Physical Activity Bingo: An Amusing Way to Boost Physical Literacy in the Classroom
Are you looking for a fun and engaging way to get your students moving while reinforcing their physical literacy skills? Our interactive Physical Activity Bingo game is perfect for young children in Kindergarten through Grade 2. It offers an exciting way to get students active while helping them practice key movement skills like balance, locomotion, and object control. Plus, it's a creative way to incorporate physical activity into the school day.
How to Play
Physical Activity Bingo can easily be used in PE class, during recess, or even as a classroom break. Here's how to use the game to keep your students active while having fun.
Materials Needed
- Bingo cards (download our printable card or create your own).
- Pencils, stickers or markers for marking off completed activities.
- Space for physical activity (classroom, gym, or outdoor space).
- Some school gym equipment such as balls, hoops, jump ropes, etc.
Pro Tip
You can print the same card for all of your students or use a bingo card generator to create and download customized, printable bingo cards featuring various physical activities. You can choose a smaller (3x3) grid size if you want an easier challenge for your students or go for the regular (5x5) card to replicate a classic bingo game. To make it easy for you, we've included a list of 28 physical activities you can copy & paste in the downloadable PDF below.
Option 1: 1-Week Physical Activity Bingo Challenge
In this version, students will complete fitness activities over the course of a week. The goal is to practice their physical literacy skills while having fun completing various activities. This version is great for fitting in short bursts of physical activity throughout the week.
Get Started
Prepare Your Bingo Cards
Print out a Bingo card for each student. Each square will feature a physical activity or physical literacy skill.
Select Activities
Choose simple, fun activities that kids can easily do either in the classroom, gym, or outdoors. Here are a few examples:
- Take a 10-minute walk around the playground: A great way for students to practice walking and improve endurance.
- Do 10 jumping jacks: Builds coordination and helps students practice rhythm and timing.
- Balance on one foot for 10 seconds: Enhances balance and body control.
- Skip in place for 2 minutes: Improves coordination and rhythm while keeping students engaged.
- Stretch like a tree (reach high, then bend down low): A simple stretching activity that improves flexibility.
- Crawl like a bear for 10 feet:
Strengthens core muscles and promotes body awareness.
Complete the Card
Throughout the week, encourage students to complete the activities. When a student finishes an entire row (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal), they can call "Bingo!" and celebrate their achievement.
Blackout Bingo Challenge
For an extra challenge, students can try to complete the entire Bingo card in one week. This is called "Blackout Bingo" and provides a fun way to stay motivated.
Option 2: 1-Day Physical Activity Bingo Challenge
If you're looking for a quick activity that gets the class moving, this version of Physical Activity Bingo can be completed in a single class session. It’s perfect for a PE class or a short classroom break to release energy.
Get Started
Prepare Your Bingo Cards
Print out Bingo cards with 25 activities (5 rows of 5 squares). The activities should be simple, fun movements that can be done in the classroom or gym.
Play the Game
Guide your students through each activity, marking off the squares as they complete them. Example activities might include:
- Skip in place for 30 seconds: A fun way to improve coordination and cardiovascular fitness.
- Do 5 high knees: Helps with agility and strengthens leg muscles.
- Do 10 arm circles: Enhances upper body strength and flexibility.
- Hop like a frog 5 times: Strengthens the legs and improves coordination.
- Stretch up high like a star: Encourages flexibility and body awareness.
- Crawl like a crab for 10 feet:
Great for building strength and flexibility in the arms and legs.
Get Bingo
The first student to complete a row can shout "Bingo!" and choose the next activity to lead the class in. You can also encourage the students to keep going until everyone gets a Bingo.
Alternative Versions for More Fun and Engagement
Team Physical Activity Bingo Challenge
If you have a larger class or want to encourage teamwork, split the class into small teams. Each team gets a Physical Activity Bingo card and works together to complete activities. The first team to get a Bingo wins a small reward like extra playtime, a special activity, or a fun group game. This version fosters teamwork, communication, and collaboration while practicing physical literacy skills.
Physical Activity Bingo Relay Race To add some excitement, set up different activity stations around the classroom, gym, or playground. Each station will correspond to a square on the Bingo card. Students will take turns completing activities at each station. When they finish an activity, they mark it off on their card. The first student to fill in a row or complete the entire card wins.
Get the Fun Rolling with Creative Bingo Patterns
Incorporating various
bingo patterns into your Physical Activity Bingo game can enhance engagement and add an element of excitement. Beyond the traditional horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines, consider introducing creative patterns like "Four Corners," where students aim to mark the four corner squares, or "Full House," requiring all squares to be marked. For a thematic twist, patterns such as "Turtle," "Heart," or "Airplane" can be used, adding a fun and visual dimension to the game. These diverse patterns not only make the game more enjoyable but also encourage students to develop a broader range of movement skills as they participate in different activities to complete each pattern.
Why Physical Activity Bingo Works for Young Children
Physical Activity Bingo is a wonderful way to help students practice their physical literacy while having fun. Here’s why it works so well with young children:
- Increases Physical Activity: It encourages kids to be more active and provides a structured way to include movement throughout the day.
- Builds Physical Literacy: The activities help develop essential skills such as balance, locomotion, and object control.
- Engages All Students: Every child can participate, regardless of their fitness level. The activities are simple and fun for everyone.
- Fosters Healthy Movement Habits: The Bingo card includes not only physical activities but also healthy movement habits in- and outdoors.
- Promotes Fun and Motivation: The game aspect keeps students excited to stay active, and they’re motivated by the goal of getting Bingo or completing the card.
Final Thoughts
Physical Activity Bingo is a simple, fun, and effective way to integrate physical activity into the school day. It helps students practice physical literacy skills in a playful environment and encourages them to develop healthy movement habits early. Whether you use it as a one-day activity or a week-long challenge, Physical Activity Bingo will keep your students engaged, moving, and excited to improve their movement skills.
Ready to get started? Print your Bingo cards, gather the class, and watch as your students get active and develop their physical literacy skills while having fun! Let us know how your Physical Activity Bingo challenge goes—we’d love to hear your success stories.
Looking to Ignite Your Students' Passion for Physical Activity?
Our turnkey resources for teachers include various tools, lesson plans, and activities to support the development of physical literacy for students in grades K-6.
