Elementary Sports: Games From Around the World

What Is the Elementary Sports: Games From Around the World Course?

Elementary physical education can do more than build fitness. It can build curiosity, connection, and classroom community through games for elementary students that invite cooperation and fun. The Elementary Sports: Games From Around the World course explores kids’ games from around the world and the cultural stories behind them. 

Educators examine how global activities can support skill development while creating cross-curricular links to topics like geography, history, language and math. Along the way, teachers gather practical lesson ideas and adaptable routines that fit a wide range of elementary school games and learning needs.

What Will You Learn?

The Elementary Sports: Games From Around the World course covers practical strategies for organizing and teaching games for elementary students while connecting lessons to standards and curriculum goals. Teachers in the course learn to:

• Articulate children’s games curriculum from all over the world, including material needed, rules, regulations, safety and grade level.
• Identify and integrate national standards across different aspects of teaching as demonstrated by coursework and game lesson plans.
• Develop co-curricular strategies to teach elements of language, social studies, and math through games that emphasize cultural differences and similarities.
• Develop a system for encouraging students to create their own games.
• Develop cooperative learning methods for student-presented materials on games and co-curricular activities.

What Are the Assignments and Projects?

Students can enroll in the Elementary Sports: Games From Around the World course at any time and take up to one year from the registration date to complete all assignments. Modules within the course include:

• History of Games
• Game Lesson Design
• Games in the Classroom
• Grading and Evaluation

Who Should Enroll in the Elementary Sports: Games From Around the World Course?

The Elementary Sports: Games From Around the World course is designed for K–12 grade teachers.

What Educators Who Took the Elementary Sports: Games From Around the World Course Say

“I would recommend this course. It offers a unique opportunity to explore global cultures through games, encourages physical activity, and provides engaging, hands-on learning experiences for both students and teachers.”

- Educator, New Jersey

“Class was a 10/10 both personally and professionally. I highly recommend taking this course to broaden cultural competency for you and your students!”

- Educator, Pennsylvania

NOTE: Required books (Play with Us: 100 Games from Around the World by Oriol Ripoll and Children’s Games from Around the World by Steve E. Hunt) must be acquired separately.

This course is applicable towards the Physical Education Teaching Certificate.