Hula Hoops and Polyspots

Musical Hula Hoops or Polyspots: These items are interchangeable. We introduce them at separate times.

Take Hoops to Gym Homes (Designated personal space)

  • Stand tall on one foot
  • Low balance on one foot
  • Hop on 2 feet out of hoop – Hop back in – 10 times
  • Hop on one leg out of hoop Hop back in – 10 times
  • Skip around hoop forwards
  • Skip around hoop backwards
  • Jump up and do a 360% turn
  • Hoop Spinning: Balance hoop with top hand and roll it forward
  • Back spin technique Bring hoop backwards to the side
  • Throw the hoop forward, flick wrist to create spin
  • Roll your hoop backwards then try to catch it on your foot
  • Partner Hoops: Roll your hoop with a partner at the same time

At Your Hoop:

  • Compass: Feet in hoop – Move hands around outside of hoop.
  • Around the World – Hands in hoop – Walk feet around outside.
  • Skip around hoop forwards, then backwards.
  • Step through your hoop, when it’s standing.

Musical Hula Hoops

Equipment and Setup: Hula hoops are spread around the floor in random order. The teacher gives direction, then starts the music, student move in the locomotor skill indicated. When the music stops students balance on one foot inside of a hula hoop near them.  Then, the teacher demonstrates different actions to complete at the hoop. When this is complete, the teacher gives a different locomotor skill to move in. The warmup continues in this fashion.

  • Slide Step: click heels in the middle
  • Skipping
  • Jogging
  • Galloping

In and Out Hoops:

Setup and Equipment: Hoops are spread out around around the floor in a random manner. On the teacher signal students follow the directions below one at a

  • Round One: Step into as many different hula hoops as you can. Give them about 30 seconds or so to do this. Then stop the music and ask how many hoops they were able to complete.
  • Round 2: Jump with two feet into as many different hula hoops as you can. Give them about 30 seconds or so to do this. Then stop the music and ask how many hoops they were able to complete.
  • Put both feet in and touch the floor with your hand. Give them about 30 seconds or so to do this. Then stop the music and ask how many hoops they were able to complete.
  • Lift the hula hoop over your hand and back to floor. Give them about 30 seconds or so to do this. Then stop the music and ask how many hoops they were able to complete.

When music stops, stand on one foot and balance. Then follow teacher directions and do the following:

  • Jump side to side ten times – both feet
  • Jump forward and back ten times
  • Jump back on two feet – land on one
  • Jump sideways on two -land on one

Hoop Driving: Setup and Equipment

  • One Hula Hoop for each student.
  • Set cones (at least four) up as the outline for a large track on the floor.

Hoop Driving Guidelines:

Today students will be simulating driving a car by holding their hula hoop in the air as if it were a giant steering wheel.

  • Spread students out around the giant circle which is designated with the four cones.
  • Students will be following the directions of the teacher as they move around the gym in a counterclockwise direction.

Driving Actions: Teacher led demonstration followed by the students practicing the skill as they move around the gym.

  • Car Start and Drive Away Snow: Turn the key or tell Siri to start it: Start your engine! 
  • Grease: RED Light – Stop – Stop your car and wait.
  • You Make Me Feel Like DancingSchool Zone – Skipping happily!
  • You Can’t Stop the Beat: Yellow light – Move slowly 
  • I’m a Gummy Bear: Tunnel –  Walk low to the floor 
  • Don’t Stop: STOP – Stop your car
  • Life Is a Highway: Highway – Move faster, jogging and running
  • Yakety Yak: Oil Slick – It’s very slippery, so be careful. Quick turns 
  • Sirens-Remix (Sound Effect) Highway Police! – Pull over to the right.
  • I’m Walkin’:  Flat Tire – Hop on one
  • Cha-Cha Slide Radio: This song is so good on the radio that you are going to pull your car over and dance inside your hoop.
  • Banana Song (From the Minion Movie): Potholes – leap over the holes
  • Vehicle Reversing Beep: Reverse – Walk backwards
  • Happy: School Zone – Skip backwards in Reverse
  • Stuck in the Mud: Jog in place
  • Interstate: Put your Car on cruise control
  • Rain: Hold your steering wheel with one hand and use the other as a windshield wiper.
  • Radio: The song is so good on the radio that you are going to pull your car over and dance inside your hoop.
  • Sunshine: Reach into the glove compartment to pull out cool shades — put them on using the “John Travolta” fingers in a “V” shape moving over the eyes
  • Muddy Road: Slide in the mud by sliding feet & moving hips

