The Amazing Race is a reality television game show in which teams of two people, who have some form of a preexisting personal relationship, race around the world in competition with other teams. Clues provided in each leg lead the teams to the next destination or direct them to perform a task, either together or by a single member. These challenges are related in some manner to the country wherein they are located or its culture. Teams are progressively eliminated until three are left; at that point, the team that arrives first in the final leg is awarded the grand prize.

With that being said, I came up with an idea of taking middle school (7th/8th grade) geography curriculum and some fitness exercises and came up with my own version of “The Amazing Race” to teach in my classes. I also went to my building Math teacher and asked him for some of the concepts he was currently teaching to use as “Road Block Cards” and took Math (grade level appropriate) questions showing Math Common Core Connections in Physical Education.

Standards Addressed:

Standard 1  - The physically literate individual demonstrates competency in a variety of motor skills and movement patterns.

Standard 4  - The physically literate individual exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others.

Standard 5  - The physically literate individual recognizes the value of physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and/or social  interaction.

Materials Needed: Race cards, Road block cards, Answer Key, Answer Cards for students, your chosen fitness equipment, Stopwatches, Pedometers (optional), Heart rate monitors (optional) Sqords(optional), or any fitness/movement tracking device (optional)

Set-up:Hang race cards all around the gym in a mixed up order. Make sure there is enough spacing between each activity and equipment is ready if needed. Road block cards can vary in number; make sure to spread them out along the race route and do not follow each other.

The Race! The purpose of this activity is for students to race around with a partner completing fitness and mental challenges. The team that completes all stations first wins the Amazing Race!Race cards – Name current location, fitness task, and where students need to head to next.Road block cards – Must be completed before moving on to fitness task.

The Amazing Race: PE Edition

Students begin race under one race card. When you begin the race they must complete the fitness task and then figure out where their next race stop is.

Next race stop

At each stop students will have to mark off where they have traveled on their Race Answer Key. Along the way students will run into road blocks. Students must correctly answer the question/solve the puzzle (whatever you decide as a road block) and have it checked off by their teacher before they continue on. When students have completed the entire course they will end at the race card they started and record their time/ steps/activity point on their answer key.

Adaptations: The best thing about this activity is you can change it to meet any focus you may have in class. Your fitness tasks may be completely centered on cardiorespiratory endurance or muscle strength. You can change your race destinations to muscles groupings, or pop culture trivia…the list can really go on and on.

Other ideas: Students must wear pedometers/Sqords/Fitbits, etc. and have a certain step total/activity points before they can finish the race.

Heart rate monitors can be set up as road blocks for students to check and if they are not at a certain BPM they must elevate their HR before moving on.

Collaborate with other teachers within your school to make the race specific to current material in other classes; vocabulary, long division, water cycle etc. With this also you can show other connections to Common Core State Standards.

I you would like any further information or card templates please do not hesitate to email me! SEllis@universityprpep.org/ www.shellyellis4pe.wordpress.com

Shelly Ellis- Middle School National Physical Education Teacher of the Year- 2015 – University Prep P.E. Teacher

London, England15 Plank to Push Ups

What is the mineral that helps strengthens bones and teeth?

CalciumJuggling for 1 min

This part of the Female reproductive system where the fetus grows

Road Block

1

UterusGo through speed ladder 6 times in this pattern!

Go visit the black forest in this nation

Germany30 Lunges

Find the largest river in the WORLD

Nile River, EgyptSpeed Stacks, go through the whole

cycle 3-6-3, 6-6, 1-10-1

She is the originator of “Let’s Move”! She has a fun dance too with Beyonce!

Michelle ObamaTry to do tricks with the diablo for 1

min.

The Gate of India is found here

Road

Block

2

New DelhiDo 25 reps of 2 FIT DECK cards

Head down under to this HOPPIN’ capital

Canaberra, Australia20 Passes with your partner

This is a Complex Carbohydrate

Road

Block 3

33

Bread50 Cross Jacks

The Epididymis and the Testicles hang in a pouch like structure outside the pelvis called what?

ScrotumPartner sit ups with high 5 /20 total

This body of water engulfs Italy

Mediterranean SeaJump 20 times side to side over hurdle

Your heart and lungs working together to provide oxygen to working muscles over a long period of

time.

Cardiorespiratory Endurance

Do 3 yoga poses from the deck

(Hold each for 20 seconds)

National capital where Queen Elizabeth II lives