Backyard Mini-Olympics
About 60 minutes, outside, for ages 5 to 7.
Where it works
Works in any outdoor space
Who it's for
ages 5 to 7
Make These:
- handmade medal
- temporary scoreboard
- a starting line
- a name for your games
- a trophy made from something in the recycling
- a rule nobody expects
Today's Challenge
- 1.Who achieved a personal record?
- 2.Which event was the funniest?
- 3.What is our team name?
Quick Start: What you need
- 1measuring tape
- 2small balls
- 3stopwatch
The Goal
Run three quick contests in the yard: farthest standing jump, most ball catches in a row, and fastest sprint across the yard. Whoever wins the most events takes family glory.
How to start
- 1
Gather what you need: measuring tape, small balls and stopwatch. Nothing else required.
- 2
Head outside and make: handmade medal, temporary scoreboard, a starting line, a name for your games.
- 3
Talk about what you made. Start with "Who achieved a personal record?"
- 4
Print the worksheet to plan it out and keep what you make.
Design Your Medal
Draw a medal for today's overall winner below, then cut it out and award it after the last event.
Ancient Olympic winners did not get medals. They got a wreath of olive branches.
If you want to push it further
- Let the youngest player invent one of the events
- Run the final event twice and take the best score
Print it and go
The worksheet has the checklist, the prompts, and a space to draw in. One page, ready for a bag or a glovebox.