Skill: RUNNING
Drill: Save the Turtles
Equipment needed: One colored ring per student and 4 matching cones
Instructors needed: Several to monitor
Description: In this drill the students will practice running around the mat and picking up objects. The students will each have four turtles spread out on the mat and a special island to place the turtles in a safe place. They must race and rescue each turtle (one at a time) and the first one finished is the winner.
Teaching SKILLZ: CHOICES
  • Assigning each child a color gives them ownership while staying within the framework of the game. It also allows for variation in how they move and which turtle they grab first.
Brain SKILLZ: DIVIDED ATTENTION
  • Students must run, locate the correct turtle color, navigate space, and recall their assigned island—all while staying focused and coordinated.
Step 1
  • For each student, lay out 4 cones on random areas of the mat along with a matching ring somewhere on the mat.
Step 2
  • It works best if you have four students go at a time, so if you have more than four students, split them into groups.
Step 3
  • To begin, have the students stand on one end of the mat. Assign each student a color that coordinates with the cones and ring on the mat.
Step 4 – Explain the Rules:
  • When I say “go” you will race around and take your turtles to safe ground.
  • You will pick up one turtle at a time and place it in the matching ring.
  • You can only rescue the turtles that match your color.
  • The first one to rescue all four turtles is the winner.
Step 5
  • Continue until each student has at least two turns.
How To Video