Although sports are usually the activity of choice during a sports theme summer camp week, it is important to have back-up activities for those rainy days or when the mid-day heat is scorching. These fun and easy activities will keep the children engaged in a sports theme, but without the requirement of being outdoors. So, spice up those dull rainy days and dodge the summer heat with the sports-inspired ideas below.
Indoor Recess Sports-Inspired Activities
Wastebasket Basketball
This activity is one practiced by both old and young alike. There is something intrinsically fun and challenging about throwing wadded up paper into a trashcan from across the room. To start, divide the children up into teams of two or three people. Have them crumple up a stack of scrap paper that you have gathered from the school or camp’s paper recycle bin. Once each team has a large pile of paper, set up a small wastebasket a set distance from each team, i.e., six to eight feet. Set a timer for three minutes and have the teams get ready. Each team then takes turns throwing “baskets” for the three minute duration. The top two teams move on to a semi-final round where they shoot as many baskets as they can during a three minute shoot-out. The team with the most paper balls in the basket is the winner. If there are not enough children to create teams, individual competitions work just as well.
History of Sports
Use this TeacherTube.com video below to inspire students to create their own version of a sports slide show. They can focus on one sport or many. Encourage them to pick one time period, or a history of the sport over the last century. Pictures found online can be used to create a photo slide show using simple photo editing software that is installed on many school computers.
Simple Sports Sack
Help kids keep their sports gear together with this simple sports sack activity. Each child will need an old pillowcase, 4-feet of nylon cord, fabric paints or fabric markers, and a needle and thread or fabric glue. Have students fold down the top, open edge of the pillowcase about four inches. Help them use fabric glue or allow them to sew the edge down. Then make a vertical cut along the seam of the folded and sewn area. This will allow the children to run the cord through the folded down area to create a drawstring. Push the cord all the way around and back out the other end of the opening. Decorating the bag is the final step. Students can decorate with their school colors, favorite sport, or favorite sports team.
What are some of your favorite sports themed activities for kids?
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