Color Memory Relay

Equipment: poly spots and index cards. For variations: crayons and/or various kinds of balls.

The Game:

• Write the names of colors on index cards, or color code a whole bunch of index cards.
• Spread out a whole bunch of poly spots in half of the play area. Place each index card face up, under a poly spot.
• Divide the class into teams. If you have seven colors, you should have seven teams. If you need more teams, add colors. If you need fewer teams, subtract colors. Make sure there are no more than four players on each team (more than four leads to too much waiting). You do not have to have an even number of players on each team.
• Give each team a color to find. Each team should be looking for a different color from the other teams.
• Line the teams up behind a line or traffic cone in the other half of the play area. On the "go" signal, the first person from each team runs out and looks under a poly spot. If the color of the index card matches the color they need, bring it back. If no match, leave it, run back and tag the next player.
• The game continues relay style for 3-5 minutes. At the end of the time period: a) see which team has the most index cards; b) each team sees how many index cards they have and tries to beat their previous score in the next round; c) the entire class tries to beat their cumulative score in the next round.
• After each round place the index cards under different poly spots.

If you are playing the cooperative versions, you may tell or allow the players to figure out that they may hold up the color-coded index card so that others can see it before they place it back under the poly spot.

Variations:

1. Instead of colors, place holiday words, pictures, or drawings on the index cards. For example, in December, write or draw trees, dradles, candy canes, ornaments, stars, stockings, santas, reindeer, etc.
2. Allow the teams to choose their own way to move, or vary the locomotor skills.
3. Play this game without poly spots. Just spread the index cards face down in the center of the play area. Play as above. However, since the cards will inadvertently be moved around, this version is much more random because it takes some of the memory and concentration out of the game.
4. Place poly spots throughout the play area. Place different colored crayons under the spots. You can use duplicate crayons or all different colored ones. Give each team an index card. Tell the class how many different colors they need to find: that depends upon how many different colored crayons you placed under the poly spots. Each team must stay attached to a rope or hoop so that they all move together as a team. On the "go" signal the teams move as quickly as possible to a poly spot. One person picks up the crayon and draws a line on the index card. They then move on. The idea is complete all the colors before drawing any duplicate lines. For example, if you placed eight different colored crayons under the poly sports, each team would have to have eight different colored lines -one line under the other- on their index card before they can move on and try to repeat. Play for 8 - 10 minutes. See how many lines the teams have placed on their index cards. Play again and challenge the teams to beat their previous score.
5. Play as in variation 4, but each player has his own index card, and plays as an individual.
6. Play as in variation 4, but each player has her own index card and a ball - basketball, soccer ball, volleyball, playground ball, tennis ball, etc. - that she must control as she moves from poly spot to poly spot.