Share and Take Turns Stations
Four play stations with less equipment than students push children to ask politely, share, and wait their turn while doing a waiting exercise. Students practice dribbling, jumping, tossing, and hoop spinning, along with getting along when sharing equipment.
How to play
- Set up four stations 10 yards apart: hoops to spin, balls to dribble, jump ropes, and bean bags to toss at a cone, with only 3 pieces at each.
- Make four groups of 6 and teach the magic words: "Can I have it when you're done?" Whoever has the equipment does 10 reps (10 dribbles, 10 jumps, 10 spins, or 3 tosses) and hands it to whoever asked.
- Students who are waiting do the waiting exercise posted on a cone: hop on one foot, freeze like a statue, or touch their toes.
- Each group plays 4 minutes at a station and rotates on the signal until they have visited all four (16 min).
- The teacher walks around with an imaginary kind-words detector and calls out every "please" and "thank you" they hear.
- Circle wrap-up (2 min): How did you feel while waiting? Who shared with you?
Rules
- Take equipment only when someone hands it to you; never grab it.
- Count reps out loud so others know when it's their turn.
- Toss bean bags only when nobody is in front of you.
Variations
Easier
Put 4 pieces of equipment at each station and lower reps to 5.
Standard
Three pieces per station, 10 reps, and a waiting exercise.
Harder
Only 2 pieces per station, and students who are waiting must cheer on the player by name.
Adaptations
- A student with limited mobility can dribble or toss seated, and their waiting exercise is clapping to a beat.
- For students with autism, use a picture chart of the sequence: ask, wait, play, pass.
- For more skilled students, add variations like dribbling with the other hand or jumping backward.
Learning goals
- Dribble, jump, toss, and spin a hoop with control.
- Ask politely, share equipment, and wait their turn.
- Follow simple rules for getting along during play.
Equipment for a class of 25
- hoops: 3
- balls: 3
- jump ropes: 3
- bean bags: 3
- cones: 8
Teacher tip
Conflicts show up mostly at the first station, which is the moment to model the magic words. If someone hogs the equipment, do not take it away; ask how many reps they have done.
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