Introduction Acknowledgments Planning a Field Day Planning & Involving Others Publicizing the Field Day Equipment/Facilities and Volunteers Checklists List of Activities and Events

Field of Fun in the Classroom

Introduction
One way to promote a sense of community within your school is to plan a field or fun day with the involvement of the entire student body, the staff and parents. This also is a perfect opportunity to demonstrate your appreciation and understanding of the importance of educating the whole child by planning activities that are developmentally appropriate. Observing children in movement activities helps others to see the integration of physical and intellectual challenges that exist as children grow.

Your planning and preparation will be easier if you select a theme around which to focus all aspects of the event. Planning, administrative and organizational skills will be needed to mobilize assistance and generate enthusiasm in preparation for this fun day. The information presented in this booklet will help you to delegate responsibility and allow every participant to contribute in some way to the success of the day.

Our goal is to promote physical fitness and present it as a life-long journey. Therefore, we look at field days as team building exercises where everyone feels comfortable in participating, including the physically challenged students. When the students finish participating, please ask them if they had fun, not if they won. Ask them if they learned any new techniques, made new friends, or learned something they didn't know about fellow students.

All of our studies and surveys show us that the number one reason students participate in physical fitness events is that they have fun. The second most important reason is to be with their friends. Competition and winning are listed in the bottom ten of the top 20 answers. These studies have helped us to develop this manual. If you have the opportunity to conduct a field day and incorporate some innovative ideas that the students enjoy, please take the time to write to us and tell us about them. We may include them in future revisions.

Send ideas to:
NASPE
1900 Association Dr.
Reston, VA 22091

Sponsored by
The Hershey Company
100 Crystal A Drive
Hershey, PA 17033

>back to top

Acknowledgments
The following persons contributed ideas to the content of the Field Day booklet:

Project Coordinator:
Bill Stearns, Potomac High School, Dumfries, Va.

Content and Reviewers:
Carol Ciotto, West Hartford Public Schools,West Hartford, Conn.
Kathy Gay, Broads Wood School,Earlysville, Va.
Terry Lantz, Rockwood School District, Ellisville, Mo.
Jim Rodgers, Woodbridge High School, Prince William County Schools, Va.
Kim Wagner, McAuliffe Elementary School, Prince William County Schools, Va.
Sandra Weigle, Northside Elementary School, Rock Hill, S.C.
Jeanne Williams, Prince Georges County Schools, Annapolis, Md.

NASPE Council on Physical Education for Children (COPEC)
NASPE Middle and Secondary School Physical Education Council (MASSPEC)
NASPE National Intramural Sports Council (NISC)

>back to top

Planning a Field Day
The field day or fun day should emphasize a relaxed atmosphere for everyone involved. The day should provide a challenge for each participant and may include one class, one school, or a group of schools. Depending on the number of volunteers and stations, your field day could involve between 25 and 500 participants.

A Theme Approach to Field Days
Why have a theme?
A theme provides a thread around which all components of the field day can be designed. Events, decorations, awards, food and clothing can all relate to the theme. A theme stimulates creative and expressive elements which are appealing to children and peaks their interest. In addition, knowing the theme well ahead of time allows the entire school to generate and contribute ideas for the event and to anticipate and prepare for the “flavor” or “character” of the day.

Gathering Ideas for the Theme
First consider your purpose for the field day, then ask the students, the faculty, other physical education teachers and parents (via PTA) to contribute ideas for the selection and development of the theme'. Gather and consider all ideas before selecting a theme.

Helpful Hints and Tips
Pick a theme by early March for event to be held in May
Have a suggestion box and ask for:
Ways to incorporate theme into music, art, reading, writing, math and science
Books and magazines recommended by the librarian
Outside people to invite to the event, e.g., a local Olympian, race car driver, historian,
diver, runner, surfboarder, et al.

