Materials
Large outdoor area six hula hoops in the following colors: red, blue, yellow, green, purple, and orange
Instructions
1. Place the hula hoops around a large outdoor area, making sure there is at least 3' between each one. (If necessary, this activity can also be done in a large indoor area.)2. Choose several points around the area as starting points. For example, you might use a fence post or trees, or you could place chairs around the playground to designate starting points. The starting points should be equal distances from all of the hula hoops.
3. Choose two or three children to gather at each starting point.
4. Ask the children to look closely at the clothing they are wearing. Remind them to notice what color their shirts, pants, shorts, dresses, socks, and shoes are.
5. Explain that you are going to call out an article of clothing ("Ready! Set! Shirts!"). The children then run to the hula hoop that matches the main colorof that article of clothing they are wearing. For example, if you call out "shirts," all the children with red (or mostly red) shirts run to the red hula hoop, the children with blue shirts run to the blue hula hoop, and so on.
6. Encourage the children to cooperate as they run to the hula hoops. When all the children have gathered in the hoops, count the number of children in each one. Compare the numbers and ask the children questions such as, "Which hula hoop has the most children in it?"7. Have the children return to their starting positions. Repeat the game by calling out, "Ready! Set!" and then the article of clothing of your choice.
8. Continue the game for a predetermined number of turns or until interest wanes.
9. Not all children will run on each turn. For example, when you call dresses, only girls wearing dresses should run.
10. If desired, add in other characteristics. For example, ask everyone with blond hair to run to the yellow hoop, brown hair to the purple hoop, and so on.
