Using Large Group Games to Maximize Student Activity in PE

Target Audience:

This course has been designed for and K-12 physical education teacher that have been given large class sizes looking for innovative ways to maximize activity participation in physical education class.

Course Purpose/Objectives:

This course was developed to empower the physical education specialist with the tools needed to effectively implement and facilitate activities that will engage all students physically and emotionally. In these economic times more and more students are not playing mainstream sports, therefore, the physical education teacher’s role is more important than ever. We must find ways to keep activity high and enjoyment of activity higher. Class sizes continue to increase, and resources continue to decrease, therefore, the physical education specialist must find new ways to introduce safe ways to play and learn in a large group setting. This course hopes to help with this dilemma.

Course objectives are to:

• provide tools to implement and facilitate large group games
• provide tools for planning large group games
• increase student physical activity
• increase student emotional wellness

Course Description:

Many teachers have to face the harsh reality of teaching large classes. Due to budget cuts and pressure to perform academically physical education classes tend to get bigger rather than smaller. Research has shown that the more students you have in a physical education class, the less likely that class is to reach maximum participation. Sometimes physical educators feel that more discipline takes place then activity with larger class sizes. Therefore, this course is designed to help physical education teachers design lessons to provide for maximum activity in large class sizes through rituals and routines, classroom setup and instructional strategies.

This course will focus on large group games. Large groups games are designed to fill an entire class period and follow the 80/80 rule. The 80/80 rule should be a bare minimum of activity that all students should achieve each class period. 80 percent of your students should be active 80 percent of the time. So being eliminated entirely from a game should never be an option. Large group games work best if the planning prior to class has been completed. Also, large group games should provide every child with a role so that they can feel successful no matter what the end outcome of the game.Large group games could require more equipment so that students have more opportunities to be involved but that is not always the case. Also, these games might require a large space like a gym, field, or large room and safe for play. Students will also be given a multitude of repetition in a variety of manipulative skills. Large group games are also vital in promoting unity, teamwork, camaraderie, or teaching valuable lessons. Most importantly large group games should be FUN!

With all of this in mind, the art of creating and implementing large group games successfully comes down to exceptional planning. This planning should focus on time savers within the class to increase activity time for the students. Also keep in mind that large groups can be managed appropriately with other teaching strategies like collaborative grouping and small sided games. The goal remains the same – 80% of your students need to be active 80% of the time.

Course Goals:

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

• understand various factors that affect the classroom and how to address them
• identify strategies that maximize activity in large classes
• identify practical skills needed to manage a classroom
• identify ways to prevent, manage, and solve classroom problems
• understand and explain how to effectively collaborate with others in the school and surrounding schools
• design a lesson plan that state specific classroom procedures, routines, rules, set up and expectations
• design lessons that incorporates the maximum activity strategies

Standards:

This course addresses the following standards:

Source: SHAPE America National Standards for K-12 Physical Education (2016).

Standard 1- The physically literate individual demonstrates competency in a variety of motor skills and movement patterns.

Standard 2- The physically literate individual applies knowledge of concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics related to movement and performance.

Standard 3- The physically literate individual demonstrates the knowledge and skills to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical activity and fitness.

Standard 4- The physically literate individual exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others.

Standard 5- The physically literate individual recognizes the value of physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and/or social interaction.