Our district has a Unified Sports team at each school from elementary through high school. Unified Sports combines students with and without disabilities (athletes and partners) with a mission to create an inclusive environment in which students of all abilities can learn the fun of sports and recreational games.

For a fun relay race activity during our practices for teams in the elementary schools, we used S&S’s Ice Cream Scoop Stacker Challenge and Hoop Holders! Activities like this naturally support:

• Inclusive participation
• Cooperative teamwork
• Motor planning and balance development
• Sensory-conscious physical activity
• Confidence building through shared success

Scoop Stacking Challenge

The set includes:

• 3 foamed rubber cones
• 6 vanilla scoops
• 6 strawberry scoops
• 6 chocolate scoops
• An activity guide with relay and challenge ideas

The kids loved the ice cream theme and were able to help each other put as many scoops on the cones as they could, while moving through obstacles we made with the hoop holders. The scoop stackers were particularly great because of the foam-like material they are made of. They were easy enough for the kids to balance and did not make a loud noise when they toppled. When working with children with a variety of disabilities, noise level is often a consideration. Many of our students wear headphones and struggle to tolerate activities in the gym. This relay game was easily tolerated and enjoyed by all!

The scoops are also lightweight and easy to grip, helping students of all abilities participate confidently.

The set can also be used for relay races, timed stacking challenges, balance and coordination drills, and team-based problem-solving activities.

Foam Hoop Holders

The hoop holders created several types of obstacles for the kids to crawl through while holding the ice cream scoop stackers, working on motor planning, balance, and teamwork to help each other succeed.

These holders are made from EVA foam, and each holder has 5 pre-cut holes that allow you to position hoops for different activities. Because the holders are lightweight but sturdy, they’re easy to rearrange for different skill levels which is perfect for elementary through high school Unified Sports teams. You can use them for targets, crawling tunnels, lateral movement drils, and place multiple holders in a row to create obstacle courses or agility pathways.

How to use them:

• Insert a hoop into one of the pre-cut holes in the foam base
• The hoop slides down into the slot and sits securely
• Position hoops vertically for “step through” challenges, or horizontally for “hop in and out” challenges

In addition to the relay races during Unified Sports, the hoop holders have been a great addition to the physical therapy motor room. The different ways that the hoops can be positioned allow for a great variety in working on spatial awareness, motor planning, and strengthening as students move through carefully.

The combination of a playful ice cream theme and adaptable obstacle setup made this relay accessible, engaging, and motivating for every student involved.

About the Author

My name is Sue Freeman, and I am a pediatric physical therapist. I have worked as a physical therapist in a public school district for the past 18 years. I work with students from preschool through high school who have mobility and gross motor challenges that impact their participation in school. I am also the coach of the Unified Sports teams in all four schools in the East Hampton district. Unified Sports is a division of Special Olympics that pairs students with and without disabilities in a variety of athletic and recreational games. In my 30 years of being a pediatric physical therapist, I find such reward in supporting children as they work on movement, participation with peers, and enjoying the fun things in life.