Lucky Leprechaun Skills Stations

In honor of St. Patrick's Day next week, here are some stations I like to do with my elementary students.  We also like to play Leprechaun Tag as our warm-up and I will post that activity next week.

Activity Goal: To improve throwing, jumping, leaping, and hopping skills.

Motor Concepts: Locomotor skills, throwing, and eye hand coordination.

Equipment: Over the rainbow-Volleyball net or rope and frisbees.  Blarney Stone Jump-6 or more dome cones and laminated brown paper “Blarney Stones” with distances ranging from 2 to 7 feet marked on them and taped to the cones. Pot of Gold-Laundry basket or box and yellow or gold beanbags.  Leaping Leprechauns- 6 or more laminated paper shamrocks with distances marked on them and taped to the floor.  Snakes From Ireland- Six or more jump ropes arranged in rows.  Shamrock Score- laminated shamrocks that are numbered and beanbags.

Set up: Arrange stations throughout the gym or play space.

Procedure: Over the Rainbow-Students throw frisbees over a volleyball net, scoring a point if it does not touch the net.

Blarney Stone Jump-Students perform standing long jumps next to the Blarney Stones, which mark the distances jumped.

Pot of Gold-Students throw beanbags into the basket, or box earning one point for each successful throw.

Leaping Leprechauns-Students leap or jump as far as they can.  The shamrocks mark the distances.

Snakes from Ireland- Students hop over the ropes and back without stepping on them or putting down their non-hopping foot.

Shamrock Score-Students throw overhand at the numbers on the shamrocks.  They add their points together.

Low Variations: Shorten the distance to the targets; use mats at the jumping stations in case of falls; hold student’s hand when jumping/leaping for extra balance; students in wheelchairs can lie on a scooter board and push themselves or be pushed instead of leaping/jumping

High Variations: Lengthen the distances; have students add up points; assist other students; focus on form.

Informal Assessment Questions:  Is the student able to aim at the targets?  Is the student able to throw in the intended direction? Is the student able to maintain balance while leaping/jumping ?  Does the student demonstrate skills correctly?