Game

Screen Tag

Play a tag game to learn about alternatives to screen time that promote health and wellness.

children playing tag outside

Key Message

Unplug and play!

Objectives

  1. Identify healthy choice alternatives to screen time.
  2. Determine health helpers who can assist with screen-free activities.
  3. Apply a variety of motor skills and movement patterns to game play.

Preparation

  • Safety: Allow enough space to move freely and minimize collisions. Determine boundaries that are a safe distance from obstacles and walls.
  • Ensure equipment and materials are properly cleaned. 
  • Print several copies of the Unplug and Relax handout for learners to show their recharge choices if they are tagged.
  • Determine how you will group learners, using best practice guidelines from the Teacher's Guide.
  • Determine locomotor movements for game play.
  • Be prepared to demonstrate fitBoost activity and fitFlow yoga.

Warm Up

Begin with a fitBoost.

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Captivate

Label each of the four corners of the activity area as a different way to relax without a screen. Use the student handout for examples (e.g., do a puzzle, read a book, invite a friend over, build a fort).

Say: We are going to learn about ways to relax and recharge without screens!

  1. I will name an activity, then you will move to the corner of the room that describes your first choice to recharge. (Learners select one of the choices and go to the corresponding corner using a teacher selected locomotor movement.)

  2. What is your next (second) choice? (Learners move to a different corner.)

  3. If time allows, rename the four corners with a choice from the student handout and repeat.

Educate

Did you notice that all of the corner activities were screen-free choices?  Making screen-free choices to relax is a healthy way to recharge your energy.  

"Screen time” is time spent using an electronic device, such as a tablet, computer, television, video game, etc. Screen time can drain your energy and leave you feeling tired, bored, or unmotivated.

The number one thing you need to know is that the healthy way to relax and recharge is without a screen!

Today we are going to learn about healthy choices we can make to relax and recharge our energy in healthy ways—without a screen.

Activate

Diagram showing activity area set up

  1. Choose 3 to 5 volunteers to be taggers. Taggers represent screens and stand in the middle of the play area with a pool noodle (or soft object) for tagging.

  2. As you hand a noodle to the tagger designate the tagger as a kind of screen: smart phone, tablet, laptop computer, television, hand-held game, etc.

  3. Players stand at the start line and try to cross to the other side without being tagged.

  4. To begin play, announce a locomotor movement for players to use as they attempt to cross from one side of the activity area to the other.

  5. If tagged, the player must freeze as if sitting in front of a screen. The player remains frozen until another player, who has not been tagged, tags them and shouts out an activity to do instead of watching a screen.

  6. The player who was tagged goes to the side area and circles a choice on a printed copy of the Unplug and Relax handout. They return to the start line and attempt to pass the taggers again.

  7. Rotate taggers after 1 to 3 minutes of play.

Close the Lesson

  1. Partner learners.

  2. Select a fitFlow card and work in partners to complete the poses.

  3. Assess understanding with the following questions:

Q: What was our lesson about today?
A: Making healthy screen-free choices to relax and recharge our energy.

Q: Name a health helper you can talk with about ways to reduce screen time.
A: Teachers, school staff, parents, or trusted adults.

Q: What are some screen-free activities you can do to relax?
A: Listen for screen-free examples such as doing puzzles, drawing, writing, reading, playing with blocks or Legos, breathing exercises, stretching, meditating, or resting.

  1. Use the Assessment Rubric (see Teacher's Guide) as a checklist to assess understanding, skill development, and personal responsibility.

Teacher Note: During discussion, talk about how friends and family can have a positive or negative influence on move choices. Encourage learners to understand that if they make positive movement choices, they will be a positive influence for others!

Challenge

What will you do to reduce your screen time and recharge your energy?

What You'll Need

Resources

Materials
  • Jump ropes
  • Pool noodle or soft ball for tagging
  • Markers or Pencils

Health Education Standards

  • Standard 1: Core Concepts-Promoting Personal Health and Wellness
  • Standard 7: Practice health-enhancing behaviors
  • Standard 8: Advocate for health

Social and Emotional Learning Competencies

  • Responsible decision-making

Physical Education Standards

  • Standard 1: Motor skills and movement patterns
  • Standard 3: Health-enhancing physical fitness
  • Standard 4: Responsible personal and social behavior

Extend the Lesson

Adaptations and Modifications   

 

Take me to the full list of fitGames.

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