Cheese Movers
Grade Level: 3-9
Skills Developed: Locomotor and non-locomotor skills, manipulative skills, teamwork, cooperation, spatial awareness, and cardiovascular endurance.
Equipment Needed: 10-15 soft covered balls, 2 items to represent cheese (e.g. beanbags)
How to Play:
Designate the playing area - use the basketball lines to create boundaries for the playing area.
Mice:
Cats:
Other rules:
Helpful Hints:
Skills Developed: Locomotor and non-locomotor skills, manipulative skills, teamwork, cooperation, spatial awareness, and cardiovascular endurance.
Equipment Needed: 10-15 soft covered balls, 2 items to represent cheese (e.g. beanbags)
How to Play:
Designate the playing area - use the basketball lines to create boundaries for the playing area.
- Divide the class into two equal teams. One team will start as the "mice" and the other team will start as the "cats".
- Have the mice line up in two lines (in relay formation) starting at one of the end lines. Have the cats spread out across the two sidelines (1/2 on each side).
- The rules to the game are as follows:
Mice:
- The first runner in each mouse line will be given a piece of cheese (beanbag). The object of the game for the mice is to move the cheese to the opposite end of the playing area and return it to the next player ("mouse") in line.
- Each time the cheese is returned safely, the mice score 1 point.
- In order to stop the mice the cats will be throwing the balls, trying to hit the mice below the shoulders.
- If a mouse gets hit the player will immediately sit down and hold the cheese in the air. This is the signal for the next mouse in line to come and attempt to move the cheese.
- The mouse that was hit must stay seated until all mice are hit - signifying the end of the round.
- At the end of the round, the mice and cats change roles.
Cats:
- The cats will begin each round lined up across each sideline of the playing area.
- Ideally, there should be enough balls for each player "cat" to have one.
- The object of the game for the cats is to stop the mice from scoring any points by hitting them with a dodgeball (below the shoulders).
- Cats must stay behind the sidelines while throwing at the mice. Cats are not allowed to throw from behind the end lines.
- Cats may hit any mouse that enters the playing area regardless of whether they do or do not have the cheese.
Other rules:
- As the game progresses, balls will get trapped in the playing area.
- Cats may go into the playing area to retrieve ONE ball. When retrieving the ball the player ("cat") must throw it back to one of their teammates.
- Cats can retrieve ONE ball at a time and once they have passed the ball to one of their teammates they must return immediately to the sideline. Once they have returned to the sideline they can wait for a ball to throw or they can go back into the playing area to retrieve another ball.
Helpful Hints:
- Emphasize the importance of cooperation and teamwork - teams must work together.
- Any mouse who has been hit by a ball must sit down regardless of whether it was a direct hit, bounce, or deflection.