Heart Health

Skill: Jump, Run
Time Required: 20
Activity Type: Physical
Group Size: Large Group, Medium Group, Small Group
Age Group: 6 - 9yrs, 9 - 12yrs
Play area: Outdoor - Field, Outdoor - Playground
Safety Considerations: Clearly define areas of the body that can be tagged (e.g. arms, legs, back). Inform participants that a tag is a touch, not a push or a grab. Remind participants to be cautious when moving and be aware of the personal space of others.
Equipment: 4 pylons (or alternative)
Pinnies to identify taggers
1 skipping rope per participant
Objective:
To learn about heart health via a game of tag.
Other Skills:
Speed
Endurance
Set up:
Use 4 pylons to identify line A and line B, about 5–10 meters apart.
Step by Step:
Warm Up

1. Have participants face a partner, march in place behind line A and play Rock Paper Scissors (RPS). They jump twice as they say, "Rock, Paper, Scissors." On "Scissors", they strike one of 3 poses: ROCK–crouch down; PAPER–stand, legs apart, arms stretched to the sides; SCISSORS stand with arms stretched up high, ankles and wrists crossed.
2. Each pose conquers one other pose. Paper covers rock, scissors cut paper, and rock breaks scissors.
3. Each time they play, the winner jogs in place while the other participant speed-walks to line B and back.
4. Participants continue to play RPS with a different partner each time.

Steps

Activity 1:

1. Ask participants to identify risk factors for heart disease (physical inactivity, smoking, eating high-fat foods, high blood pressure).

2. Identify 4 participants to be taggers, each representing a different risk factor. When caught by a tagger, the runners must continue to run while holding their hand on the spot where they were touched. (This makes running more difficult equivalent to living life with 1 risk factor for heart disease.)

3. If tagged twice, the runner must use both hands to hold both spots where he or she was tagged. (Again, it is even more difficult to run like this, equivalent to living life with 2 risk factors for heart disease.)

4. If tagged a third time, the runner has no more hands to hold the spots, so he or she has a heart attack.The runner calls out "911" and must perform short, rapid pogo jumps on the spot, holding the first 2 places they were tagged until another runner comes to help. He or she can be saved by doing an exercise task (e.g., 10 stride jumps) with another runner. (Exercise reduces the risk of heart disease, so after doing this exercise, the runner is back in the game.)

5. Switch taggers on a regular basis.

(Adapted from Ophea, H&PE Curriculum Support Documents, 2000.)

Activity 2: Skipping - Participants perform the following jumps, using a skipping rope:

Boxer Jump: Participants jump 2 times on their right foot, then 2 times on their left foot. Continue.

Jogging Jump: Participants use a running step–step over the rope with the right foot, then the left foot. They continue to alternate feet, taking 1 jump for each step.

Toe Jump: Participants jump with their right foot behind their left foot, with their right toes tapping behind the heel of their left foot. Repeat this with the left foot.

X-Jump: Participants first jump with their feet apart. On the second turn of the rope, participants cross their right foot in front of their left foot. Participants jump with feet apart again on the third turn. On the fourth turn, they cross their left foot in front of their right foot, and repeat the pattern.

Cool Down

1. Have participants face a partner, walk in place, and play Rock Paper Scissors (RPS).
2. While they walk in place they say, "Rock, Paper, Scissors." On "Scissors", they strike one of 3 poses: ROCK–crouch down; PAPER–stand, legs apart, arms stretched to the sides; SCISSORS–stand with arms stretched up high, ankles and wrists crossed.
3. Each time they play, the winner leads the partner in a stretch for 15–20 seconds.
4. Participants continue to play RPS with a different partner each time.
Variations:
In Activity 2, If participants are having difficulty skipping, or if there are not enough ropes, they may simulate the action described by having an imaginary rope or holding both ends of the rope in one hand.
While skipping, participants should keep an upright posture, shoulders relaxed, elbows in, turning the rope using the wrists. They should bend the knees when jumping and put their heels down occasionally to prevent tightening or injuring the Achilles tendon.

Adaptations (General):
Ensure that all participants understand the purpose of the activity and the important messages concerning heart health.

Adaptations (Blindness/Visual Impairment):
Have a guide assist participants who are blind or visually impaired.

Adaptations (Mobility Impairment):
A participant with a mobility limitation (e.g., a wheelchair user) may not be able to jump. Consider employing the conventional "Rock, Paper Scissors" using hands in the event that it is not possible for participants to crouch or stand.
Sources: Ophea