Invent a Great New Game!

Return to the article

Subjects Arts & Humanities Language Arts Physical Education Games

Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Brief Description

Using a combination of three or four pieces of game/athletic equipment, pairs of students "exercise" creativity by inventing fun new games.

Objectives

Students will

• work cooperatively with a partner.
• brainstorm ideas for a game that makes use of the three or four pieces of game/athletic equipment given to them or selected by them.
• write clear rules for their game.
• present their game rules and demonstrate the game for their classmates.

Keywords

game, invent, sports, physical, creative, critical thinking, rules

Materials Needed

Gather a variety of the materials below. You should have enough equipment to provide each pair of students with three or four items. You can pre-sort the items or pair up students and let them pick up one item at a time (before they know what you plan to have them do with them!).

• a variety of balls
• plastic hoops
• dice
• beanbags
• jump ropes
• bats
• nets
• paddles
• stopwatches and/or timers

Lesson Plan

Arrange students into teams of two. Distribute a variety of three or four of the items above (for example, two beanbags and a hoop; a kickball, a jump rope, and two dice; or two paddles and two beanbags), or let students take turns selecting one item at a time from the collection of equipment. Once the students have picked out their equipment, introduce the activity. Explain that their job is to invent a game that uses the equipment they have selected or been given. Encourage them to be as creative as possible and to try to invent a game that they actually would like to play. All games should involve some kind of physical activity. Once each pair has decided on a game, teammates should write detailed rules for playing it.

When each student pair has invented a new game, set up a time for them to share the games. Give each team time to explain and demonstrate its game.

Finally, ask students to vote for their favorite games. (This can be done by secret ballot.) As they vote, students should consider the criteria that were introduced at the start of the activity; they should vote for the new games that are most creative and that they would most like to play.

Assessment

Evaluate students on their cooperative learning skills, the clarity of the rules they wrote, and the presentation of their games to the class.

Lesson Plan Source

Education World

Submitted By

Gary Hopkins

National Standards

LANGUAGE ARTS: English

• GRADES K - 12
  NL-ENG.K-12.4 Communication Skills
  NL-ENG.K-12.12 Applying Language Skills

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH: Physical Education

• GRADES K - 12 NPH.K-12.3 Physical Activity

Return to the Fitness Fun lesson plan page.

See the Education World theme page Resources, Lessons, and Activities for Physical Education for more resources.