Team Hoop Rescue Mission

Grade 4 · Gym/PE · 35 minutes · Indoor

Objective

Students will develop teamwork skills and spatial awareness while practicing controlled movement and communication.

Equipment

• hula hoops
• foam balls
• cones

Setup

Place 6-8 hula hoops scattered around the gym floor. Divide class into teams of 4-5 students. Each team starts at a designated cone along the gym walls.

How to Play

1. Each team receives one foam ball and must stay connected by holding hands throughout the entire game.
2. The goal is for teams to work together to collect all hula hoops by moving as a connected unit and picking them up.
3. Only the student at either end of the human chain can pick up a hula hoop, and the team must carry it while staying connected.
4. If a team breaks their connection, they must stop, reconnect, and do five jumping jacks together before continuing.
5. Teams carry foam balls to identify their group and must keep the ball with them at all times.
6. Once a hoop is collected, teams must transport it to their starting cone while maintaining their connection.
7. The activity continues until all hoops are collected, with teams celebrating together when the mission is complete.

Variations

• Add more hula hoops for longer play
• Require teams to move in different ways like skipping or walking backwards
• Create obstacle courses using cones that connected teams must navigate around

Safety Notes

Remind students to communicate clearly when changing direction and to move slowly to avoid falls when connected.

Cool Down

Have all teams sit in a large circle and practice deep breathing while passing a foam ball around the group.

Differentiation

Support: Allow students who need support to be in the middle of the chain where movement is easier, and permit brief disconnections if needed for balance.

Extension: Challenge advanced students by having them help coordinate movements and guide their team through more complex pathways around obstacles.