Wicked Witch (Locomotor)

Modification of Simon Says with you casting spells as a witch. When the witch drops the wand, children must run to the safe zone (castle) to avoid being caught.
Start in a designated area with children spread out. Nominate a castle area e.g. a tree, wall or cubby house in your environment. You have a wand (whisk, toy wand, chopstick, stick etc).
Note: Wicked Witch can be used for any skill focus by adjusting the activities you do - try incorporating soccer, catching, or basketball dribbling.
Step 1:
- All children are in the designated area and the witch a wand. The witch holds wand up in the air and calls out the spells "the wicked witch casts a spell on you to..." (complete a challenge, turn into an animal, etc)
- Ideas of 'spells' to cast, include;
- Jump around the square – jumping as far as you can
- Small fast jumps on the spot
- Run around in the direction the witch calls (forward, backward, left, right)
- Skip around
- Hop on one leg – change legs
- Hop in a circle
- Jump up to the sky as high as you can
- Run backwards
- Run with high knees
- Run on the spot
- Run at different speeds the witch commands (super fast, super slow)
- Turn into an animal, and move like that animal
Step 2:
- After calling out a number of spells the witch drops the wand and children race to the castle as the witch chases after them
Step 3:
- Once all the children are 'safe' in the castle, the witch becomes friendly again, and children are free to return to the square and the witch continues with the commands
- Start with commands everyone can do e.g. jump on the spot, run to a tree, turn in a circle
- Play in a small contained area
- If children are caught by the witch they need to do 5 frog jumps
- Move the castle further away
Before starting, have a turn at jumping as far as you can. Focus on starting with arms behind like a super hero and swinging and springing forward. Try again and see if you can go even further this time. Remember the jumping teaching cues:
- Land like you are riding a motorbike – arms forward, ankles, knees and hips bent, feet apart
- Start with your arms stretched behind you like a superhero
- Swing & Spring
- Reach for a star and bring it down again (for vertical jumps)
- Let children have a turn being the witch
- Try changing it to Friendly Pixie if children are scared of the Wicked Witch