Election Day Relay Run

Here are two versions of an Election Day Relay. This game is another version of "No Relay Relay" which can be found on my web site on the homepage under More Powerful Original Games. A more complete version as a lesson plan can be found in my book: Fun, Fitness, and Skills - The Powerful Original Games Approach. Powerful Original Games

The Game - Grades 4 and up - Place an R or a D on one side of 200 index cards - 100 of each letter. Scatter the cards face down at one end of the play area or gymnasium. Divide the class into groups of no more than 5 and no less than 3 students per line. The lines do not have to be equal as in a traditional relay race. Line up each group at the other end of the play area. On the go signal, the first person on each line runs to the index cards, picks up one card - without looking at the letter on the opposite side - runs back, tags the next player on line, places the card in their group's container (perhaps a hoop) and goes to the end of the line. Play continues until most of the cards are taken. At that point each group counts their votes. See which party (Republican or Democrat) has the most votes in each group and which party has the most total votes. Play again, but this time allow the students to look before they pick the card. They can choose which card to bring back. Play until about half to a quarter of the cards are left or until it seems that students cannot find the card they are looking for. See which party has the most votes in each group and which party has the most total votes. As and option, you can make a chart of how each class voted.

Variations:

1. Vary the locomotor skills.
2. Players manipulate a piece of equipment while moving from end to end. For example, dribble a basketball, tap a volleyball, dribble a soccer ball.
3. Show a large map of the United States. Discuss which states are currently leaning toward a Democratic congress, senate, or governorship which states are leaning Republican, and which states are battleground states. Designate each group as a different state. It is up to each state to choose according to the current polls. The battleground states have more freedom. Discuss which states had more fun playing the game and why.

Election Day Tag

Tag games are best played in open or general space. Not only are the games safer to play this way, but they teach students how to move in general space - a skill so necessary for most real life games. There are many great tag games in my book: Fun, Fitness, and Skills - The Powerful Original Games Approach. Powerful Original Games

The Game

Grades 2 and up - Choose one person to be the Republican Tagger and one person to be the Democratic Tagger. Choose one person to be the Republican freer and one person to be the Democratic freer. If you have four stuffed animals, two donkeys and two elephants, use them. If not, use any piece of equipment that you can use for tagging and/or passing. Make sure the Republican and Democratic pieces of equipment are different and easily identifiable. Choose a locomotor skill such as skipping or galloping. Do not allow running unless you add a piece of equipment for each person to manipulate, such as dribbling a basketball. On the "go" signal, the taggers attempt to tag as many students as they can with their tagging implement. If tagged by a Democrat, stand frozen with legs together, if tagged by a Republican, stand frozen with legs apart. Frozen students represent people who chose not to vote. The Democratic freer attempts to free students with his or her legs together by tossing his or her implement to these students. The student must catch it and toss it back. If both catches are made successfully, that student is free. The Republican freer does the same for students with legs apart. After about two minutes, see which party has the most students still frozen. Pick new students as taggers and freers and continue to play.