9 Factors you need to consider
1. Age of students
2. Interests - What's hot?
3. Size of your school
4. Volunteers available
5. Space available
6. Time allotment - (full day, half day, two hours)
7. Purpose - ( fun, educational, cooperative, competitive?)
8. Budget
9. Awards, certificates, ribbons (order early)

Examples of Themes and Sample Events
Out of this World (outer space): space walking, moon jumping, solar gathering,
astronaut antics
Little 500: engine racing, track starting, tire twisting
Day at the Beach: partner polo, balloon bouncing, surfboard shuffle, seashell snarf
A Day in Hawaii: tidal wave tripping, crater curling, boogie board blast
The Wild, Wild West: buffalo barnstorming, beaver bounce, rodeo roundup,
cowboy/cowgirl catching
The Olympics: medal runs, gold rushes, silver shoes
Cartoons: daffy doodles, mouse capers, lizard leaps
It's a Small World: Mexican beans, Bolivian bounces, Alaskan antics, Canadian crunches
Wet and Wild: splish-splash-splosh, slippery slides and strides, slithery-zippery-shot
A Three Ring Circus: galloping gallopedes, animal frolic, flying flinger,
peanuts-pull-ups-popcorn

Selection of Events
1. Group children either by age, grade, homeroom, school, etc.
2. Decide on the number of activities each child may participate in and the time needed for each event selected.
3. Have one station or activity for every 10 to 15 children involved.
4. Have more volunteers per station for younger children or fewer children per station.
5. Vary the grades; for example, 6th grade activities should be more challenging than 4th grade activities.
6. Select your activities (examples of field and running activities can be found at the end of this section).
7. Develop a sign-up list for each activity. The easiest place for students to sign up will either be in homeroom period or in their P. E. classes. This sign-up should be completed 2-3 weeks prior to the event.

Plan Your Events - Be Imaginative
Think through each event; write down exactly what is needed.
Make a task card which explains the event. Draw a diagram if needed. On the reverse
side of the card list the equipment needed. Laminate if possible.
Name each event.
Have enough events for each class to start an event at the same time.
Keep safety in mind during the planning process, ask “what if” questions.

>back to top

Planning & Involving Others
1. Select the date of the field day early and plan a rain date. When choosing the date, consider other events on the school calendar and clear it with administrators.
2. Contact your local PTA to seek help with publicity and volunteer training.
3. Send home a permission form with each student explaining the field day and requesting parental involvement in the event. By requiring each student to return the form to his/her homeroom teacher, you can be sure that the parents are aware of the event and know that volunteers are needed.
4. Talk to P.E. teachers and community leaders about promoting the events you plan to have in your field day (the more familiar students are with the events, the more secure they will feel and the smoother the day will go).
5. Involve all teachers. They will assist you in keeping the day running smoothly as well as in setting the tone for behavior and expectations of the children involved. (Please make a determined effort to involve the faculty members and keep them informed as to what is taking place).
6. Check all safety codes and take care of any required paperwork for use of the facility.
7. Know the layout of your facility and availability of restrooms and equipment while making preparations and selecting events.

5 Things to Remember
1. Ask for volunteers early enough so they can make plans to be available.
2. Have a parent, guidance early and counselor or PTA member recruit volunteers. Give them all the details about the event and a specific deadline.
3. Let people know what is needed. Make specific requests of people.
4. Prepare task sheets (job descriptions) for volunteers to use. Laminate for durability and for future use.
5. Write everything down in a notebook. Keep it close by at all times. Follow-up with every request.

>back to top

Publicizing the Field Day
1. Advertise the event in school bulletins and newspapers.
2. Use bulletin boards to promote the activities for the upcoming field day; use pictures of famous athletes and photos from previous field days.
3. Remind students and teachers of the upcoming event with the morning and afternoon announcements.
4. Get the teachers excited about the field day.

>back to top

Equipment/Facilities and Volunteers
1. Check the equipment needed for each event or activity. Make sure that it is operable and can accommodate the number of children involved.
2. Do a last-minute check of the facility for safety. Tour each station and correct any potential dangers or problems.
3. If you are short on equipment, contact other local schools, recreation departments or local businesses to inquire about borrowing the equipment.
4. Decide where to station volunteer teachers and parents, ensuring that all stations are properly manned.
5. Meet with all workers a day or two prior to the event. Make sure that they understand their duties and, if they are conducting an event, make sure they are familiar with the rules. (You will be too busy coordinating the entire event to worry about these details.)
6. Make a final check on permission to use the facilities.
7. Make sure the first aid kit is on hand and in the designated area for treatment. (Consider having trained professionals - nurses, E.M.T's, doctors - in the first aid area.)

Safety
1. All facilities should be surveyed for potentially dangerous situations
(walk through events).
2. All equipment should be checked so that it works properly.
3. All teachers and parents should be made aware of safety precautions for any event to which they are assigned.
4. The school insurance policy should be checked by a risk insurance manager to make sure all of the events are covered.

