The Cat in the Hat

The Cat in the Hat has scattered stuff all over the house. Can you and/or your team pick up the items before Mother comes home?

Point out the fitness and/or skill aspect of this game. Make sure the students know that this game is not only fun, but has a learning objective(s).

Variations:

1. Scatter all kinds of equipment inside the play area. This is the stuff the Cat in the Hat has scattered all over the house. Divide the students into teams of two or three players. Give each team a hoop to hold their collected equipment (stuff). The teams begin the game on the perimeter of the play area. They can be scattered around a large circle or scattered along the lines of a basketball or volleyball court. Their hoop is paced next to them. On the go signal, one player from each team runs out and picks up one piece of equipment; she brings it back to her hoop home. She then tags the next person. Play continues in this manner until all the items are picked up. Time the event. Scatter the equipment again. a) See which teams collect more equipment in the next round. b) See which team collected the most equipment in each round. c) See if the whole class can pick up the equipment in less time than the previous round. d) Give the class a designated amount of time. After that time is up, mother comes home and the round is over. See if the class can pick up all the stuff before mother comes home. With each subsequent round, add or subtract time depending how the class did.
2. Same as above. However, when you pick up an item (for this variation, use implements that can be tossed or thrown), you must figure out a way to pass to your teammate(s) so that the item is eventually deposited in your hoop home. No one may move with a piece of equipment in his hand. He must pass it and then move toward his hoop home. If the item falls to the floor it stays right there and the person throwing the implement must move to a different item.
3. Tag - same as above. However, when tagged by another person, she gives her item to the person who just tagged her. In this variation, everybody plays at the same time. The idea is to get to your team's hoop home with an item before someone from another team tags you. Play until the majority of the items are picked up and placed in hoops. Students must figure out their own team strategy for this game.
4. Use rhyming words from the book: "The Cat in the Hat." Scatter poly spots spread out in the center of the play area. Place an index card with a rhyming word written on it under each spot. Give each team of two to four players an index card with a word that they must rhyme. Each team has a different word to rhyme. Tell each team how many words they are looking for. On the go signal, in relay fashion, one person from each team runs out and picks up a poly spot. If the word under that spot rhymes with their team's word, bring the word back to your team. If the word under the spot does not rhyme, leave it under the spot, do one jumping jack, return to your team and tag the next person. The game continues until one team finds all of its words. Alternately, time the event, and see how long it takes to find all the words. In each subsequent round, try to pick up all the words in less time. In this case when a team finds all of its words, they may then free lance and help other teams finish.