Kids Running - Games to Accompany Classroom Skits

One of my fondest memories of teaching first grade will always be the Becky and Billy Skits. I wrote the skits. Parts included the Gingerbread Girl, Gingerbread Boy, and every child had their own skit where they were either Becky or Billy. We practiced, practices, and practiced. We put the skits on for parents and grandparents on Valentine's day. The children received a standing ovation.

Then on one rainy day, we went to the gym and played "running games" to go with our skits.

The children were used to running laps in the gym, but straight laps can be tedious. On this day they would be running at least ten laps using their imaginations, and my prediction was that their energy would not wane.

We formed a circle and discussed the first lap.

1. GINGERBREAD COOKIES
The class would ran a slow warm-up lap. The gingerbread girl would ran first, followed by Becky and Billy. The rest of the kids would ran behind, remembering not to pass (we never pass on our warm-up lap).

We got back into the circle, in the center of the gym, to do a little stretching and then it was time for the next lap.

2. GUESS WHAT I HAVE!
The gingerbread girl led again, followed by the kids that played Becky and Billy in this play. Again the rest of the class followed. The kids were allowed to run a little faster for this lap.

Between each play lap, we would get in the circle and go over the directions for the next. Here are the rest of the laps:

3. WINTER
The kids were to pretend that it was freezing outside. They were to start out slowly and then gradually increase their speed as they warmed up, then slow down before they finished each lap. The gingerbread girl and the new Becky and Billy led this lap. This was similar to the intervals we had practiced in other sessions.

4. JUMPING
To simulate jumping over logs and rocks (hurdling), the kids had to run ten strides, then leap.

5. RED WAGON
Red wagon was a slow lap. The idea was to pretend that you were pulling something very heavy. I explained that this was like a recovery lap that Olympians needed when doing speed work. The kids tried really hard to slow it down a bit.

6. MY RABBIT
This play deals with running to overcome grief. Becky is distraught because her rabbit is sick and at the vet's. She thinks she may not see her pet again. The kids were to run the speed that made them feel best. Most of the kids chose fast, but one of my best runners chose medium. We put her at the back of the pack and marveled at her beautiful stride as she completed her lap. Gee, I almost cried when I made her promise to contact me if she was ever in the Olympics...someday.

7. MORE COOKIES
The gingerbread boy is introduced in this play. He led the pack (along with the gingerbread girl). The other kids chased them. The kids KNOW that the most important rule is to run safely; that is to not touch another runner and to be careful when they pass. I tell them over and over that if anyone ever gets seriously hurt when we run, it would be a big problem! They respected my directions yesterday and were very careful. Of course they understood that they really weren't allowed to catch the gingerbread kids. They had to stay behind them.

The gingerbread kids got a little head start and they were perfect for this. They happen to be a boy and girl who have been blessed with that extra surge of energy.

8. HIDE AND SEEK
This was by far the favorite game of the class. You just never know what will appeal to kids until you try something. I demonstrated running a lap and stopping at each corner of the gym, putting my hand up to my forehead like I were looking out to see (or sea), and that was all. They loved doing it and when they returned to the classroom to write and illustrate about their favorite game for the day, this was the one that was chosen most frequently.

9. BIRD FEEDER
This was a quick paced lap. The gingerbread people ran first, followed by Becky and Billy, the pecking bird and the class. What fun!

10. RED
Red was the last play. Billy runs 5 blocks to the candy store. We decided to run around the gym and then one extra side to simulate 5 sides of the gym. They were allowed to pass on this lap.

We headed back to the classroom and got right to work on illustrating and writing about our Becky and Billy games. We took a class vote on kids' preferences of running; straight laps vs lap games. It was 17-3 in favor of running games.

carolgoodrow@verizon.net.
Privacy Policy