Fitness Zone

Ball Pattern

Organize students into groups of six to eight. Give one ball (or other object, such as an eraser) to each group. Students pass the ball to others in the group in a pattern that they develop such that each student receives the ball once; students may not pass the ball to the person directly next to them. Once the pattern has been developed, challenge students to repeat the pattern without dropping the ball. The next challenge is to increase the number of balls. (Some groups are so successful that each person is throwing a ball at the same time.)

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Finger Dexterity

Arrange students in pairs and designate one student in each pair as the initial leader. Have each student stand up and hold a sheet of paper in one hand. The leader uses her sheet of paper as a streamer and the second student follows her movements. For example: snap it high, snap it low, move it in a zig-zag, make a big arm circle, etc. Have students reverse roles and try again.

Next, instruct students to ball up the piece of paper using only the fingers of one hand. They should strive to make the ball so small that it can be hidden in the student’s fist. Then, have students try to un-scrunch the paper, opening it using only the fingers of one hand.

Have students repeat this exercise using the other hand.

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Give and Take

Have students pair up with a partner. Partners stand face-to-face with palms together overhead. The object is to get the partner off balance. Push and try to get the partner to move his feet.

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