I saw this type of thing on a health and exercise board somewhere and I thought it would be a great idea for elementary indoor PE and recess. So I adapted it to fit younger people and made a freebie for you!
Here’s how it works:
Make sure kids know how to do each of the exercises listed. That alone could be an indoor PE day.
Start by giving students a word to begin with. I was thinking it would be fun to start with their names. Demonstrate with your own name. Just spell the name or word and do the workout as you go. For example, Bob would do 5 crunches for B, then 5 burpees for O, then another 5 crunches for the last B.
Then you can get creative. Have kids work out their spelling words, or words from content study such as sedimentary, fraction, density…you see where I’m going with this?! Even character traits would be good. You can incorporate it into any subject including vocabulary words from any topic of study.
The side of the poster says “repeat” so each exercise is done as many times as you like. I like to put a sticky note in that spot with a x#. For example, maybe for a spelling word I would put a x3 and they have to say and do each word 3 times. As a little side bonus, I added a second page with a 2x at the bottom since I use that one a lot. You could use that one to prompt kids to automatically do it twice, or you could use the plain one I have and write on it (if it’s laminated) or put a sticky note at the bottom (like I did) to tell how many times they should repeat the exercise.
For display:
You could use a document camera or similar equipment to project it for the class to see. You could also make it into a poster and laminate it if you think you’ll use it a lot. Or you could print one for each student to keep in their desks for whenever you tell them to pull it out.
Don’t let the rainy days and snow days (or in my case high-heat days) keep those kids from getting their wiggles out!
If you have other great ideas for indoor PE and recess I’d love for you to post it for all to see in the comments below.
Oh! I just thought of another use- it would make a good center – either for vocabulary with a certain subject or for more regular movement in general.
Download this for free in my Teachers Pay Teachers store!