Musical Hula Hoops

Setup and Equipment

  • At least one hula hoop for each student in class.
  • Spread out hula hoops randomly on the floor.
  • Students stand in a hula hoop – Music starts and students begin a loco-motor movement.

Guidelines: Teacher Directed

  • Move outside of the hula hoops and when the music stops, step into the hoops that you are closest too.
  • When music stops, students stand in a hoop and balance on one foot.
  • Locomotor Skills: Skip, gallop, slide-step or grapevine, jogging, power walking

Cinchy Relay: 1/2/3/4/5

 Setup and Equipment

  • 6 Hula hoops and a large cone near the starting line
  • 6 Teams line up in relay style at one end of the gym.
  • Use hoops that correspond to their color teams if possible

Guidelines

  • The teacher rolls 6 hula hoops to the end of the gym at the same time
  • The first teams in each line runs to the other and and pick up one of the hoops and return it by putting it over a large orange cone that is set up in the middle near the starting line
  • Go to end of line after each turn.

Hoop Activity Links:

Hoop D’jour

Arctic Wind Hoops

 

Hoop Driving

Equipment and Setup:

    • One Hula Hoop for each student.
    • Set cones (at least four) up as the outline for a large track on the floor.
Guidelines: Teacher Directed
Today students will be simulating driving a car by holding their hula hoop in the air as if it were a giant steering wheel.

  • Spread students out around the giant circle which is designated with the four cones.
  • Students will be following the directions of the teacher as they move around the gym in a counterclockwise direction.

Driving Actions: Teacher led demonstration followed by the students practicing the skill as they move around the gym.

Music Playlist and Directions:

  1. Car Start and Drive Away Snow: Turn the key or tell Siri to start it: Start your engine! 
  2. I’m Walkin: Yellow light – Move slowly 
  3. Stop in the Name of Love: RED Light – Stop – Stop your car and wait.
  4. You Make Me Feel Like DancingSchool Zone – Skipping happily!
  5. Drive My Car: The Beatles
  6. I’m a Gummy Bear: Tunnel –  Walk low to the floor 
  7. Stop in the Name of Love: STOP – Stop your car
  8. Life Is a Highway: Highway – Move faster, jogging and running
  9. Yakety Yak: Oil Slick – It’s very slippery, so be careful. Quick turns 
  10. Sirens-Remix (Sound Effect) Cops! – Pull over to the right.
  11. I’m Walkin’:  Flat Tire – Hop on one
  12. Cha-Cha Slide Radio: This song is so good on the radio that you are going to pull your car over and dance inside your hoop.
  13. Banana Song (From the Minion Movie): Potholes – leap over the holes
  14. Vehicle Reversing Beep: Reverse – Walk backwards
  15. Happy: School Zone – Skip backwards in Reverse
    Interstate: Put your Car on cruise control
  16. Rain: Hold your steering wheel with one hand and use the other as a windshield wiper
  17. Radio: The song is so good on the radio that you are going to pull your car over and dance inside your hoop.
  18. Sunshine: Reach into the glove compartment to pull out cool shades — put them on using the “John Travolta” fingers in a “V” shape moving over the eyes
  19. Muddy Road: Slide in the mud by sliding feet & moving hips

Castle Builder

Castle Ball

The object of this game is to throw dodgeballs to knock over opposing team’s castles while simultaneously protecting your own team’s castle from being hit.

