Activity Purpose
Kids practice using self-talk to motivate themselves to be active, play, and exercise throughout the day.
Objectives
- Recognize that your mood (feelings and emotions) can influence the motivation to be active (move).
- Give examples of ways to turn an "I won't" mood around through movement (e.g., stand, hop, skip, jump, play a game, exercise, play outside, take a walk, dance, etc.).
Preparation
- Talk Time: Kids sit and stretch or stand and march in place. Be sure they are a safe distance (arm’s length) apart.
- Activity: Divide kids into small groups of 3 to 4. Set up a line of 3 cones for each group. Allow enough space for the kids to leapfrog over each cone. Scatter Move Activity Cards at the end of the cones.
- Wrap Up: Kids partner with someone sitting near them for discussion.
Talk Time
Introduction
Q: How do cows motivate their mood?
A: By moooooving!
Let's recall things we have learned about your mood and moving.
- Sometimes your feelings and emotions put you in a mood that has you thinking, “I don't feel like moving."
- You can decide to motivate your mood from “I don't feel like moving” to “I will move."
You can make a plan to help yourself motivate your mood. For example, first, you could relax by listening to music. Next, think of a fun way to move. Then, get moving and keep going!
This activity is an example of a fun way to move! Play this activity like a relay.
Do The Activity
Activity Instructions
- Divide the kids into small groups (3-4 per group).
- Each group forms a line behind each line of cones.
- Kids waiting in line march in place while cheering on teammates.
- Shout, "GO!"
- Participant at the front of the line begins leapfrogging over the cones to get a Move Activity Card.
- Participant leapfrogs back with the card and leads the group in doing the fit move indicated on the card.
- Once all group members have led the group through a fit move, the entire group sits down and does a butterfly stretch.
- If time allows, repeat the activity and switch up the groups by rotating the first person in each group to the end of the line of the group on the right.
- Form a circle and march in place (or another leader-selected movement) for the Wrap Up.
Wrap Up
Reflections
Turn and talk with a friend. Tell each other how you will use self-talk (encouraging yourself) to talk yourself into moving.
Challenge: Say your name instead of "I" when you describe your self-talk. For example, I will say to myself, "_____ (insert leader's first name) is feeling bored right now. _____ will grab a ball and practice dribbling."
Challenge
Before you do your homework, talk yourself into taking 5 minutes and turn your favorite fit moves into a circuit. You will have more energy and focus to do your work!
Time: 5 Minutes
What You'll Need
Resources
Materials
- Cones or Place Markers
- Music
- Timer
Helpful Tips
- To minimize standing and waiting during relays, expand the number of groups you have for an activity to reduce the number of kids in each group. This keeps them moving and engaging in the activity more. Example: 4 groups of 5 kids or 6 groups of 3-4 kids.
- Change it up! Instead of having kids march in place during the relay, call out different motor skills (e.g., run in place, high jumps, squats) to perform while their teammate is leapfrogging over the cones. This helps keep all kids engaged and moving.
- If cones are too tall for the kids to leap over, turn the cones on their sides.