Invent a Sport
Grade Levels: 4 - 6
Objectives
- Students will learn the critical elements of sports activities.
- Students will develop motor-skills.
Materials
- Several sets of dice
- Equipment for chosen sport
Procedures
- After the class has studied several different sports, create a chart in
which the students identify the 5-6 elements common to all sports.
- Brainstorm the possible elements.
- Vote to select the top 5-6 elements.
- Construct a chart of 5-6 columns and label each column with one of the identified elements.
- As a class, brainstorm up to 10 specific examples of each element. For instance, if one of the elements is "having a goal," then list the types of goals used in different sports under that heading.
- Number each example or item.
- Repeat this process for each column until the
chart is full.
Example:
# Goal Equipment Scoring 1 Basket Basketball 2 Points 2 Touchdown Football 6 Points 3 Run Baseball and Bat 1 Point - Use a pair of dice to roll a number for each column. If a number greater than the number of examples in a column occurs, reroll.
- In each column, circle the item according to the number rolled.
- Continue until I item is circled in each column.
- Combine all of the circled items to provide the elements for a new sport.
- Use these elements to devise the rules, regulations, procedures, and equipment necessary for the new sport.
- Name the sport and set up a game or tournament with the class.
- Be sure students understand and use safety precautions.
- Adjust the sport to include participation by all students.
Variations
- Demonstrate the use of the chart to the class. Then arrange students in small groups and invite each group to devise a new sport.
- Restructure the new sport (e.g., individual, noncompetitive, etc.).
- Use the chart and dice to invent a board game.
Excerpt from Active Learning Handbook.
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