Frogs & Fish is Standards-based Fundamental Movement Skill game that is great for Pre-K, Kindergarten and Elementary school PE programs. I invite you to “dive in” and have fun playing with your students. © 2020 Responsive Classroom. This game is highly addictive—and lends itself well to unique and creative adaptations! Our mission is to help you become the best physical education teacher you can be. When the leader says ‘Dead Fish’, everyone must do their best impression of a dead fish. A thorough description of how to play is also included.
It focuses on Hopping, Skipping, and Jumping. Consider teaching it as an end-of-the year celebration game or field day activity—you’ll be surprised at the level of cooperation and fun that ensues! shortened pool noodles).All players should keep their eyes up at all times.Balances, exercises and stretches should all be vertical (i.e.
It can be played in a gym, a large classroom, or outdoors.Divide your playing area into three zones: a large area in the middle (the river), an endzone on one side of the river (the burrow) and an endzone on the other side of the river (the river bank).On the river bank, place a large number of beanbags (flies).On the river, place a variety of poly spots (lily pads).Divide your class into three teams: toads, frogs and fish.The toads and the frogs begin the game by standing in the burrow. Once there, they collect one fly and bring it back to their burrow. By the end of the year, the fish gobbler could choose from eight or more possibilities for “dangerous” commands!While there are many variations on this cooperative game, here are directions for the adaptation I used with K–4 students.Play begins when the fish gobblers call out a “safe command” for the fish to cross the ocean. ), and the “dangerous commands” that cued them to take quick action and cooperate to make the sea creature shapes.When we added the tagging component, we practiced safe tagging and playing the role of the fish gobbler, since students who were tagged joined the fish gobbler’s team.Then, when we first actually played the game, we started out using just a few simple commands. Great for discussion, fact-finding, ordering, comparison and play, this game provides lots of opportunities for application of maths skills and is sure to be a hit! Fish may simply run anywhere within the river.If a toad or a frog becomes tagged by a fish, the tagged player switches roles (i.e. On the teacher’s signal, students move about the playing area using their respective skill (i.e. That student excitedly joins me at the center of the playing field to become my partner in fish gobbler crime.When someone asked for ideas for large-group games recently on the To begin, during PE classes, small groups of children learned how to work together to create shapes that resembled oysters, crabs, sharks, octopuses, starfish, etc. They cooperate so well that it takes two more rounds before I finally catch someone. Toads and frogs start in the burrow and must move across the river – jumping or hopping, depending on their role – to the river bank. For example, orange lily pads require you to assume a balancing pose while you rest on them, blue lily pads require you to perform an exercise (e.g. “Little fish, little fish, tiptoe out to sea,” I broadcast, beginning the next round, and the students start tiptoeing across the wide expanse to the safety of the far end line.This time, however, when they are halfway across, I shout “OCTOPUS!” Suddenly, students dash here and there, linking up in groups of four to create human “octopuses” (a sort of four-person hug with long, outstretched arms). The data categories are: most commonly found, length, lifespan and beauty score, with a number range of 0-100. You start as Bibos the fish and straight away you are ready to dive in to the waters of the mesmerizing world of Feed and Grow.
After a few minutes, have the teams switch roles and resume their movement.Divide the playing area into the three areas mentioned in the game rules above: the burrow, the river and the river bank. (If you are playing in a classroom, have students walk and talk quietly). It can be played in a gym, a large classroom, or outdoors. Often this involves lying down.
We did this before the tagging element of the game was introduced, focusing first on learning how many students were needed to create each sea creature, and how we could take care of one another and keep the whole school of fish safe from the fish gobbler.Next, we spent time practicing the difference between responding to the “safe commands” that told students how to move across the space (swim, tiptoe, skip, hop, etc. Later, to make the game more challenging, we added more.
During these safe commands the fish gobblers may not pursue the fish.The safe command might be: “Little fish, little fish, swim [or walk, hop, jump, take baby steps, jog, take giant steps, etc.] From the center line, I watch as they pretend to swim across the “ocean” (the playing field) to reach the safety of the “shore” (the opposite end line). out to sea.” When a safe command is given, the fish move through the ocean (the play area) in the manner stated, making their way to the other end line.At any point, the fish gobblers may call out a “dangerous command.” When this happens, the fish must join other fish to create the pre-taught shape for that command.When a dangerous command is called, the fish must quickly and safely create the shapes before the fish gobblers tag them. Toads and frogs may only carry one fly at a time, and toads must jump their way across the river while frogs must hop. Place a large amount of beanbags on the river bank.
All rights reserved.
We will do this by producing high-quality resources for you to use in your teaching, by helping you connect and share with fellow teachers, and by providing engaging professional development opportunities which you can attend. For each colour lily pad that you use, assign a task. “Little fish, little fish, swim out to sea,” I shout from the center of the field to the mass of students poised at one end line. When someone asked for ideas for large-group games recently on the Responsive Classroom Facebook page, I thought immediately of Fish Gobbler.
air squat) while on them and green lily pads require you to stretch while on them. About This Game Hunt and eat other fish - simply, grow into larger beasts! toads jump and frogs hop).