Creating and Changing Primary Physical Literacy Games

Presented by Sandi Lavery and Jodie Pickering, Department of Kinesiology, COTR, BC

Individuals using games should be comfortable changing the games to meet the needs of the children. By using the S.T.E.P. model below, a change in space, task, environment or people is an easy way to change up a game.

S.T.E.P. refers to:

Space- Where is the activity happening? Changing the distance travelled, limiting the boundaries, having partners closer together or further away from each other will alter the skill level required.

Task- What is the skill or physical action that is being performed? Keep it simple for the appropriate grade level, or make it harder for the students who can perform the task. Change the skill from walking, to running, to skipping etc. Have the children participate equally and change the rolls frequently. Children should go through 3 levels of competition to feel successful. These are:

  1. Completing the skill by themselves. Challenge themselves to complete an easy level and then slowly make it harder for themselves.
  2. Accomplish a task or skill with a partner. The partners slowly make it harder and a bit more challenging with each other.
  3. Compete against a fellow student who has accomplished i and ii.

Equipment- What equipment is being used? Does the equipment fit the child? Start with larger and lighter equipment such as balloons, beach balls, scarves etc. Allow the children to choose some easier options to complete a task. Introduce a smaller ball once they have accomplished throwing or catching a larger ball.

People- Who is involved? How many players are participating? Keep it simple and have all children participate (practicing the actual skill) as much as possible. Group sizes should never be more than 6 children per 1 piece of equipment.

References and additional resources:

Morris, Gordon S. & Stiehl Jim. 1999. Changing Kids Games, 2nd edition. Human Kinetics: Windsor Ontario.

Walker, Susan. Developing Practical ABCs. Liverpool John Moores University, Faculty of Education, Community and Leisure.