1. Importance of Physical Education and Well-being — Notes

• Why regular physical activity matters for body and mind
• How every session runs: Warm-up, Activity, Cool-down, Circle Time
• Rules of six games: Ice Water, Seven Stones, Aerobic Exercises, Follow Me, Number Game, Hula Hoop Jump
• The values each game teaches, from togetherness to being happy for others

1What this unit is about

This unit shows that regular physical activity does two things for us. It makes us feel good, and it helps us get along with others. We learn this by playing games, mostly traditional Indian games, and by talking about how the games made us feel.

The unit plans three kinds of work. In Games and Fun Activities we play many games and have interesting discussions. In Looking after each other we learn to stay together, grow together and be happy for each other; the book says this can make us happier, physically and mentally stronger and more successful. In Safety First we find ways to stay safe while playing, avoid injuries and create a healthy environment for everyone.

Why traditional games? The book says some traditional games are best to inculcate different values and cultural understanding. They also help in making a player fit and alert. So while we enjoy them, we also learn how to behave with others.

2How every session is organised

Each of the six sessions (coded IPE 1 to IPE 6) follows the same four steps. First comes a Warm-up of three or so simple exercises, such as Torso Twist or Squat. Then the main Activity, the game itself. Then a Cool-down of gentle stretches. Last is Circle Time, when we sit together and discuss, list, share or write about a value connected with the game.

The warm-up gets the body ready to play, and the cool-down lets it settle after the game. Circle Time turns play into learning: we think about how we felt and how we treated others.

3Ice Water and Seven Stones

Ice Water: a game of togetherness

Ice Water is a traditional game of togetherness. While having fun, we rescue teammates and support each other, even when we are on standby ourselves.

1. Select a Denner, who chases the other players.
2. A player tagged 'ice' by the Denner must immediately freeze, that is, stand still at that place.
3. To unfreeze a player, another player touches the frozen player and says 'water'.
4. The game goes on until all players are frozen or the game time is over.
5. A player tagged 'ice' more than three times becomes the Denner.

Circle Time is Being Together: discuss how you would feel if you were not allowed to play for the next 7 days, and why. The message is that playing together makes you feel good and gives you joy.

Seven Stones: grow happily together

Seven Stones is a local game played across India with different names, such as Satolia, Lagori, Pitthu and Norgoloi. It combines agility, strategy and teamwork, and is enjoyed by both children and adults.

1. Make two teams. Pile the stones one on top of another and mark a line about 15 feet away.
2. The first team sends a player to strike the stack, with three chances.
3. A fielder stands on the other side of the stack. If this fielder catches the thrown ball directly, the striker is out.
4. After the stack falls, the striker's teammates run to put it back and yell lagori, satolia, pitthu or the local name.
5. A player hit by the ball thrown by the fielding team is out, and the game resumes.
6. If the team yells before all stones are stacked, the full team is out. If it rebuilds the stack and yells before anyone is out, it gets one point.

Circle Time is Grow Happily: list the things you liked most and the things you did not enjoy. The message: playing helps you to be active and stress free.

4Aerobic Exercises and Follow Me

Aerobic Exercises: growing strong

Aerobic exercises are activities that increase heart rate and breathing for long periods. They combine rhythmic dancing moves with energetic music to make a lively workout. Because the workout needs oxygen for extended periods, it promotes heart health, endurance and general fitness. Students explore different aerobic exercises with the help of the teacher.

In Circle Time, Growing Strong, students write a note on how regular aerobic exercise reduces panting. The message: bones and muscles grow stronger if you exercise regularly and eat healthy food.

Follow Me: helping each other

Follow Me is a game of mimicking, in which we make a mirror image of each other's movements. One member demonstrates a movement and the others follow. Examples include animal walks, body rolls, jumps, stretches and balancing on one leg. Roles are switched after a set time so that everybody gets a chance to demonstrate.

Circle Time, Help each other, asks us to share a time when we helped someone even though it was inconvenient, and still felt good. The message: playing together helps in creating an emotional and social bond; we share values like fair play, following rules and respecting each other's performances.

5Number Game and Hula Hoop Jump

Number Game: treating each other well

The Number Game has been adopted from the local game Rumaal Jhapata.

1. Form a circle and make two teams. Place a cone or marker in the centre.
2. Give both teams the same numbers, for example 1 to 10 for team A and 1 to 10 for team B.
3. Move around the circle as the teacher says, such as jogging clockwise, jogging anti-clockwise or frog jumping.
4. The teacher calls a number. The two players with that number run to the marker; the one who touches it gets one point.
5. The team with maximum points wins.

Circle Time, Treat each other well: what will you do if you see someone being treated badly during play time? The golden rule: treat others the way you wish to be treated.

Hula Hoop Jump: be happy for each other

The Hula Hoop Jump is played using a ring. We learn to jump, manipulate and coordinate our body with the ring, and to be happy for each other.

1. Make multiple teams; each lane has one hula hoop, given to the first player.
2. The hoop is placed on the ground in front. Jump inside it with both legs.
3. Lift the hoop, place it in front again and jump, landing with both feet together. Repeat until the end point.
4. Run back to the starting line and pass the hoop to the next teammate.
5. The team that finishes first wins.

In Circle Time, imagine you won and everyone cheered, and narrate your reaction as a poem; also think whether you have ever appreciated opposing players. The message: appreciate the effort and not the outcome of the game.

6All six sessions at a glance

The table collects the warm-up, cool-down and Circle Time of every session. Notice that some exercises, such as Squat, Floor Touch and Torso Twist, appear in more than one session.

7Quick check