Objective:
Be the first team to successfully “herd” all of your sheep (balloons) into the fold (hula hoop).
Materials Needed:
- One hula hoop (per team)
- One pool noodle (per team)
- One white, inflated balloon (per team)
Game Setup:
- Divide the students into teams of no more than nine players each.
- On the opposite side of the playing area, designate a player or leader to hold the hula hoop at waist height. This represents the “fold” where the sheep (balloons) need to be herded.
- Each team gets one pool noodle and one inflated white balloon, which will act as their “sheep.”
How to Play:
- Players line up in their teams for a relay race.
- The first player on each team will use the pool noodle to “herd” their balloon (sheep) across the gym, guiding it only by hitting it with the noodle. No hands allowed!
- The goal is to get the balloon through the hula hoop (fold) on the opposite side of the gym.
- Once the balloon has successfully gone through the hula hoop, the player may pick up the balloon with their hands, run back to their team, and hand off both the balloon and the pool noodle to the next player in line.
- The next player repeats the process until all team members have herded the sheep.
- The first team to finish wins the round.
Pro Tips:
- Make sure there is enough space between teams to avoid collisions and interference during the relay.
- Instruct players to use gentle taps with the pool noodle to avoid damaging or popping the balloon.
- Encourage players to stay focused and use teamwork, but remind them to avoid running too fast or bumping into other players to prevent accidents.
- If indoors, ensure the floor is clear of obstacles and that the game is played on a non-slip surface to prevent falls.