10 FUN INCLUSIVE SUMMER ACTIVITIES
written by Phillip
Conatser, University of Texas Brownsville; Contributing
Author: Chris Ledingham,
University of Texas Brownsville
Summer is always a great time for all children to do activities
that are inclusive, recreational, and fun. In this article
we will present 10 easy group activities that all children
(high to low ability) can participate in in a meaningful way.
Hope you'll enjoy playing these games as much as we have!
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Water-Skiing Race
Game
Students should be organized in small groups/teams of 4
to 6 people. The amount of teams will depend on how many
ropes and/or slip-&-slides are available. Students are
instructed to pull teammates using a rope from one end of
the slip-&-slide and back. When each member has successfully
complected the task the game is over. Further, everyone
should have the opportunity to pull or be pulled by a team
member.
The student being pulled has the choice of standing,
sitting, or laying down depending on their ability level.
If a student is unable to grip the rope they could be
pushed instead of pulled. Further, more then one student
can push or pull teammates from one end and back. Depending
of team skill level, some teams my have more students.
Teams could compete against each other or for there own
individual good time.
Equipment
Ropes, poles, or hula hoops for pulling and slip-&-slides.
-
Cool Zones
Game
Students are to pull (prone) or push (spine) with their
arms/legs on scooter boards while moving through a water
(water sprinklers, cool zones, splash balls, etc.) obstacle
course. Note, scooter boards roll best on smooth surface
like concrete or flattened blacktops. Students could practice
arm/leg propulsion and navigation individually, with a partner,
and/or teams could be organized for a competitive race.
Having a variety of paths, interesting toys to venture after,
and/or competition may encourage more movement. The length/width,
path(s), obstacles, amount of toys to recover, surface and
water conditions will all change the level of difficulty.
Moving around on scooter boards with water splashing everywhere
is a fun way to improve upper/lower body strength and swimming
skill patterns in a cool environment.
Equipment
Water sprinklers, splash balls, cool zones, wiggle worms,
and scooter boards.
-
Double Bubble
Game
Students are matched up or put in small groups. Within each
pair or group of students, some should be designated "bubble
blowers" and others "poppers." Students blowing
bubbles are trying to have there teammate(s) "pop"
all the bubbles while standing or sitting in a plastic or
inflatable pool/raft. The teams that destroy the most bubbles
in a given amount of time wins.
Some students may need a racquet (badminton, tennis)
to help pop bubbles, or an automatic bubble blowing machine
for making bubbles. Distances between teammates, devices
for making bubbles, and how students will pop bubbles
will very the difficulty.
Equipment
Bubble blowing toys and portable plastic or inflatable pools/rafts.
-
Who's the Coolest
Game
Students placed in small cooperative groups are challenged
to design and build the best cool-zone. With some PVC pipes,
u-joints, duct tape and a water hose, students can be as
creative as they want to. Temperature readings can be measured
to determine which cool-zone is the coldest. After cooperative
creative competition, students can enjoy playing in their
newly built structures. Teacher, paraprofessionals, and
staff could help with construction ideas.
Equipment
PVC pipes (pipes need many small holes drilled), plenty
of duct tape, end plugs, and water hoses.
-
Splash Balls
Game
Students are placed on opposite sides of a net and instructed
to kick or throw all the balls (splash balls, water balloons,
sponge balls) from their side to the opponents side. Note:
the activity plays best if there are more balls to kick
than balls to throw.
After a particular time limit has passed, each side could
count all the balls on their side. The team with the least
balls wins. Students with limited abilities could have
designated balls (red sponge balls) for their use or a
buddy to assist in reaching/grabbing, throwing, or kicking
balls. There should also be means for accessing water
near the playing area.
Equipment
Various sizes and colors of splash balls, water balloons,
sponge balls, containers (buckets, trash cans) for holding
water, and badminton nets.
-
Catch a Wave
Game
Groups of 8 to 15 children in a circle need to pass around
several water balloons. Balloons filled with water are placed
in the center of the circle. Students are faced inward with
their elbows joined and holding hands. The group passes
the balloon from one person to the next. When the group
has successfully passed all balloons around the game is
over. This activity could be timed to see how fast each
group can successful accomplish the task.
Equipment
Water balloons, toilet paper, sponge balls, and/or rubber
chickens.
-
Bugs on a Biscuit
Game
Purpose is to get as many children on an object as possible.
Two or 3 groups with everyone in the group standing or touching
the object at all times while not touching the ground. Once
the team gets situated, they must stay in that position
for as long as they can without anyone in the group falling
off.
Equipment
Park table or bench, log, tree stump, rock, mat, chair,
balance beam.
-
Space Invaders
Game
Children are to push a large ball(s) toward designated players
moving within a circle. Put children in one large outer
circle (facing in) and others in a smaller inner circle
(facing out) with one or two large balls and several children
between the two circles. Following a starting signal, children
between the two circles are trying to not be touched by
balls, while children making up the inner and outer circles
are trying to push the balls toward the children inside.
If a child pushing a ball makes contact with a child between,
then those two children need to switch positions.
The game is over after everyone has had a chance to flee
from the balls. Ball size, circle sizes, number of balls,
or number of children between the two circles fleeing
from the balls will very the difficulty level. Increasing
participation for some children could mean positioning
them always in the inner circle, continually pushing a
ball with the help of a buddy, and/or allowing them to
be touched several time with a ball before having to switch
positions. Further, there could be several separate games
at once with one game made-up of higher skilled, and another
game made-up of lower skilled children.
Equipment
Large beach ball, large therapy ball.
-
Downhill Golf
Relay
Game
Children are to putt golf balls from a start line to a finish
line while maneuvering around obstacles. Place children
in groups, and at a starting signal have each member putt
a golf ball around obstacles from a start to a finish line.
The race could be timed, or have each team count up the
total amount of strokes used to complete the course. Provide
choices in ball sizes and clubs, change distances between
the start and finish line, have less or more obstacles to
maneuver around and/or group sizes could be smaller vs larger.
The game is over after everyone has complected the course.
Equipment
Golf balls, wiffle balls, or tennis balls, golf club or
oversized plastic golf club, and cones, flags, or poles
-
6 Goal Soccer
Game
Children are split in six teams and instructed to defend
their goal and make balls in opponents goals. Children could
be organized into equal or unequal sized groups, goals could
differ in distances, and goals height/width might very.
Place as many as you can (20 or more) soft balls in the
middle of the goals. Each group starts from their goal.
Upon a starting signal, each group attempts to kick or strike
(hockey stick) as many balls possible in to all opponents
goal while defending their own goal.
Balls acquired in goals can be kicked or thrown back
into play. The game is usually timed (20 to 30 minutes)
and at the conclusion each group can add up all the goals
scored. Some individuals may need assistance to increase
kicking or striking opportunities. Therefore, certain
balls could be designated for their use only (e.g., all
the red balls). Further, if these individuals and their
designated balls become separated, other group members
could retrieved the ball back to that player.
Equipment
Many soft soccer size balls of different colors, six goals
(goals could be made from cones PVC pipe, large trash-cans).
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