Students with Disabilities
All students, regardless of ability, can participate in and enjoy field day events. To ensure the success of including students with disabilities, a few basic rules should be applied:

1. Make student safety a primary concern.

2. For students with mobility impairment follow these guidelines:
For throwing events, consider smaller or lighter objects that are easier to grasp
and control (e.g., nerf ball, tennis ball, wiffleball).
For a student who cannot voluntarily release an object from his/her grip, use a
hand-over-hand approach in which another student (buddy) holds the object and the student grasps the buddy's arm or hand.
Consider placing students in walkers for better leverage.
Use your own discretion for jumping events.
For running events, students can push themselves in wheelchairs or have buddies
push them.
Consider alternative ways for movement, such as scooting, crawling, rolling, or
being pulled in a wagon.

3. For students with mental or emotional disabilities:
Have students do standing broad jump rather than running long jump.
For running events, shorten the distance.
In all events, provide a model for students to follow, eliminating some steps
when appropriate.
Provide simple, clear directions in a step-by-step manner. Do not assume the
students will just “catch on.”
Tell the student when his/her turn is finished.
Give specific instructions on what to do until his/her next turn.

4. For students with visual impairment:
For jumping events, use voice cues to let students know where take-off is.
For running events, have a buddy run alongside the student who is visually
impaired using a two-looped string draped around his/her arms, or clear a straight path and use voice or music to guide them toward the finish.

5. Students who are unable to physically participate in certain events can:
Hold a tape measure steady while the teacher measures.
Replace the bar on the high jump.
Read names of students who are to compete next.
Blow whistle or lower flag to begin running races.
Learn something new about fellow students.

Awards
Before the day begins, each participant is given a 3 x 5 card. It can have a soft string or length of yarn threaded through it, so it can be worn like a medallion around the neck. When the participant completes a station, the adult running the station will punch a hole or place a sticker/stamp o the card to signify completion.
At the end of the day, each participant can be awarded a ribbon for participation.
Awards can be given to the boys and girls in each room who participate in a sportsman-like manner while completing as many stations as possible and giving a “best effort.”
Awards can be ribbons, medals, certificates, pizza parties, candy or other small prizes.

>back to top

Checklists
Two Weeks Before Field Day
Inform students of the theme and dates.
Have each class pick a team name, color and cheer, and make a banner or poster
etc.
Practice unusual events during class instruction time.
Designate a time-out place for misconduct during the field day. Explain its purpose
and the rules to all students who will attend. Use an appropriate name to support the theme, e.g., Bull Pen. Have this place monitored by a teacher, not a parent.
Plan refreshments and coordinate lunch (if applicable) with cafeteria.
Bag lunches work great. Consider doing a cookout as a finale.
Plan for music and a speaker system.

One Week Before Field Day
Have handouts ready for teachers. Include schedule of events, a map, who starts
where, opening and closing procedures, and any other details.
Go over the handouts with entire faculty. Answer questions; a prepared teacher
will not dread the event. The teacher's main job is to move kids from one event to another and also to serve as chief cheerleader. It works best if the teacher-in-charge does not have to conduct any events.
Explain to the students that they are responsible for making sure their teachers
have a good time!

One Day Before Field Day
Set out and group all equipment by event in the gym or storage area.
Place laminated event card at each location.
Mark lines on field if needed.
If possible, meet with volunteers. Review what they need to know.

Field Day
Arrive early. Set up for all events and check sound system.
Meet with other volunteers at least 30 minutes before start time.
Direct volunteers helping to set up.
Start on time with an exciting opening, music, flags, ribbon cutting, etc.
Assign someone to send refreshments to volunteers at regular intervals during the day.
Have two people serve as -“floaters” who can relieve volunteers for a break.
Be available. Look for problems. SMILE.
Assign a photographer. A videotape also is great for promotion next year.
Afterward, have volunteers put equipment back in its proper place.

Within a week after Field Day
Send thank you notes to special people who helped out or made significant donations. Be sure to acknowledge support from the faculty and administration.

Ask the faculty for feedback on what was successful, what needs to be changed and how to do better next time.

Be sure that the teachers feel appreciated. The greatest compliment is when a teacher says how much fun he/she had. If the teachers had fun, the kids did!

>back to top

List of Activities and Events

>back to top