The Amazing Race in Physical Education

Brenda Erdman
Elementary Physical Education Teacher
School District of Reedsburg, Westside Elementary School
401 Alexander Avenue Reedsburg, WI. 53959
berdman@rsd.k12.wi.us

This unique experience is fun, educational, challenging, and encourages cooperation and
teamwork! It includes fitness and academic integration, including reading, writing,
health and social studies. It can be used in physical education, health class, or in any
classroom. With adaptations it can be used with ALL grade levels, and your students will
love it!

On my website I have included two Amazing Race experiences that I have done with my
students. The first document includes The Amazing Race Around the World, and the
second document includes The Amazing US Race. These documents will provide a lot of
information that will show you how I set up and managed my Amazing Race
experiences, and it will help you get started on your own Amazing Race experience.

Website: www.rsd.k12.wi.us/faculty/berdman
If needed - Click on School District of Reedsburg-Brenda Erdman
Click on the link titled P.E. Teacher Resources, then Amazing Race

My presentation will include taking you through my Amazing Race materials and
explaining how I set up the Amazing Race with my classes. I will also take participants
through a “mock” Amazing Race, so they can experience the Amazing Race challenges
(mental and physical) first hand. It’s an AMAZING experience!

Taken from the idea of the Amazing Race, as seen on CBS, these amazing challenges
encourage students to work in teams to accomplish fitness, skill, and/or mental
challenges. As they accomplish these challenges they earn points or a challenge check-
off and travel to different places around the World or the United States.

I have chosen to do the Amazing Race activities every other year with my elementary
students. I have done the amazing race during a part of the year and as a year-long
activity and both worked well. Alternating years gives me time to look forward to new
challenges and new ways to manage and set up the race.

The Amazing Race in P.E. addresses all of the National Standards for P.E., so not only
are you expanding the growth and knowledge of your students, but yours also.
Make it simple or complex, but any way you try it have fun with the challenges and enjoy
the excitement your students will have for the Amazing Race in Physical Education!
 The Amazing Race in Physical Education
Getting Started
1. Choose the number and specific destinations you want in your race.
2. Choose the PIT STOP questions you will ask and have them prepared ahead of
time. Students will reach their destinations quicker than you think, so being
prepared ahead of time is important. I gave the students a list of pit stop questions
each time they reached a new destination.
3. Create the challenges you want the students to perform.
4. Decide how often you would like to perform challenges: one per class, several
during one class per week, etc. We performed approx. 1-5 challenges each week,
sometimes more. Every so often we would devote an entire class to performing
challenges. I see my students three times a week.
5. Post the team progress in the gym – points and travel.

Choosing Teams: Choose teams that the students will work together on throughout the
year. I chose the teams myself to make sure one team would not dominate, to have boys
and girls on each team, and to spread around the more challenging children. In one class
I let the students pair up and then had the pairs group together. Overall the students
arranged themselves fairly well, however, I did do a little rearranging.

Team Leaders: Once the students were on a team they chose a team name and a team
leader. The team leader was in charge of making sure the team demonstrated good
sportsmanship. They also solved team problems before coming to the teacher. The team
leaders were in charge of turning in the pit stop questions, and sometimes were called
upon before, during, or after challenges by the teacher.

Team Posters/Team Recording Sheets: Each team was required to make a poster. The
poster was hung in the gym. I used the poster to indicate where each team was located on
the race route. Students could look at the posters and see what destination each team was
at. I also had a recording sheet for each team to keep track of challenges completed,
points received, and what destination the team was at.

Team Lists: I had a list of all the teams hung in the gym with the team leader
highlighted. Each team chose their team name.

Map: I hung a map on the gym wall to show the location of each destination. I also
asked each classroom teacher to use their classroom maps to talk about the destinations.

Pit Stop Questions: When a team reached a new destination they received questions. I
have given out questions different ways…one example is the teams had to choose from 3
questions all given different point values. Another example is a “test” of questions the
team needed to answer and return.

Road Block: One person on your team is chosen to perform the challenge by
themselves. Sometimes I asked for a team volunteer before announcing the challenge.
Sample of part of a team list:
Amazing Race Physical Education Teams
L = Leader
5C
The Mighty Eagles – Joana (L), Kyle, Riley, Courtney
All Stars – Anthony (L), Talon, Sade, Danielle
Avalanche – Jessie (L), Kacey, Alyson, Jesse
Beavers – Jonathon (L), Paige, Libby, Nate
Pack Attack – Cassidy (L), Natalie, Mykl, Zach

Sample of World Race destinations:

Amazing Race Around the World - Challenge Levels and Destinations
Level Points/Miles Destination
1 100 Madison, WI.
2 200 New York, New York
3 300 Torino, Italy
4 400 Mt. Everest
5 500 Sydney, Australia
6 600 Madagascar
7 700 Casablanca, Morocco
8 800 Rio de Janeiro
9 900 Madison, WI.
10 1000 Reedsburg, WI.

