These games are simple to learn, easy to teach, and quick to incorporate!
Beyond simply explaining the games, each section takes you through an organized and easy-to-follow format that includes several or all of the following key points:
• Objective: What sport-related, health, or social skills are being developed? How can you best integrate the game into your existing program?
• Equipment: What standard or atypical equipment is needed?
• Playing Area: What type of facility is best suited for this activity? Can you use unique or underused spaces such as hallways to make the game seem new?
• Participants: How many people do you need and what are their positions and roles? How many officials are needed and what are their positions and roles?
• Game: How is the game played and what is the best way to explain it to your students? What are the rules and what safety concerns should you be aware of?
• Helpful Hints: How can you make the game easier or more difficult depending on you students, and how do the rules change when the game is altered?
• Violations: What is specifically against the rules and how do you handle these violations?
• Safety Considerations: How do you prevent injury and ensure that every student follows general safety precautions?
• Adaptations for Younger Participants: How can you adapt the game for upper elementary aged children and still provide a safe, effective learning experience?
• Additional Rules: What new or additional rules can be applied to make the game more interesting, safe, or educational?
Most games use standard equipment in creative ways. Additional equipment can be collected from local merchants, purchased at garage sales, or collected from your students' families.
You can create your own innovative games, too. In chapters 1 and 2, Lichtman walks you through the process of developing you own innovative games. From the idea stage to preliminary trials with children to the final game, you'll learn a tried and true procedure for developing new games while teaching your students how to think creatively. Chapters 3 to 10 present the games.
You'll also learn how to combine two games into one to create a new and challenging "hybrid" such as Soccer Croquet-Four Ways, Dodge Basketball, Flag Basketball, Soccer Flag Football, or Multi-Option Ball.
More Innovative Games will give you the tools you need to keep your physical education or recreation class exciting and your students enthusiastic. Use any of these 41 games to break out of that "same old" syndrome.
