Energizers! Presented by the Physical Activity Transition Project Staff Ontario in Motion - Ideas in Action Conference Feb.

Transcription

1 Energizers! Presented by the Physical Activity Transition Project Staff Ontario in Motion - Ideas in Action Conference Feb. 3-5, 2003 Introduction Everybody loves energizers, especially when they have been sitting for a long time. Energizers are a simple way to integrate a little movement into daily life. They can help bring people together, spark discussion, change the pace and add some fun to the day. You can do energizers whenever you feel your group is a little sleepy or has been working extra hard for a long time. They are also useful to change the pace or focus at the beginning of a session. The rules should be kept to a minimum. The activity should be safe given the space available and the participants abilities. Consider adapting the activities to your needs and to the space available. Following are a few suggestions. Do This/Do That Description: Two leaders lead two different groups in a series of fitness activities. Encourage the leaders to choose activities that move large muscles so that the heart rate is raised. The leaders call out, Do this, as they lead activities. If the leader says, Do that, the group should not move. If anyone follows, they must move and join the other group. Change leaders frequently. Variations: Anyone who follows on Do that performs a fitness activity and rejoins the group. Source: Active Kids, Anytime Anyplace and Ontario HPE Curriculum Support 1

2 One After Description: The leader does a series of fitness activities. The group follows, doing the fitness activity PREVIOUS to the one the leader is currently showing. (For example: The leader does jumping jack and the group watches. The leader changes to sky punches and the group does jumping jacks. The leader changes to twist jumps and the group does sky punches.) Variations: Try Two After Source: Active Kids; Anytime Anyplace and Ontario HPE Curriculum Support Group Juggling Requirements: 3-4 tennis balls or soft objects of similar size. Get the group to form a circle. Group size of 8-15 is ideal; create additional groups if necessary. People can t join later, so make sure they are all set before you start. Ask them to raise one hand. Description: The facilitator tosses one ball to someone in the group, saying their name first. That person can lower their arm and toss the ball to someone else, saying their name first. The ball keeps moving across the circle and establishes a pattern. When everyone has received and thrown the ball once (you will know because all the arms will be lowered), the ball is thrown back to the facilitator. The ball is then thrown again to the first person and follows the same pattern (throw to the same person), until it is back to the facilitator. Once everyone is clear on the pattern, the facilitator can add more balls gradually, until a nice juggling scene is created. Emphasize underhand, gentle throws to reduce the number of times the ball is dropped. Variations: As a brain-teaser, you could get the group to reverse the pattern. Source: Energize! Quest Books Walk & Talk Requirements: Space with enough room to walk freely Description: On the signal Walk, everyone walks around in the room. When the leader says, Talk, participants stop and talk to the closest person about the topic the leader gives them to discuss. When the leaders says, Walk, they continue walking. Variations: Topics can encourage participants to get to know each other e.g. your favorite physical activity or to explore issues related to the meeting/workshop/class e.g. the barriers to being active Source: Energize!; Quest Books (adapted from Roundabout Conversations ) 2

3 Knots Requirements: This energizer is more appropriate if participants know each other and are wearing comfortable clothing. Description: Form groups of 8-12 people in a circle, facing in. Everyone places their hands in the center. Then everyone takes two hands with their hands. Make sure no one holds both hands with the same person or holds the hand of a person right next to them. It might take a bit of switching around to get the know tied right. The group must then unravel itself without releasing anyone s hands. The final outcome should be a large circle, two interconnecting ones or a figure of 8. Variations: As a communication exercise, this could be done blindfolded, with one or two seeing people who give instructions. Source: No room in the gym! (CAHPERD) Sound Off Requirements: Participants start standing or sitting down, with room to stand and raise their arms. Description: This is a repeat after me energizer, suitable for any number of adults or children in a confined space. While sitting or standing, move arms and legs as if marching. Group repeats each line after leader and does the actions: I don t know but I ve been told (march) Don t sit still or you ll feel old (march) Stand up! (stand up tall) Arms apart! (lift arms up high and apart) Move your feet ( march quickly, pump arms to keep pace) It s good for your heart (tap chest or hug yourself and pat your back) Repeat the chant 3 times, increasing the pace, and if possible, the volume each time. Variations: Change the words of the first 2 lines to suit any occasion. Eg. I don't know but I can say Active Schools are on the way Source: Traditional chant adapted by Margaret Good, Physical Activity Transition Project 3

