Las Vegas was the next stop on our imaginary trip to visit the many landmarks around the United States. Everyone warmed up with an activity for the Hoover Dam. After talking about the purpose of a dam, students paired with a partner. One person laid down on the floor to make the horseshoe shaped Hoover Dam with their arms. Their partner rolled balls and tried to get them into the arms of the person laying down. The ball was meant to show the water flow and their bodies were the dam. Outstretched arms represented the reservoir where water is held. Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten students played a game that involved some math. The class was divided into two teams and each team had a different color giant foam die. Teams faced each other and the dice were rolled. The class had to determine which die had the higher number. The team with the higher number had to chase the other team and try to tag them. In some classes a second die was added for each team to add together. Kindergarten students played a running and exercise game using a giant deck of cards. Each time they drew a card they had to look at the card and determine which exercise was associated with that card, perform the exercise, jog a lap around the gym, and then draw a new card from the deck. This activity kept students moving!
Drawing an Ace meant 12 jumping jacks.
The teacher aide blows on the dice for good luck before rolling them.
The dice are rolled and students wait to see which die has the highest number.
The team with the highest number chases the other team to their home base.
The team with the lowest total runs to get to their home base.
One student attempts to roll a ball (the water) into the
arms of his partner who represents the reservoir at the dam.
The ball needed to be rolled straight in order to make it to the dam.
Success!
Over-sized cards made our exercise game more fun!
Oh, no! Drawing the Joker meant having to do each exercise one time.
