Messy Backyard

Recycling with Scoops

Grades K-2
Messy backyard is a tossing and catching game. Students will use their knowledge of
tossing and catching in order to clean up and toss out or recycle the trash in their
backyard. The team with the least amount of trash in their backyard and the most
amount of trash in their recycling bin at the end of the game wins.

Rules/Play:
1. Divide the class up into two even teams. You can divide by having PE groups A,B&C
one team, and groups D,E&F another team. Assign a backyard for each team.
2. Allow each student to get a scoop from the container.
3. Explain to the students the object of the game is to clean up the trash (yarn balls)
from their backyard as quickly as they can. They do this by scooping up the yarn
balls and tossing them with their scoop into the other teams backyard. They may
also work on their catching skills by trying to catch any yarn balls that have been
tossed in the air. They must use their scoop to catch. The students should be sure
to toss it all the way across the fence into the other teams backyard. Remind
students to aim above the other teams heads so no one gets hit by the trash or
they must find a friend on the opposite team to toss to.
4. If a student catches a yarn ball in their scoop, they must run it back to the
recycling bin in their yard and dump it in.
5. Toss out the yarn balls to each team, or they may already be out in the backyards
from a previous game.
6. Begin each game by saying Ready. Set. Toss. Each game can last approximately
5 minutes. Stop and count the pieces of trash in each teams recycling bins.
Determine which team had the most trash in their recycling bin (winners).
7. Toss out the trash again and begin a new game.
8. Continue playing until time is up.

VARIATION:
~Just count the pieces of trash in the recycling bins to determine a winner.
~Switch teams around..A,C & E against B,D & F for example.
~Students can use an underhand roll with their scoop instead of tossing.
~Or students can use an underhand toss with either the scoop or their dominant hand.