4 Click, Snap and Pop Requirements: Participants start sitting down, with room to stand and move their arms. Description: Through simple actions, participants learn about each other. When the leader calls out a category, participants who fit in the category pop up in place, complete the action, and then sit down. For example, stand up if you: Are a public health nurse (give a wave) Are a health promoter (give a wave) Haven t stood up yet (wave both hands) Traveled here by plane (balance on one foot, arms out like a plane) Traveled by train (move like a train march and circle bent arms) Know how to ski (pretend to ski) Were active most days last week run on the spot) Promote physical activity as part of your work (jump up and down) Variations: Change the categories and actions to fit the situation. Source: Energize!; Quest Books Four Way Mirror Description: Participants face the front and hold stretches, following a leader at the front of the room. The leader turns to face another wall and names a leader who is at the new front. The group now follows the new leader. The new leader does a few stretches, then turns to face the back wall. The group continues to stretch and turn, following a new leader each time they face a new direction. Variations: Try more vigorous moves (march, leg kicks, knee lifts) instead of stretches Source: Ontario HPE Curriculum Support 4

5 Stretch Wave Description: Do the wave with a stretch. Lead a stretch. Participants follow one at a time in a line or a circle. The leader begins a new stretch. Participants hold the previous stretch until the new stretch reaches them in the wave. Variations: Use any low intensity moves (knee lifts, shoulder rolls) instead of stretches Source: Ontario HPE Curriculum Support Add On Description: The group is in a circle formation. The leader calls out her name and does a fitness activity (e.g., arm punches, knee lifts, stride jumps). The rest of the group follows the activity. The person next to the leader calls out his name and does a new activity which everyone follows. As each new activity is added, the group does all previous activities before adding the new activity. They call out the name of the person who led the activity as they do the actions. Variations: Ask participants to demonstrate one way they include physical activity in their day Source: Active Kids; Anytime Anyplace and Ontario HPE Curriculum Support 5

6 Energizer Resources Books/ Booklets Energize! Energizers and Other Great Cooperative Activities for All Ages. Quest International (Lions-Quest in Canada). 1991, ISBN: Zany Activities with a Rubber Chicken. Canadian Intramural Recreation Association. Available through CIRA s web site ( Getting Together: Icebreakers and Group Energizers, by Lorraine L. Ukens, Jossey- Bass/Pfeiffer, 1997, ISBN: Icebreakers: Group Mixers, Warm-Ups, Energizers, and Playful Activities, by Edie West, McGraw-Hill Professional Book Group, 1996, ISBN: Energizers and Icebreakers for All Ages and Stages, by Elizabeth S. Foster, Educational Media Corporation, ISBN: Moving on the Spot. Toronto Public Health. Available for free download from the publications section of their web site: Exercise in Disguise A Resource for Daily Vigorous Physical Activity. Produced by the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (limited quantities at this point). Contains a collection of activities from Active Kids, Anytime, Anyplace and others. Health and Physical Education Curriculum Support Documents. Each binder contains an appendix on Daily Vigorous Physical Activity. Produced by OPHEA ( Resource Kits Active Kids, Anytime, Anyplace. Contains a guide, a video and an audio-cassette with activities which can be done in limited spaces. Produced by OPHEA ( Websites Youthwork Links and Ideas. ( This one would be of particular interest to high school teachers and has lots more than just energizers. Kim s Korner ( Alf Grigg's Icebreakers & Team Activities ( 6