Who says you have to play Tic-Tac-Toe sitting down? This twist on the classic pencil and paper game offers you and your child a chance to get some fresh air and exercise. Children need at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day to help build strength and coordination, and this is a perfect way to get that crucial time in. Turning fitness into a game helps keep your child's interest and makes physical activity fun. Encourage your child to stay active and help her establish healthy habits that will follow her into adulthood.
What You Need:
- Paper
- Pencil
- Checkers pieces or poker chips in two colors
What You Do:
- Draw a tic-tac-toe grid (3 x 3 square grid) on a piece of paper.
- Cut another piece of paper into small slips and write a different fitness activity on each one. Place the slips of paper in a bag or container. You can choose from the list of fitness activities below or think of your own activities.
- Now that the game is set up, it's time to begin playing! Have each player pick a color. To begin the game, player one plays a chip on the tic-tac-toe board, then picks a fitness activity out of the bag.
- Both players do the fitness activity.
- Player two repeats steps 3-4 to take his turn. Continue taking turns playing a chip and picking an activity until one player wins or there is a tie.
Try these simple fitness exercises:
Without equipment:
- 10 abdominal crunches
- 2 different Yoga stretches
- 10 push-ups
- 20 arm circles
- 20 jumping jacks
- 15 scissor kicks (on your back)
- 10 body twists
- Touch toes (with legs straight) for 20 seconds
- 15 high-knee steps
- 10 leg squats (straight back, arms forward)
- Balance one leg for 20 seconds and repeat with the other leg
With equipment:
- Hula hoop for 30 seconds
- Balance on a bean bag on 4 different body parts, 8 seconds each
- Jump rope for 30 seconds
- Throw and catch a beanbag while trying to clap (up to 5 claps)
- Play with a scoop and ball for 30 seconds (do two different challenges)
- Arm curl a light weight 10 times smoothly for each arm
- Hopscotch in and out of the entire pattern once
Related learning resources
Building Brick Challenge: Make a Tic-Tac-Toe Grid
Activity
Building Brick Challenge: Make a Tic-Tac-Toe Grid
In this activity, your learner will be challenged to create their own tic-tac-toe grid out of building blocks.
3rd grade
Science
Activity
Making Connections Tic-Tac-Toe
Worksheet
Making Connections Tic-Tac-Toe
...Follow the suggested activity or come up with your own way to use this tic-tac-toe board....
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Burst Out!
Activity
Burst Out!
Stay active over summer vacation with this fun take on the old favorite Red Rover!
4th grade
Activity
Reading Reflections: Making & Evaluating Predictions
Worksheet
Reading Reflections: Making & Evaluating Predictions
Children will practice active reading with this engaging template.
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Word Problems with Multiplication
Worksheet
Word Problems with Multiplication
Your fourth grader will stay entertained on your next family road trip with this travel-themed multiplication worksheet!
4th grade
Math
Worksheet
Searching for Context Clues & Key Details
Worksheet
Searching for Context Clues & Key Details
Help your active readers identify key vocabulary and important details with the help of two graphic organizers!
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Soap Science
Science project
Soap Science
This science fair idea project identifies the active ingredients in soap and experiments with the properties of soap.
4th grade
Science project
Clay Enzyme
Science project
Clay Enzyme
This science fair project idea explores how enzyme inhibitors, active sites, non-competitive enzyme inhibitors, and substrates work.
3rd grade
Science project
Hiking Through the Tundra
Worksheet
Hiking Through the Tundra
Stay on course in this puzzle by following only the tundra biome animals.
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Find & Support the Main Idea: The Transcontinental Railroad
Worksheet
Find & Support the Main Idea: The Transcontinental Railroad
As your students complete this close reading exercise, they will learn about the Transcontinental Railroad while practicing their active reading skills.
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Christmas Nouns and Adjectives #3
Worksheet
Christmas Nouns and Adjectives #3
Stay spirited this holiday season as you help your beginning writer review some basic parts of speech!
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Nonfiction Comprehension: Context Clues & Text Features
Worksheet
Nonfiction Comprehension: Context Clues & Text Features
Get ready for some active reading! As your students read through this passage, they will underline key words and reinforce their understanding of words in context.
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet