Ships and Sailors

 Very active “Simon Says” with a Nautical Theme and specific motions.

Click here for instructional video

• Set Up

  • Set up a square of cones 30x20 feet

  • Students start in middle space between cones

• Equipment

  • Disc cones

• Objective

  Players complete the coach's command without doing the wrong action.

• Directions

  1. Coach explains different commands:

     1. "Captain’s coming"- students stand still, saluting, can't move until the coach says "at ease."

     2. "Ships"- students run to one line of cones

     3. "Sailors"- students run to the other line of cones

     4. “Hit the deck"- students drop to the ground lying flat

  2. Students who do the wrong task can be out or do jumping jacks.

• Variations

  • Challenge: add additional commands:

    • "Rowing"- students form groups of 3, sitting in a line, pretending to row a boat

    • "Eating"- students form groups of 4, sitting in a circle, pretending to eat

  • Have students make up additional commands

  • Try the Desk Version

• Coaching Points

  • Encourage captains to participate!

  • Recognize when students are being creative with how they act commands out

Try out the Desk Version found here

Reflection: Responsible Decision Making & Self-Management

1. What was your strategy? Did you pause to listen before moving?

2. One way to make Responsible decisions is to Stop, Think, Act. This helps us use our heads instead of our emotions to guide us. 

3. When are you challenged to make responsible decisions in your life? How can you make good decisions quickly like in the game?