Snow Fort-to-Fireplace

Skill: Balance, Jump, Run
Time Required: 15
Activity Type: Physical, Transition
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 activity area.
Remind participants to be aware of their surroundings and to keep their head up.
Equipment: Pylons or rope to create the two ends (optional)
Objective:
Participants do the appropriate action for the winter event that the leader calls out.
Set up:
Place pylons or rope around a gym's length away from each other; one side represents the warm fireplace, and the other side represents the awesome snow fort.
Step by Step:
1. Have all participants start at one end of the activity.
2. Explain to participants the winter events and actions that go with the events.
3. One end of the activity area, which will be designated by a rope, pylons or a line on the ground, will represent the warm fireplace. At the other end of the activity space will be another rope, pylons, or a line on the ground, and will represent the awesome snow fort.
4. When the leader says "fireplace" or "warm up", participants will run towards the fireplace end.
5. When the leader says "snow fort" or "hide", participants will run towards snow fort end.
6. Other events and their actions:
- Snowman - participants will stop where they are and put their hands above their head to form a big circle (the head of a snowman). It is a windy day and the snowmen are blowing in the wind, so participants will sway from side to side with their hands in a circle above their heads.
- Jack Frost - Jack Frost is a cold fella, and when he is called, participants will stop where they are and begin to shiver, rub their arms, chatter their teeth, be dramatically cold and shivering.
- Snowshoe - Participants will begin to take big steps around the area, and lift their knees high in the air.
- Figure Skate - Participants will stop where they are and balance on one foot and put the other foot behind them and into the air. Or if the leader says, "Figure skate spin", participants will stop where they are and do a full spin in the air.
- Skiing - Participants will stop where they are and with their feet together, will jump from side to side, like are skiing down moguls.
- Shovel - Participants will stop where they are, put the imaginary shovel in their hands and begin to shovel their driveway.
7. Add a competition element to this activity. The last participant to begin to do the proper action is out. Continue until there is one participant remaining.
Variations:
Only do some of the actions, add new actions, or modify them.
Divide participants into groups of 3-4 participants. One participant from each group will be in each round. The last participant standing gets a point for their group.
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.