Park Kit: Four Low-Cost Games for Sunday

In groups, students learn four games they can play in a park with cheap gear or none at all: flying disc, paddle ball, long jump rope and a no-equipment tag game. At each station they analyze cost, space and group size to choose which one they would suggest to their friends.

How to play

1. Explain the four stations and give each group a card with three questions per game: how much it costs, how many people it needs and how much space it takes (2 min).
2. Rotations 1 and 2: flying disc with partner passing and a mini end-zone game, and paddle ball with a cooperative challenge for the longest rally (12 min).
3. Rotations 3 and 4: long jump rope with group entries and exits, and chain tag in an area marked with cones (12 min).
4. Each group fills in the card, picks its favorite game and suggests a change so it can be played with family or friends of different ages (4 min).

Rules

• In tag, only touch the back or shoulder, never push.
• Throw the disc only when the receiver is looking.
• In long rope, one person enters at a time until the group has the rhythm.
• Stations are at least 33 feet apart.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: in tag, acts as a moving 'safe base'; in long rope, turns the rope instead of jumping.
• Visual impairment: uses beeper balls for paddle ball and stands near the rope turner to hear the rhythm.
• Students in larger bodies or with low fitness: choose when to join the chase and can be 'it' with a partner.

Learning goals

• Learn low-cost games for active leisure with friends and family.
• Analyze what is needed to do an activity in free time.
• Adapt games for different ages and people.

Equipment for a class of 25

• flying discs: 8
• paddles: 8
• balls: 8
• jump ropes: 3
• cards: 8

Teacher tip

If you do not have paddle ball sets, use badminton rackets with foam balls. Post the cards on the board at the end so the class builds its own game catalog.

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