BUTTERFLY TAG Back to school 2001-2002 Picture by Kristin Note from the Editor: School is just about to begin in our part of the country. It's time for us, as educators, to start thinking about some ways to incorporate physical activity into our schedules both for ourselves and for your kids. If you have never done this before and don't know where to start, why not start with a running game? You can use it as a reward for your class instead of the usual 'popcorn and a movie' and you can trot along with the kids as they play, getting a little bit of movement into your day. Start with our Butterfly Tag, and then perhaps another time, let your class make up a tag game of their own. Have fun, stay healthy and watch your kids have fun and stay healthy at the same time. GET READY Prepare in the classroom. You'll need nontoxic washable magic markers, one small flashlight, and one small butterfly wand. The boys will be the fireflies and the girls will be the butterflies. Let the boys use magic markers to color their fingertips yellow. Let the girls use different colors to make their fingertips multicolored. They'll LOVE doing this. Choose one boy to be Captain Firefly. He runs with the flashlight. Choose one girl to be the Princess Butterfly. She'll run with the small butterfly wand which should be made from construction paper or tag board. THE RULES Use the following rules or adapt to meet your needs. 1. The fireflies are it. They chase the butterflies. If they tap a butterfly, the butterfly must walk until the Princess Butterfly finds her and taps her so that she can run again. 2. Have fun playing for about 5 minutes, then switch roles. Let the butterflies be it. The butterflies chase the fireflies. If a firefly is tapped, he must walk until the Captain Firefly arrives and shines his flashlight on him, then he can run again. WAYS TO MAKE TAG GAMES SUCCESSFUL Emphasize fun. Tag is one of the oldest and most loved running games that exists. There have been many variations, many of which have been made up by kids playing in their own back yards. Tag is often played with just a few kids, so it can be a little more of a challenge to make it a successful game with the whole class. Here are some tips that will help: 1. Emphasize fun. Don't have a 'winner'. Keep kids active and moving and let them know that they are going outside to have fun exercising as a reward for good behavior or for trying hard on their school work. 2. Restrict the playing area. Have reasonable boundaries so that no one can run too far away and never get caught. 3. Encourage the kids to do some sprinting when they aren't in a crowded area, but to slow down when they are in the midst of other runners. This is mainly for safety purposes. They need to know that they must play safely to get to play tag at school again. 4. Even the fastest runners, should slow down at least once, and let themselves be caught. This will give them a chance to take a walking break and recover so that they can do some fun sprinting again. 5. Encourage careful easy tapping when tagging a player. It's important that the kids are cautious, careful, and use their heads to have a safe game. REWARD them with scheduling another tag playing day for safe playing. ON RETURNING TO THE CLASSROOM Hydrate, stretch, write, and draw Kids should always have a drink of water upon returning to the class after gym, recess, or running. If you don't have a water fountain in the room, you might encourage kids to bring a water bottle to school to keep on their desks or tables. Take a couple of minutes to do some easy stretching. It's a good habit for kids to get into and will maintain their flexibility as well as help them wind down. Next get out their journals, notebooks, or paper and have them write about the game. Was it fun? What were the rules? Would they like to play again? What would they change? Make sure to let the kids make a picture about their game. Perhaps you'd like to share one with this Web site. We'd love to print a few drawings by kids. At some point give the kids a chance to make up their own tag games. This version of Butterfly Tag is an adaptation of a first grader's creation. Here is Kristin's original version: The girls are the butterflies and the boys are the fireflies and when the teacher yells out, "Go!", the boys try to catch the girls and then when you get caught you run very slowly and in eleven seconds you can run again." Run and Journal You may print these forms to record your running experience. LINKS FOR YOU More Running Games Other games to use or adapt www.kidsrunning.com/krschoolgames.html Resource Page Books with running games www.kidsrunning.com/krresources.html Have fun, get psyched, and put your heart into your classroom this year. Email goodrow@infi.net