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If you enjoy games like me, I mean, like kids enjoy games, then this is the book for you! The author has obviously spent many years compiling numerous games and activities that are both fun and beneficial. And that's the key, that they are beneficial. Do they teach the kids something or are they just activities to keep the children busy? The best part of this book is that the games/activities are designed to actually teach the kids something. From movement awareness games, to maximizing participation in team sports games and everything in between, this book is packed with wonderful games/activities for kids to learn, experience and have fun with. 201 Games for the Elementary Physical Education Program is just what it says it is; a book designed to help the teacher provide quality games and activities, while providing the exercise and fun that kids need daily. The book is designed to make it quick and easy to find a game or activity for any situation that you may need. The games are broken up according to the type of game or activity that you want to stress. They are as follows - movement awareness, circle, single-line, double-line, tag, tag with bases, scatter formation, small group, cooperative, eye-hand coordination, maximizing participation in team sports and play day activities. The book provides a table for the grade level and play area requirements. It lists whether the game or activity can be played in the gym, grass or playground and the appropriate grade level. This is a great feature; you don't have to spend time deciding whether the game is appropriate for your students and particular game area. The book also has a dandy little area titled "Using Games Successfully in Your Physical Education Program." This is the area where safety, achieving learning objectives, maximizing participation and modifying games is discussed. This also is extremely useful when trying to keep the kid's participation and interest levels high. The book is 232 pages long, including the index and is very easy to read and navigate. The author states it best in his introduction, "This book was written to assist you in selecting appropriate games to use in conjunction with specific educational purposes. And because the games are categorized according to their strategy and developmental levels, your selection of the right games for your teaching goals will be easier." I believe this is the best part of this book; it can help supplement current curriculum programs or can be the base for new teachers who are looking for games that challenge kids in different learning environments. Overall, I would rate this book as a must for new teachers and on a scale from 1 - 5 stars, definitely a 5. Here are a couple of the many games I liked: Alligator's tail Tag (Grades 3-6) Four Square Volleyball (Grades 5-6) To Main Book Review Page |