Planets Revolving Around the Sun

Skill: Dodge, Run, Throw
Time Required: 10
Activity Type: Physical
Group Size: Large Group, Medium Group, Small Group
Age Group: 6 - 9yrs, 9 - 12yrs
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.
Remind participants to throw the dodgeball so it hits participants below the waist (or shoulders).
Equipment: Dodgeballs
Objective:
For the participants that are the planets to not get hit by the sun's dodgeball.
Other Skills:
Speed
Agility
Set up:
Select one participant to start as the sun.
The rest of the participants are planets.
The planets will form a circle around the sun.
Step by Step:
1. The sun will stand in the centre of the circle created by planets, with their eyes closed and a dodgeball at their feet.
2. The planets will ask the sun "How many times do we revolve around you today?", the sun will answer with a number from 1 to 5.
3. The planets then have to run around the sun that many times.
4. When the planets have run around the correct amount of time, the leader will say "Sunburn!", and all the planets run and scatter away while the sun opens their eye, picks up the dodgeball and tries to hit one of the planets below the waist (or shoulders).
5. Whoever the sun hits, is the new sun for the next round.
6. If the sun does not hit a planet, then they go back in the centre and they are still the sun.
7. Be sure to switch the sun if they have not hit anyone in three or so rounds.
Variations:
Have two or more suns to start.
Every time a planet is hit, they join the sun in the centre and gets a dodgeball. Play until there is only 1 participant left.
Instead of a dodgeball, participants have to run and tag the planets.

Adaptations (Blindness/Visual Impairment):
Have another participant guide those who are blind or visually impaired. If the guide is hit by the dodgeball, the pair is not out as it is the low-vision participant who must be hit by the ball.
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.