  • Separate class into four teams.
  • Divide the gym space into fourths, giving each team a quadrant to defend.
  • Provide each team with six hula hoops and have them create their team castle.
    • Build the castle by placing one hoop flat on the floor. Balance four hoops vertically and lean them toward the center. Secure the four hoops with the sixth hoop horizontally on top.
  • Place soft dodgeballs into the center of the quadrants for teams to collect.
  • The game begins when the music plays!

Agility:  Students will run back and forth in their quadrant keeping their eyes on dodgeballs threatening their castle.

Coordination:  Students will collect dodgeballs and throw them at opposing team’s castles. They will build hand-eye coordination by throwing and catching dodgeballs.

Balance:  Students will take turns being in charge of rebuilding their team’s hula hoop castle. Rebuilding the castle will require patience, balance, and focus before the students switch back to defense mode.

Variations:  You can play Castle Ball with designated offense and defense, assigning who will be throwing and who will be guarding and rebuilding the castle OR allowing all students to play all roles during game play.

 

Hoop Driving

Equipment and Setup:

  • One hula hoop for each student in the class.
  • Set up cones near each corner of the gym with enough room for the students to easily pass around the outside of the cone.
  • Music for Driving

Guidelines:

Today students will be simulating driving a car by holding their hula hoop in the air as if it were a giant steering wheel.

  • Spread students out around the giant circle which is designated with the four cones.
  • Students will be following the directions of the teacher as they move around the gym in a counterclockwise direction.

Driving Actions: Teacher led demonstration followed by the students practicing the skill as they move around the gym.

  • Song 1.  Sound Effects  Start Your Engines: Turn on your car.
  • Song 2.  I’m Walkin’  Yellow light:  Move slowly with caution
  • Song 3.  Stop in the Name Red Light: Stop and Freeze
  • Song 4.  School Day  School Zone: Students are always happy as they go to school. Let’s see those happy children going to school.
  • Song 5.  Greased Lightning Highway: Speed limit is now 70 mph, not 20 mph like in the school zone. So, get moving!
  • Song 6. Rock Around Uphill: Lift your knees up high as you march up the hill.
  • Song 7. At the Hop  Flat tire – Hop on one foot until you are so tired you have to pull over. You may stand on one foot and balance as you await assistance.
  • Song 7. Grease Tunnel: Bend your knees and drive.
  • Song 8.  Sound effects Emergency vehicle: Pull over to the right side as the siren sounds.

Two Directions at the same time!

  • Song 9 . Happy Yellow Light and School Zone –Slowly Skip in a School Zone
  • Song 10. Sound effects Uphill and in Reverse March backwards
  • Song 11.  Afro Nuts Reverse and School Zone Skip Backward in the school zone

Hoop Driving

Equipment and Setup:

  • One Hula Hoop for each student.
  • Set cones (at least four) up as the outline for the circle.
  • Spread students out in a large circle that allow for student movement.

Guidelines:

  • Today you are going  be driving a car with a large steering wheel (hula hoop).
  • Hold your hoop in front of you, like you’re driving a car.
  • First, you must learn the rules of the road as you move your car around the cones on “Gym Street”.

Music Playlist and Directions:

  1. Car Start and Drive Away Snow: Turn the key or tell Siri to start it: Start your engine! 
  2. Grease: RED Light – Stop – Stop your car and wait.
  3. You Make Me Feel Like DancingSchool Zone – Skipping happily!
  4. You Can’t Stop the Beat: Yellow light – Move slowly 
  5. I’m a Gummy Bear: Tunnel –  Walk low to the floor 
  6. Don’t Stop: STOP – Stop your car
  7. Life Is a Highway: Highway – Move faster, jogging and running
  8. Yakety Yak: Oil Slick – It’s very slippery, so be careful. Quick turns 
  9. Sirens-Remix (Sound Effect) Highway Police! – Pull over to the right.
  10. I’m Walkin’:  Flat Tire – Hop on one foot
  11. Banana Song (From the Minion Movie): Potholes – leap over the holes
  12. Vehicle Reversing Beep: Reverse – Walk backwards
  13. Happy: School Zone – Skip backwards in Reverse

