Games, Games, Games
Games are Good For You
Joining In
The History of Games
Developing Skills
Playing by the Rules

Information & Activity Cards
All of these cards are designed for pupils and can be photocopied for use within the school. Topics covered in the pack include the history of games, the importance of playing by the rules, and the benefits of games for individuals and society. A number of simple games and physical activities are included on pupils’ Activity Cards. The purpose of activities is to develop skills common to a range of games. These include manual dexterity, hand-eye co-ordination, locomotive skills and ways of sending, receiving and travelling with a ball.

Safety Note:
It is essential to make sure that the environment is safe when children are taking part in all physical activities and that children are appropriately dressed for the activities and able to move freely. All jewellery should be removed and children should be clear about how to respond to the teacher's signals. All children should be dressed appropriately.

Cards 1a/1b/1c/1d Games, Games, Games (Key Stage 1)
According to legend the Olympic Games were originally founded by Heracles (Hercules). The only prize was a crown of laurel leaves. Athletes competed for the honour of winning. Teachers may wish to use the Olympic Games as a theme for a sports day, e.g. by using laurel crowns. Girls may be interested to know that Olympic Games are believed by some to have grown up in response to older games held by women in honour of the goddess Hera. The first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. The first marathon took place in 490BCE, when a messenger was sent from Marathon to Athens during a battle between the Greeks and Persians.

Follow the Leader (Activity Card 1c) involves children forming a large conga-style line, which may be impractical in some schools. The game works equally well with small groups of 3 or 4.

Cards 2a/2b/2c/2d Games are Good For You (Key Stage 1)
Early people needed stamina to roam over vast distances looking for food. They needed to be able to run swiftly to chase their prey and avoid being caught themselves, to throw missiles accurately to kill their prey and to be strong enough to build shelters for themselves and their families. Modern life has made many of these functions redundant but our bodies still need exercise to keep healthy. Regular exercise can delay premature ageing, reduce the likelihood of being overweight and improve heart, breathing and muscle functions. This is why games are important. They provide a way of taking exercise that contains its own motivation. School sports days are a way of reinforcing this motivation. Diet also plays an important part in being healthy. A healthy diet includes foods that provide the full range of nutrients: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals.

Cards 3a/3b/3c/3d Joining In (Key Stage 1)
Games can be divided into four groups: simple competitions, e.g. races and jumping events; invasion games in which one team takes over another’s territory to score goals (e.g. football, hockey, rugby); net/court games in which players stay in their own territory (e.g. tennis, volleyball) and striking/fielding games such as rounders, cricket or baseball. The activities included in this pack are intended to develop skills common to all these activities. Inevitably some pupils will do better at some activities than at others. Ideally a school sports day should provide opportunities for pupils of all abilities to take part in a wide range of events.

Cards 4a/4b/4c/4d The History of Games (Key Stage 2)
Games evolved independently all over the world. Evidence of a primitive form of bowls dating from 5000 BCE has been found in Egypt. Polo has been played in India since about 3000 BCE. The first chariot races took place in Greece around 1500 BCE, and there are many other examples of independent development. It seems highly probable that game playing is a fundamental part human activity. The Greeks invented the multiple contest known as the pentathlon which included running, jumping, discus, javelin and wrestling but the event they rated most highly was the chariot race because this was performed by aristocrats who were the only ones that could afford chariots. Teachers can make a school sports day into a multi-cultural event by focusing on the origins of different games.

Danish Rounders (Activity Card 4c) is designed for easy play with small groups of children. However, including backstops, and deep fielders will allow you to occupy a much bigger class. Substituting a short tennis racquet for the rounders bat will also make the game easier for less able pupils.

Cards 5a/5b/5c/5d Developing Skills (Key Stage 2)
Women have really only been allowed to compete in sports since the middle of the nineteenth century. The first all women cricket match took place in 1835. Women first took part in tennis games at Wimbledon in 1884, seven years after the competition began. Tennis was also the first Olympic sport for women, but they were not allowed to take part in the 10,000 metre race until 1988. At the primary age girls and boys tend to be equally strong and equally competent and there is no reason why games should not be enjoyed together.

Cards 6a/6b/6c/6d Playing by the Rules (Key Stage 2)
Sport has become more and more popular in the modern age as people have greater leisure time. Television has been a significant factor in the growth of spectator sport by allowing far greater audiences than ever before to watch the same event. In 1990, for example, 26.5 billion TV viewers watched the football world cup finals. The downside is that action-replay and slow-motion shots have undermined the authority of referees and umpires, sport has become influenced by business and the desire to win has led to drug abuse. The habits of sportsmanship and fair play can be encouraged from the very beginning of a child’s physical education and a well-run sports day is an excellent way to begin this.

National Curriculum Coverage
Subject	Cards KS1	Cards KS2
P.E.	1a, 1b, 1c, 1d 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d	1a, 1b, 1c, 1d 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d
English	1c, 1d, 2c, 2d, 3c	1c, 1d, 2c, 2d, 3c
History	1a, 1b	1a, 1b

Scottish Curriculum
Subject	Cards KS1	Cards KS2
Expressive Arts (P.E.)	1a, 1b, 1c, 1d	1a, 1b, 1c, 1d
English Language	1c, 1d, 2c, 2d, 3c	1c, 1d, 2c, 2d, 3c
Environmental Studies	1a, 1b	1a, 1b