Hula Hoop Day
Warm Up
Play Hula Hoop Games—adapt as needed for each class
Line-up – Line all the hula hoops
in one long line. Have the children line up behind the first hoop. Give them
specific ways to go from one hoop to the other. For example: hopping on two
feet, hopping on one foot, hopping switching feet, frog hopping, bunny hopping,
walking backwards, tiptoe, stomping, etc.
Roll-a-Hoop – Tip the hula hoop on
its side so it is like a wheel. Roll the hula hoop fast and have the kids chase
them. They love how they roll randomly different directions and they love
chasing them trying to catch them before they fall! If the kids are a little older show them how
to roll the hoops themselves and chase them or do it with a partner!
Hula Hoop Toss – Set up cones in a
random fashion. Set them far enough apart so a hula hoop could ring them. Have
the children hold the hoops horizontal to the ground, like a frisbee, and try
to toss the hoop so it lands around on of the cones. You could also set up
three lines and have three cones. Each line is trying to toss their hoop to the
one cone in front of them.
Hula Hoop Transportation – Give
each child a hula hoop. They can hold it on the outside of the hoop as their
car. Have the kids “drive” around in their “cars”. You can play “Red light,
Green Light” while they are in their cars too. In this game, all cars stand on
one side of the room. The adult stands on the other side. When the adult calls
out, “Green Light” (you can also hold up a green circle for a visual aid), the
cars are allowed to come towards you. When you shout out “Red light”(and hold
up a red circle if you wish), the cars must stop where they are. The goal is
for the cars to get to the adult on the other side of the room. You can also, have the children stay in their
hoops and hold them the same way but now they are going to be a big train! Each
one will line up next to the other in a line while holding their hoop. They
will link up with the person in front of them and behind them. They will need
to grab a hold of two hoops in each hand so all the hoops connect. Walk around
the room as a long train this way. The kids love this one! It is hard to do
with children younger than 3 because their hands are not large enough to hold
two hoops!
Cool Down using Fall Yoga Poses
Pumpkins
Warm Up
Play Pumpkin Games—adapt as needed for each class—Have
children rotate through the stations
Pumpkin Golf – Try to hit the golf ball into the
jack-o-lantern mouth (Ice cream bucket decorated to look like a jack-o-lantern)
Pumpkin Bowling – Use foam pins and a real pumpkin for
knocking down the pins. Explain that we must roll the pumpkin. Place tape
markers on the floor so they can set up the pins on their own.
Pumpkin Ring Toss – Make paper plate pumpkins and cut a hole
in the middle for tossing over a pole.
Cool Down using Fall Yoga Poses
Warm Up
Walk the Webs – Create a web shape on the floor out of tape
using the red circle on the floor. Have students walk along the web seeing if
they can make it all down all the rows.
Monster Mash Freeze Dance – Show and practice freezing in
the different shapes shown on the cards. Start playing the song Monster Mash
and have the kids dance around. When the music stops have them freeze like the
card you are holding up.
Cool Down using Fall Yoga Poses
