It's true.  I've been planning this trip since August 2018 to attend a home game at each of the 30 MLB stadiums across North America.  I start the event here in Denver, CO for a Rockies game on May 31st, and that just happens to be the last day of school in DPS.  The last game will be in Atlanta on August 3rd to see my Braves play at home. 

There's so much to share about this trip that I've designed a whole new website for it.
www.mlbsummerroadtrip2019.com.  Check it out and share with your sports friends if you like!  I'm also using the trip as a platform for raising awareness and support for 5 sports-focused non-profits. An easy way to see my social media posts is using #CDTLH.  Not sure what it means?  That's ok,  It's clean I promise.  I have a tab on my website just for that question. 

Thanks for visiting this website, and despite not updating a blog on it for 3 years I'm still appreciative of all those who check it out and are encouraged. :)

I've recently created this obstacle course off the top of my head combining multiple skills taught in previous lessons.  Just the name of it grabs the attention of the students. 

This is a large activity combining many past skills students have been learning in previous lessons.  This lesson is oriented towards Pre-K to 2nd Grade, but can easily be modified for the 3rd through 5th grades. 
 
My objective: Students will be able to demonstrate and explain the different pathways using words straight, curve, and zig-zag.
 
Equipment: scooters, balance beam (or tape), mats, chairs, cones, and directional polyspots.
 
Setup: Balance beam or tape on one border, it leads to a makeshift tunnel made out of 2 adult sized foldout chairs with a mat across the top.  Afterwards, cones with directional polyspots or tape are to point in the direction of which way to move around the cones in a curve line.  Students return back to the original starting line to go on the longest straightaway of the course.  Use cones or chairs to create barriers to prevent students from detouring frequently from the designed path.

Core lesson:  Students are to move along the pathway first using locomotor movements starting with walking.  Then, they will move on to galloping, side-sliding, skipping, and running.  An emphasis on different levels can also be taught or practiced in this lesson since students are to move low by passing under a tunnel, medium while on curve and straight pathways, and high while on the balance beam.

After about 5-10 minutes using locomotor movements, I transition over to using only scooters.  Students review how to move forwards and backwards using their legs of vocabulary “push and pull”.  After a demonstration students are to move at their own speed in their "line".  I try to keep them from “cutting each other off” by detouring those who are fast, or I encourage those going a little slow to try moving on the scooter the other way.  I don’t allow any of them to move on the scooters on their stomachs to avoid finger and head injuries.
 
You could introduce some form of shooting item at others, but I think that’s too much for certain ages.  After some time I usually allow for a break due to the constant movement of the students.   Most need to stretch their muscles after about 7 minutes of constant play.  I go over content vocabulary again with them during the breaks too.  They may have to talk to a partner, or answer a question I directly ask them. 
 
At the beginning of each pathway I use an illustration of each pathway and level that I ask them which one they’re about to go on.  They have to say the pathway along with correctly point to it.  I work using this style for the really young ones.
 
A modifier is that one can connect the scooters together (if they have that feature), so 1 student is pulling and the other is pushing together in unison.  This really encourages teamwork and communication amongst the students. 

Overall, this whole activity is great due to many factors.  Students demonstrate each pathway using full body movement, there are multiple skills being used, many opportunities for students to communicate with each other, and more.

This is another fantastic and exciting activity to play with elementary aged kids!  It focuses on fine motor skills, coordination, and communication.  The object of the game is to try and kick the ball over any teams’ goal except your own goal.  Students on the goal line are trying to keep the ball from going across the goal line by using their feet only and in the “crab” position.  The ball used is a special type of ball people may call a cage or kin ball. 

Students are placed into 4 teams.  Each team sits on their goal line to form a square.  Each student is given a number and when a number is called the student with that number walks like a crab to the center of the square and kicks the ball with the bottom of their foot.  (Make sure that you kick the ball and not someone.)  A cue to inform students is to be careful not to step on other peoples hands/wrists.

In this game you do not want to score any points.  The team with the least amount is the winner.  Shoes are asked to be taken off to reduce possible injury.  This depends on preference of the instructor.  The students whose number was called may move anywhere within the square.   

Important points to remember:

1.    Cannot use hands on ball – feet only.  (If hands are used on the goal line a point is awarded to that team.)

2.    Protect your goal line to keep ball from crossing.

3.    Crab position at all times.

4.    Stay back even with the goal line unless your number is called.

Points are scored:

1.    If the ball crosses the goal line.

2.    Touches ball with hands while protecting goal line.

3.    If a team does not stay back at their goal line.

4.    Playing around, not paying attention, rolling or spinning on floor. 

This game can easily be modified to 2 teams, age group, positioning of students, and etc.  Here's a video of a Crab Ball game version with 2 teams in a Secondary grade level.

It takes communication, speed, misdirection, teamwork, quick hands, cooperation, and more.  It’s a classic game that has been a round for a while, but it always stresses cooperation and total team effort.  I love to use this game, along with others, in order to watch those who don’t usually get along with others so they may win/succeed as a group.

The goal of the game is to simply capture the opposing team’s flag and bring it back to your base without getting caught.  There are 2 equal sides in size for both teams. All players are wearing flag belts.  There isn’t a time limit, and you can play it over and over again with several rounds.  This game does involve a lot of moving around and running.

A playing area that is about 50’ by 50’ is ideal, and you could easily use a basketball court.  Adjust the size depending on the amount of people playing and age group.  However, 8 person teams are enough for playing the game in a gym.  A line across the center is painted to divide the teams. Paint and cones will be used to mark off the corners for the two jails and flag spots.  Three hula hoops are randomly placed on each side.   You can use the “safe zones” or not depending on age and ability.

On the signal, each team can rush across the center line attempting to capture the other team’s flag.  To be successful, a player has to carry the opponent’s flag back to his own side without getting his flag pulled.  A player who at anytime is on the opposing team’s side and has his flag belt pulled must go to that team’s jail.  A jailed player can be freed if a teammate makes it into the prison (without getting his flag pulled), takes the prisoner by the hand and walks him back across the center line.

The hula hoops represent “safety zones” where players can stop-off and not be tagged.  Only one player can be in a safety circle at any given time.

Here’s a simple illustration of what a court/playing area would look like.  I don’t allow players defending their flag stand in the area around where their flag is located.