Clogged Arteries Cholesterol Tag
Blood cells cross an "artery" from end to end while cholesterol tries to catch them; anyone tagged becomes plaque and narrows the path until exercise sets them free. It builds endurance and dodging skills while teaching how to take care of the heart.
How to play
- Mark a lane about 25 × 12 m (80 × 40 ft) with cones: this is the artery. All students start at one end (the heart).
- Choose 3 "cholesterol" taggers in yellow pinnies with pool noodles, and 2 "exercise" players in green pinnies. Explain the game in 2 minutes.
- On the signal, the cells run to the other end (the body) without being tagged, and run back on the teacher's next signal, every 10–15 seconds.
- Anyone tagged with a noodle freezes inside the artery with arms out: they are plaque. Plaque players may tag cells passing next to them without moving their feet.
- The "exercise" players free a plaque player by doing 5 jumping jacks together; then both keep playing as cells.
- Each round lasts 2 minutes; at the end, count the plaque players and switch all roles (5 rounds). Afterwards, discuss which habits keep arteries clear.
Rules
- Cholesterol taggers tag only with the noodle, below the shoulders.
- Plaque players cannot move their feet or grab.
- No one goes outside the side cones; anyone who does becomes plaque.
- Run looking ahead so you do not crash into plaque players.
Variations
Easier
Use only 2 cholesterol taggers, and plaque players cannot tag.
Standard
Three cholesterol taggers, two exercise players and plaque that tags without moving.
Harder
Every freed plaque player must name a heart-healthy habit, and cholesterol grows to 4 taggers.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the student plays an "exercise" rescuer in a wheelchair or a fixed plaque with a noodle to tag.
- Hearing impairment: give the go signal by lowering a colored cone as well as calling it.
- Different fitness levels: add a side "rest zone" where players can stay safe for 10 seconds.
Learning goals
- Sustain repeated runs with changes of direction.
- Dodge taggers in a space that keeps getting narrower.
- Connect exercise and healthy eating with heart health.
Equipment for a class of 25
- cones: 10
- pool noodles: 4
- pinnies: 6
Teacher tip
Keep rounds short and rotate roles so no one spends long frozen as plaque. At the end, use a simple drawing to show how a narrow artery makes it harder for blood to flow.
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