How Many Letters

Skill: Hop, Jump, Run
Time Required: 10
Activity Type: Physical
Group Size: Large Group, Medium Group, Small Group
Age Group: 6 - 9yrs, 9 - 12yrs, 13+ yrs
Play area: Gymnasium (large indoor space), Outdoor - Field
Safety Considerations: Remove any safety hazards and obstacles from the play area.
Remind participants to be aware of their surroundings and to keep their head up.
Equipment: 10 hoops or cones per group.
Objective:
Participants have to be the first to run and stand in the hoop that represents the number of letters in the word that was said by the leader.
Skills - (depends on the exercises participants are told to do)
Other Skills:

Coordination
Set up:
Divide participants into groups of 3-4 participants.
Have all groups start at the same starting line.
In front of each group place 10 hoops or cones, so they are an equal distance away from each other.
The first hoop represents the number 1, the second represents number 2, and so on.
Step by Step:
1. The goal for each group is to stand in the correct hoop (or knock over the correct cone) first.
2. The leader will stand in front of the hoops and groups.
3. The first participant in each line will be the first runners.
4. The leader will say any word; they can have a list of words prepared to help with the flow of the game.
5. As soon as the leader says the word, the first participant in each line runs to the hoop that represents the number of letters in the word and clap their hands.
6. If the leader said "Tulip", then the first participant to run to their 5th hoop and clap, would win that round.
7. All the other participants in the other groups would have to do a set exercise the same number of times as the number of letters. The exercise can be decided on before or after each round.
8. If the exercise was lunges, then all participants (except the group that got it right) would have to do 5 lunges.
9. Other exercises could include: jumping jacks, burpees, star jumps, push ups, sit ups, heel raises, wall push-ups, squats, hops on each foot, highest jumps, jumping spins, laps around their hoops and so on.
10. Optional to give a point, or a token to represent a point, for the group that got the correct answer first. Play for a certain amount of points, or time.
Variations:
Have more or less hoops/cones.
Participants have to run to the correct hoop, pick up the object inside the hoop (beanbag or tennis ball) and throw it past a certain line.
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.