Sample of US Race destinations:

Amazing U.S. Race Destinations
Start: Reedsburg, Wisconsin…Here we go!
1. LaCrosse, Wisconsin: Climbing Grandad Bluff
2. Ely, Minnesota: Boundary Water Canoe Area
3. Jackson, Wyoming: Skiing and visiting Yellowstone National Park
4. Olympic Mountains, Washington: Great views, hiking, and hot springs.
5. Palmer, Alaska: Moose, Bear, Salmon…OH-MY!!!
6. San Diego, California: We are going to the ZOO!
7. OAHU Island, Hawaii: Remember Pear Harbor.
8. Salt Lake City, Utah: Let’s go swimming!
9. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona: WOW!
10. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado: Put on your hiking shoes.
11. Fort Worth, Texas: National AAHPERD Convention
12. New Orleans, Louisiana: Hurricane Katrina
13. Orlando, Florida: Walt Disney World
14. Nashville, Tennessee: Yee-Haw! Enjoy a show!
15. Niagara Falls, New York: Visiting Niagara Falls
16. Chicago, Illinois: The Aquarium – so cool!
End: Reedsburg, Wisconsin…Home at last.
 Amazing World Race Challenges
Name of challenge and number of points.
1. Noodle Up Run for 2 minutes (1 noodle per team) = 5
2. Climbing ladder (1 team member)= 10
3. 3 minute jump rope = 15
a. whole team at 1 minute = 5
b. whole team at 2 minutes = 10
c. any team member left after 2 minutes = 2 points/person.
4. Mat up while standing still. Mat can not touch head = 20
5. 2 person chain (2 team members) = # of jumps are your points
6. Mat carry while moving for 3 minutes = 15
7. Football Throw past point markers = 2/3/5/double
8. 1 minute sit-ups. # of sit-ups = # of points.
9. Bulls Eye mat toss.
10. Dribble knock out = 1 point for each winner.
11. 2 minute shoot. Each team member shoots the free throw and the inside corner
shot, team member rebounding = 1 point per basket.
12. Team free throw. Two shots per team member = 1 point per basket made.
13. 3 basket shooting. Each shot is 2 points.
14. Flat/open mat team carry for 3 minutes = 10
15. Monkey on the wall (1 team member) = 10
16. Hula Hoop toss = 1 point per person
17. Team badminton – “keep it up” (last team left) = 10
18. Badminton smash = 10
19. Half court shot = 5 points per person
20. Conehead (1 minute) = 10
21. Lap sit = 10 points for the group that lasts the longest
22. One foot group stand for 4 minutes = 10
23. Group body hold for 2 minutes = 20
24. Mat up balance on head for 3 minutes = 20
25. Hockey goal shot, length of the gym-5 shots/team = 1 pt./shot made in the goal
26. Shoe mess. Everyone puts both shoes in the center circle. Teacher mixes them
up. On signal the team that finds their shoes, puts them on and tied earns the
points = 10
27. Feet mat up. Team holds a mat up with their feet for 2 minutes = 20
28. All team members Hula Hoop for 2 minutes. Every 5 seconds = 5pt
29. One team member headstand for 10 seconds = 10
30. The PACER = Highest score from a team member are the team pts.
31. Beanbag balance for 2 minutes = # of bean bags for 2 minutes are points.
32. Hang time on the monkey bars outside for 1 minute = 10
33. 100 yard dash: 1st=40, 2nd=30, 3rd=20, 4th=10
 Amazing U.S. Race
Challenges
1. Mat up, 2 minutes
2. 4 Scarves, 4 times
3. Tunnel Target Throw
4. Group Juggling (2 for 20 secs.)
5. Human Bowling
6. 3-6-3 Check off
7. Climbing Ladder – 5th bar
8. Everyone Hover!
9. Cone Heads, 30 sec.
10. Chinese Jump Rope levels, 1 person
must pass the glutes level!
11. 10 Front Crosses
12. 1 Minute Jump Rope
Whole Team = Double Whammy (XX)
13. 1 Minute Sit-Up
14. Team Leg Hold, 15 sec.
15. Popcorn Dance 2 min, XX whole song.
16. Standing Mat Up, 2 min.
17. 30 seconds – 10 shots
18. ONE Free throw
19. PACER- minimum of 1 person (X),
whole team (XX)
20. Volleyball Team Keep Up 5 times
21. All Pit Stop papers turned in.
22. Cow Chip Toss-A minimum of one
team member needs to hit the “cow.”
23. 2 minute Throw and Catch
24. Birdie-5 consecutive team hits.
25. Paddle bounce hits.
26. Badminton Juggle 3 times (1 person, 1
bird, 2 racquets.)
27. One foot stand-1 minute, whole team.
28. Team Snowball Throw, Hit the tree.
31. Monkey on the (climbing) wall
32. Hula hoop cone toss. Whole team do,
only need one hoop on a cone.
33. Playground monkey bar hang.
34. Tumbling Test (A or B-team)
35. Hula Hoop for 10 seconds.
36. Small Parachute launch critter into
basketball hoop.
37. PACER-Beat your old score.
38. 1 minute jumping jacks.
39. Health Test-90% or better, team test.
(XX) if team gets 100%
40. Pedometer-Team total over 5,000 steps
for class period.
41. Fitnessgram-beat sit-up score, each
team member.
42. Fitnessgram-beat push-up score, each
team member.
43. Fitnessgram-beat flexed arm hang
score, each team member.
44. Standing Broad Jump-One over 5 ft.
45. Cone Throw. Land in hoop, all.
46. Bulls eye Toss-Bean bag on target.
47. Javelin throw (noodles), farthest team.
48. Scoop Throw to target.
49. Class health question given. First team
with correct answer (XX), any team with
correct answer (X).
50. Mileage track lap, no walking, team.
51. Team jump rope 20 times.
52. Frisbee target hit, designated throw
spot.
53. Map Test, whole team. 100% correct.
54. Catch a ball in cone 10x, gym width.
55. Water balloon toss.
56. Watermelon Seed spitting challenge.
Over line (X), in target (XX).
57. Medicine Ball pass, 1 minute.
58. Mat on head (unfolded) 30 sec.
Whole team hit tree XX
29. Headstand-1 person, 20 sec. 59. Class creation:
30. Team Box Stand – Smallest box, 60. Class creation:
whole team (XX)
XX = a double “whammy” = two challenges marked.
Amazing Race Around the World Sample Questions:
Teams needed to choose the level of question they wanted to answer. If they got the
answer correct the points were added to their challenge total. If they got it wrong they
lost that amount of points.
1. Madison
a. 5 points-Camp Randall was originally used for what purpose?
b. 3 points- Who is the Governor of Wisconsin?
c. 1 point-Name the capitol of Wisconsin.
2. New York
a. 5 points-What New York city hosted the Olympics?
b. 3 points-Name the island the Statue of Liberty is on.
c. 1 point-Was New York state one of the original colonies?
3. Torino, Italy
a. 5 points-Which country won the most medals in the 2006 Winter
Olympics that were held in Torino, Italy?
b. 3 points-Name the 3 colors in the Italian flag.
c. 1 point-Is Torino in the Northern or Southern part of Italy?
4. Mt. Everest
a. 5 points-What is the highest elevation of Mt. Everest?
b. 3 points-Where is Mt. Everest located?
c. 1 point-What do a lot of people like to do on Mt. Everest?

