Energy Releasers

[tkbreer]

With the winter months making outside time minimal, I would love any good ideas for getting rid of pent up energy.

[iteachsocialstudies]

Design any kind of lesson plan where the students are up and moving around (one at a time if necessary). For example, right now we're studying the Alamo and Goliad, so I just tape a huge piece of paper at the front of the room, and after each point, I allow someone to go draw a quick picture of the Alamo or whatever on the paper. I try to have two of these at a time going. Of course, you dont' get to get up and draw if you aren't writing your notes, paying attention, etc.

[javamomma]

We play a game called "Huggle Buggle".
Simple rules:

I hide an apple (marble one that sits on my desk anything would work). Then the kids look for it around the room. Once they spot it they say "Huggle Buggle" and sit down. No one "Wins or loses" at this and they love it.

[TeacherRW]

We will play a game that I "stole" from a colleague in our district. He calls it the Koosh Game. Basically, it is a hot potato game using a Koosh Ball. The thrower must make some sort of eye contact with the "catcher". The ball should not hit the ground. If the error is on the thrower, s/he sits down. If the error is on the catcher, s/he sits down. The whole game is silent! If ya talk, you're out!

[rosered]

Each of these can be modified for the age group and what you are teaching... great as a fun way to review for a test!

Simon Says (maybe... if 2x10 equals twenty, jog in place. If red + yellow = orange, stop jumping. If H20 is NOT the symbol for water, start laughing... the list is endless)

Red Light Green Light (line the kids up and they get to move up a square if they answer a question right) To make it time manageable, each kid gets two minutes to answer as many questions as they can. To keep them busy/quiet while you are asking the others, give each child a color, and "reds' will do jumping jacks, "blues" will do pushups, etc. Every few minutes, switch the colors' exercises so they don't get bored.

If the kids have been extra good, or have a certain number of "checks" or got a collective average on a test, they get a HOT HOT HOT Hula party. Get to wear their favorite summer shirt, and play ring toss, three leg race, hula hoop, push ups contest, etc. Anything you can modify for indoors. And of course, hula music!

There was also a game I loved in elem that we played in class called "Heads up Seven Up" but I don't remember how it goes. Maybe google it.

[SLP]

There is a fun stress release game we play with the Girl Scouts: "Untangle". Everyone is up & moving.

Have groups of 5 or more stand in a circle. Each person reaches across the circle. Tell them: "Hold hands with 2 different people, but not the person next to you." Then tell them to work together to untangle themselves. Say "Don't let go of your hands!" When they finally untangle, a full circle emerges, or sometimes you may get 2 circles.

This is one of those games which fosters group cooperation. It's always interesting to see the group work together to solve the problem and see which kids emerge as the leaders or problem solvers.

[Sassafras]

has a couple of great indoor recess clips that my kids LOVE.

[dolmansaxlil]

I play a game I call "Detective". One kid is sent out of the room - they're the detective. Once they are gone, one kid is named the leader. Everyone sits in a circle. The whole circle starts clapping, and the Detective is brought in. The Detective stands in the centre of the circle, trying to figure out who the Leader is. When the leader thinks the detective isn't looking, they change what everyone is doing. They might snap their fingers, get up and stomp their feet, jump up and down, do jumping jacks, etc. When the leader starts a new action, everyone else in the circle follows the action as quickly as they can. The Detective gets three guesses. The old leader gets to be the next Detective, and a new Leader is chosen once they're out of the room.

"I like my neighbour" is a fun one too. Everyone sits in their chairs in a circle. One person goes to the middle and makes a "I like my neighbour who..." statement (ex. I like my neighbour who has brown hair. I like my neighbour who is wearing bluejeans. I like my neighbour who has a pet dog.) Everyone who fits that statement has to get up and switch seats with someone who has also gotten up because they fit the statement. They can't sit in their own seat again. The person in the centre has to try to get to one of the empty seats before it is taken.

Using a simple trivia game (or questions from a current unit, math questions, etc), divide the group into teams. Designate each number on a die with an "on the spot" activity (push ups, jumping jacks, etc). One person from one team has to roll a dice, and is asked a question. If they get it right, it moves to the next team. If they get it wrong, the whole team has to do whatever activity coresponds to the number on the rolled die. You can make the questions a bit more challenging, break the teams up into smaller groups, and have the team work together to figure out the answer if you don't want to single anyone out.

[teach1027]

Musical chairs is great even the big kids like it. You could also sing, and do fingerplays for the little ones. Have them run in place if it gets really bad.

[kingrichie]

We play, Silent Ball. The kids SIT on top of their desks and take turns randomly tossing around a ball of yarn. If they drop the ball or make a bad throw, they sit in their chair until the next game. You can make up other rules as needed, ie: no talking, 3 sec. to throw, no throwbacks, no throwing too hard, etc...