Football is a popular sport, especially during the fall and winter months. The annual Super Bowl football game is the most-watched TV event in history, with over 110 million people tuning in to watch the big game every year. As a physical education teacher, you can capitalize on the hype and excitement that students and their families feel around game time. These activities, assessments, and bulletin board ideas we’ve compiled from PE Central will get your class’ head in the game!

Football Bulletin Boards

• Fun Football Facts 

Before you start planning activities, take a look at this motivating bulletin board idea that includes facts about the game that students would find interesting and inspiring. Fact ideas include history of the first football game and equipment, as well as average salaries for top coaches and players.

• College Football Score Board

This Common Core-aligned bulletin board idea helps students learn the relationship between math and the game in a visual way. Further, it helps students get excited about getting ready for college by choosing the school of their choice’s team.

Assessments

• Football Passing Peer Assessment: Want to evaluate students on how well they can pass and throw? This assessment, designed for grades 5-7, includes everything you need to help students improve their passing and throwing skills. Free, downloadable assessment sheet included.
• Football Throw and Catch Assessment: Designed for grades 4-5, this assessment helps assess whether or not students understand the basics behind throwing and catching. These simple yet foundational skills can help students be successful in the sport later on. This also includes a downloadable assessment sheet.

Instant Activities

• Video game Football run: With this activity, students will be building cardiovascular endurance without even knowing it! Recommended for grades 6-8. Variations and applications for students with disabilities included.
• Score! Football Warm-Up: This dynamic warm-up shows students all the ways they score in the game. Recommended for grades 3-5, this activity gets students blood pumping while helping them understand core basics.

Lessons for Grades 3-5

• Invade and Conquer- Football Lead Up Activity: A unique twist on capture the flag- but with football! Students learn offense and defense skills while coordinating with a team.
• Football Downs: Students will understand the concept of four downs, as well as the concept of open space after participating in this fun activity.
• Football Frenzy: Put students’ throwing and catching skills to the test with this dynamic activity! Variations and assessment ideas included.
• Football Mania: This activity has students not only practice throwing and catching, but also practicing their offensive and defensive skills at the same time.

Lessons for Grades 6-12

• Football in the Atmosphere: This sport has applications to many other subjects besides physical education, including earth science! Enhance the game by using this activity to incorporate earth science lessons.
• Football Bingo: The traditional game of Bingo just got a whole lot more fun – and active! – with this activity. This lesson is great for developing critical skills in a unique, fresh way.
• Razzle Dazzle Football: This activity teaches students more technical skills, like how to use short passes to successfully navigate the field.
• Pass for Points: Incorporates the basics of flag football to teach students offensive and defensive strategies while working on passing, catching and defending.
• Throwing for Distance/Accuracy: Help students improve the accuracy of their distance throwing with this comprehensive activity.
• Ultimate Football: The ultimate activity for assessing how students are doing at learning the game. They will also participate in a game situation.
• 3 Position Pass Patterns: Students learn the relationship between quarterback, center, and receivers on a team with this lesson.

We hope that these lesson plan ideas, warm-up activities and bulletin board suggestions help you accomplish your goal of teaching students the basics and technicalities of one of America’s most-loved sports.

Search for more football-related activities from PE Central here. Play on!

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