Amazing US Race Sample Questions:

Each team received a PIT STOP Test when they reached that destination. The team
needed to complete the test outside of class and return it as soon as possible. The points
were tallied per team with each test they took. The points helped them in the end.
PIT STOP: LaCrosse, Wisconsin
Team Name: ____________________________ Class: ______
1. The famous bluff in LaCrosse is called
a. Grandma Bluff. b. Grandad Bluff. c. Grandson Bluff.
2. From the top of the bluff you will see a panoramic view of LaCrosse, the Mississippi
River Valley, and how many states? a. 1 b. 2 c. 3
3. There are two bike trails in LaCrosse. They are called the Great River State Trail and
the LaCrosse River State Trail. How long are they?
a. 24 and 21 1/2 miles. b. 24 and 21 miles. c. 24 1/2 and 21 miles.
4. The Great River Road in Wisconsin goes from Prescott south through LaCrosse to
a. Platteville b. Prairie Du Chien c. Iowa
5. How many public libraries does LaCrosse have?
a. 3 b. 4 c. 5
6. Hixon Forest is what kind of forest in LaCrosse?
 a. Swamp b. Logging c. Nature and Hiking Forest
7. Where did Mrs. Erdman earn her Batchelor and Master’s degree in teaching?
a. Viterbo University b. UW-LaCrosse c. WWTC
8. What is the name of the ethnic festival in LaCrosse that has parades, arts and crafts,
music, sporting events, rides and food?
a. Oktoberfest b. Applefest c. Great River Jazz Fest