So, I've never really had "recess" before as a teacher. We had "outside time" for 30-50 minutes a day in Pre-K. I would take out soccer goals, hula hoops, bubbles, trikes, basketballs, sand toys, even musical instruments and the children continued their learning through play outdoors. Now that I am faced with the time constraints of an older grade, I'm redefining recess.
I love being outdoors. Sunshine brightens my day. Birds singing puts a spring in my step. But let's face it...it's Georgia and it is HAWT outside, I tell ya. I have to make the minutes we steal away to recess really count. There is 1 playground, but again...HAWT plastic slides...not so fun.
I spent some of my childhood in El Paso, Texas. They know a lot about HAWT. The black pavement on the playground would literally fry an egg. There were no shade trees. We all huddled in the shade that the school building provided, and so we learned to play games in small spaces, and since moving back from El Paso, I haven't seen a single child play my favorite game....
CHINESE JUMP ROPE!
Here is a great video from a PE teacher showing the simplest jumps.
Please share your favorite activities, fun games, or pieces of equipment that you use for recess in my first Linky Party, and please follow my blog :)
Hey Tracey! We only get 15 minutes of recess so I just let the students free. They enjoy being able to choose what they want to do and they organize games for themselves quite well when the want to play. The boys will split themselves into 2 teams and play basketball or soccer, which is sort of amazing since there are 5 classes of boy outside!) The girls will do the same with hide and go seek and tag. If we had mroe time I might consider something else. I can't wait to read the other responses!
ReplyDeleteTracey,
ReplyDeleteI'm your first Linky entry. I have a Team Building Linky going. I'd love some more entries for it. Also add your Recess Linky to more "Lots of Linkies" list on my blog.
Denise
Yearn to Learn Blog