 

 

Hoop d’Jour

Setup and Equipment:

  • Equipment: Hula Hoops and a sash or jersey for the “its”
  • Twenty five – thirty hula hoops are spread out across the floor.
  • Four – Six students are designated as “its” and stand in the middle of the gym. They will be kicking any of the hoops to try to get them to slide across the floor to hit the players that are running across the floor filled with hoops.
  • The rest of the class starts the game at one end of the gym.
  • This is a a tag game that lasts for one – two minutes for each set of taggers. It works best to make sure that everyone gets a turn. They really enjoy the way the hoops slide on the floor.

Rules:

  • The teacher starts the music and  the runners will try to navigate themselves through the hoops without stepping on or being being tagged by a sliding hula hoop.
  • Players that touch or are tagged on the feet by a moving hula hoop must stop running and stand frozen and balance on one foot inside of a hoop. They can be defrosted and return to playing when one of their classmates gives them a high-five.
  • When the runners have made it to the other side or are frozen and balancing on one foot the teacher stops the game. When everyone is standing on the end line, restart the music and the players will try to run back their original starting line.
  • Continue having students run back and fort for a couple of minutes, then choose new taggers to kick the hula hoops.
  • Repeat the same game format for each new set of taggers until everyone has a turn.

Hula Hoops

hula_hoopsanimatedSetup and Equipment:

  • At least one hula hoop for each student in class.
  • Spread out hula hoops randomly on the floor.
  • Students stand in a hula hoop – Music starts and students begin a loco-motor movement.

Activity:

  • Skipping, galloping, slide-step, jogging
  • When music stops, students stand in a hoop and balance on one foot.

Ready, Set, Go:

  • Move into as many hoops as possible by:
  1. Jumping in and out on two feet
  2. Jumping in and out on one foot
  3. Jump in on two feet and touch the floor
  4. Jump in, lift hoop over head, jump out

Take Hoops to Gym Homes (Designated personal space)

  • Stand tall on one foot
  • Low balance on one foot
  • Hop on 2 feet out of hoop – Hop back in – 10 times
  • Hop on one leg out of hoop Hop back in – 10 times
  • Skip around hoop forwards
  • Skip around hoop backwards
  • Jump up and do a 360% turn
  • Hoop Spinning: Balance hoop with top hand and roll it forward
  • Back spin technique Bring hoop backwards to the side
  • Throw the hoop forward, flick wrist to create spin
  • Roll your hoop backwards then try to catch it on your foot
  • Partner Hoops: Roll your hoop with a partner at the same time

Cinchy Relay: 1/2/3/4/5

  • Teams line up in relay style
  • The teacher rolls 4 hula hoops to the end of the gym
  • The students pick up one of the hoops and return it by putting it over a large orange cone that is set up in the middle near the starting line
  • Go to end of line after turn

Arctic Wind Hoops

Setup and Equipment:

  • Each member of a Color Team (red, purple, green, yellow, orange, green) stands inside of a hula hoop that is the same color as their team (if possible).
  • Hula Hoops are spread around the floor.
  • Students move their hoops by making short steps from within their hoops.

Rules:

  • The teacher calls out a color team and announces that this color team is the “Arctic Wind”.
  • This designated color team attempts to tag others by bumping their hoop into a different color hoop.
  • Once a hoop is tagged that student stands frozen with arms extended.
  • They may be unfrozen with a “high five” or a hoop tap from one of the teams that is not the “Arctic Wind”.
  • Each turn will take one-two minutes.
  • Continue until everyone has a turn.