Trouble-Free Playground Program

     Think about growing up and all the teasing that occurred on playgrounds. Do you remember selecting teams and always having the same people chosen last? Think about how often students just “stood around” or the students who interrupted games by stealing hats, or running through established playing fields.

    The Trouble-free Playground program includes a variety of games and activities for students to choose from in turn helping students become self-responsible. It also has 100% of the students participating in some activity that they have chosen. With all students involved in smaller group activities there is less possibility of conflict and the likelihood of bullying is lessened since students have choices and select who they play with prior to going outside.

     The perception that recess is “free time” is abandoned. “Free time” indicates students can do what they want, which can lead to overall disrespect on the playground. Disrespect for peers and for authority figures leads to bullying, fighting, and sometimes a rather chaotic situation. If you think of recess as productive, a time where students make choices, learn social skills such as cooperation, self-awareness, decision-making, self-control and conflict resolution, then it still allows students to play and learn without constant supervision. Consider the fact that many students race outside and have no plan, they don’t know what they are going to play or who they are going to play with. They go outside and wait for some great, super fun game to happen and it never does. Many times this is what causes the problems on the playground.

     During the first two weeks of school, students and teachers learned games that could be played at recess. Students now select the game they are going to play at lunch recess first thing in the morning. When they return from lunch recess they are asked to write about their experience, What worked?, What didn’t?, What could I do differently? or How could I handle the situation? Games will continue to be added throughout the year.

    The following activities and games are some of the choices students have;

Choices for Recess

Ø      Reading

Ø      Playground equipment 

Ø       Frisbee

Ø      Basketball 

Ø      Four Square

Ø                         Jump Rope   

Ø      Kickball

Other games, including a brief explanation are;

Ø      Secret Agent “007”  - In this game two opposing teams use foam balls to hit opponents below the waist. If someone is hit, they sit down. A “survivor”, not known to the opposing team, may touch any of his/her teammates that have been hit. If the survivor is hit, no player who has been eliminated can get back into the game.

Ø      BIG Base -There are always two runners in this action packed game. The team positioned in the field try to hit the runners with foam balls to avoid runs getting scored.

Ø      Grab It -Students form pairs and sit on the floor or ground facing each other, with legs crossed and a beanbag in between them. On the signal “Ready”, both players place their hands on their knees. On the signal, “Grab It”, both players try to get the beanbag first. The game can be made more challenging by calling “Left” or “Right” or by adding a ball as well and calling out, “Ball” or “Beanbag”.

Ø      West African Jumping-Students form pairs and stand facing each other approximately 3-4 feet apart. Partners decide who will be the winner if both feet are on the same side or who will win if the feet are on different sides. Players then jump up and down 6 times. On the sixth jump, each player lands with the right foot in front of the left or the left foot in front of the right. Points are awarded to the person who had both feet or the person who had different feet, as determined before the game.

Ø      Crazy Legs- This as a game that requires much activity and cooperation. The students are divided into two teams, one a fielding team and the other a kicking team. The kicker kicks the ball, the team fielding must get the ball and whoever has the ball is the line leader. All the fielders must line up behind him/her. The object of the game is for the fielding team to line up and stand so the leader can roll the ball between their legs and beat the runner. Points are awarded to whichever team accomplishes getting the ball to end of line or the kicker who gets home first. Teams switch positions once all the kickers have had a turn.

Ø      8-Base-This game requires good teamwork and it provides a good cardiovascular workout. Players score only after running the bases twice. This is a stepped up version of kickball.

Ø      Burn Ball- This is a game with two teams, the throwing team and the fielding team. The fielding team assigns one player to be the “burner”. The first throwing player throws the ball in to the field and begins running the bases. The fielding team must get the ball to the burner player who must touch the ball to the “hot plate”. Any runner who is not on base is out. When a team has three outs change positions.

Ø      Catch a Thief- There are two teams and the object of the game is to capture each other’s beanbags. Students tagged on the opponent’s side must go to jail. Teammates may rescue prisoners by grabbing their hand and running back to their side.