Count Up Exercises

Skill: Balance, Hop, Jump
Time Required: 30
Activity Type: Physical, Transition
Group Size: Individual, Large Group, Medium Group, Small Group
Age Group: 6 - 9yrs, 9 - 12yrs, 13+ yrs
Play area: Classroom (small indoor space), Gymnasium (large indoor space)
Safety Considerations: Remove any safety hazards and obstacles from the activity area.
Ensure participants are spread out.
Equipment: Cue Cards
Pens/Pencils/Markers
Objective:
Participants create their own "Count Up Exercise" cue card, or participants will write one exercise per cue card.
Set up:
Each participant will get their own cue card.
Participants write 1 to 10 down the side of their cue card (please see the image as an example).
Step by Step:
1. There are different options for this activity.
2. First option is that participants write down their own exercises from 1 to 10.
3. Exercise examples are: squats, lunges, jumping jacks, heel raises, sit ups, push ups, hop on one foot, star jumps, plank, wall sit, burpees, high knees, and so on.
4. Participants will go to a gym or a big open space where there are no obstacles or safety hazards, and find their own space.
5. Participants will start with their own "Count Up Exercises" cue card, and they will do the designated activities the correct amount of times.
6. In the image attached to this activity, next to #1 is "squat", so the participant would do 1 squat. Then they would do 2 lunges, then 3 sit ups and so on.
7. When participants are done their cue card they will walk on the spot and raise their hand. When all participants are done, they will swap their cue card with another participant.
8. Continue until each participant does 3-5 cue cards.
9. Participants could work in pairs, and one participant will tell their partner what exercises to do and how many times. Then switch roles at the next cue card.
10. Option 2: Participants start with a cue card, and they only write in an exercise next to #1.
11. Participants will already be in a gym, and will have a pen or pencil with them.
12. After they do the first exercise, they pass their cue card to another participant, that participant writes in an exercise next to #2, and then they do both activities. They pass the cue card again, and the next participant writes an exercise next to #3, and they do exercises 1 to 3. Continue in this pattern until all participants have done 10 exercises.
Variations:
Add skipping ropes, soccer balls, tennis balls, medicine balls, hoops, and other equipment for participants to use.
Count down exercises and start at 10 (or another number).
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.
Attachments: Download