fitCLUB

4 Corner Charades

Kids play a game to practice recognizing different feelings, emotions, and moods. They also learn about strategies they can use to self-manage their moods.

adult leader teaching kids about healthy habits
girls writing on a piece of paper
kids getting ready to play a game in a gym
smiling kids running in a gym
Kids running a relay outside on a grassy field
Group of kids doing yoga on mats outside

Activity Purpose

Kids play a game to practice recognizing different feelings, emotions, and moods along with how to use self-talk as a strategy to motivate their mood.

Objectives

  • Identify "mood" as an influencer of healthy choices throughout the day.
  • Recognize "self-talk" as encouraging oneself, either aloud or silently. 
  • Recognize the concept of motivating your mood to make healthy choices.

Preparation

  • Talk Time: Kids sit and stretch or stand and march in place. Be sure they are a safe distance (arm’s length) apart.
  • Activity: Divide kids into 4 groups. Assign a number to each corner of the room. Place 5 Mood Activity Cards face down in each corner. 
  • Wrap Up: Kids partner with someone sitting near them for discussion.

Talk Time

Introduction

Did you know you have a superpower? It's your power to decide to motivate your mood and talk yourself into making fit choices!

Use your superpower to turn your mood around. For example:

  • You can motivate “I won't move” to “I will move” and get active. 
  • You can motivate “I won’t think about my food and beverage choices” to “I will think about my food and beverage choices."
  • You can motivate "I won't do anything but play online games"  to "I will turn off the screen and write or draw."

If you find it difficult to talk yourself into a fit choice, talk to a friend or a trusted adult who can help you. Together you can turn your mood around!

During this activity, you will learn more about mood's influence on your choices and how you can use your superpower (self-talk) to encourage yourself to motivate your mood.

Do The Activity

Activity Instructions

Diagram showing activity area for Four Corner Charades

  1. Divide kids into 4 groups and assign each group to a corner.
  2. Shout, "Ready, set, ____________!" (skip, jump, high knees, walking lunges, etc.) and kids move to their corners.
  3. When each team arrives at the next corner, each team member draws a Mood Activity Card.
  4. Pick 1 kid at each corner to act out the feeling on the card.
  5. The kid acting out the word on the card says, “I am feeling..." as they act out the feeling on the card.
  6. Other kids in the group raise their hand when they are ready to guess the answer.
  7. If after 3 guesses the correct answer is not said, the person acting says the name of the feeling on the card.
  8. Kids in the group determine if the feeling puts them in an “I will” or “I won't” mood.
    • “I will” mood = kids high five a neighbor.
    • “I won't” mood = kids jump in a circle and say, “I can turn my mood around! I will______,"(e.g., do a mindful activity, talk with a friend, turn off the screen and get active, play outside, etc.).
  9. Kids place all Mood Activity Cards face down in the corner.
  10. The activity is repeated with the kids moving to the next corner after you shout, "Ready, Set, __________!" (skip, jump, high knees, walking lunges, etc.).
  11. Activity continues for allotted time. 

Wrap Up

Reflections

Q: Turn and talk: How will you use your superpower the next time you are in an "I won't" mood?
A: Answers will vary. Describe a fit choice: "I will _______." (e.g., do a mindful activity, talk with a friend, turn off the screen and get active, play outside, etc.). 

Challenge

Next time you think to yourself, "I don't want to move right now," use your superpower to motivate your mood!

Time: 5 Minutes

What You'll Need

Resources

Materials
  • Blank Paper
  • Markers or Pencils
  • Timer

Helpful Tips
  • If using a smaller space, choose different motor skills to do across the activity space such as bear crawl, crab walk, and inch worm.


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