Switch and Rotate

To teach listening skills.

Cones for general space boundaries Organization Pattern: Students are grouped in pairs

Have students find a partner in general space. Have one student be the leader and the other the follower. The follower should be one arms length away from the leader (should be able to touch back of leaders shoulder before starting the game).

On teachers signal the leader is allowed to WALK anywhere in the gym. The follower is to follow the leader as best they can to try and stay one arms length away. When the teacher says Stop the two players freeze immediately and the teacher needs to check and see if the followers can still touch the shoulder of the leader.

The teacher has them play again but this time when the teacher says Switch the leader and the follower switch roles by turning around. Now the follower is the leader and the leader is the follower. When the teacher says Stop see if the follower can touch the shoulder of the leader.

The object of this game is to stay so close to a partner that when the teacher says Stop and the players freeze, the follower can still touch the leader. When the teacher says Switch, the partners change roles, and the follower becomes the leader.

1. To make more difficult the teacher can introduce the term Rotate. When students here that term the follower is to go to the front of the line and then become the leader.
2. After students get this with 2 players add a third or fourth and watch the fun begin!
3. Add different locomotor movements.

   The following activity is taken from the book entitled "Children Moving: A Reflective Approach to Teaching Physical Education (3rd Edition)" authored by George Graham, Shirley Holt/Hale, and Melissa Parker.