Wicked Witch (Catch)
Modification of Simon Says with the educator 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. Give each child a ball/beanbag. Nominate a castle area e.g., a tree, wall, or cubby house in your environment. Educator has a pole (wand) and a witches hat on their head (optional).
Note: Wicked Witch can be used for any skill focus by adjusting the activities you do. See Wicked Witch (Kick & Dribble) and Wicked Witch (Locomotor) activity plans for more ideas.
Step 1:
- All children are in the designated area and the witch (educator) holds a pole as a wand. The witch holds the wand up in the air and calls out the spells - "The Wicked Witch casts a spell on you to..." (complete a challenge)
- Ideas of 'spells' to cast, include;
- Bounce ball the and catch
- Throw in air and catch
- Throw in air, clap and ,catch
- Balance on a body part
- Roll it and collect it
- Throw to a partner
- Move ball the around waist
- Move ball the around head
- Move around bouncing the ball
- Figure 8's
Step 2:
- After calling out several spells, the witch drops the wand, and the children race to the castle as the witch chases after them. They can drop their ball/beanbag or carry it with them
Step 3:
- Once all the children are 'safe' in the castle, the witch becomes friendly again, and the children are free to return to the square. The witch continues with the commands
- Start with commands everyone can do e.g., roll the ball to a partner, bounce and catch with two hands
- Play in a small contained area
- Use larger, soft balls, like a foam dodgeball
- If children are caught by the witch they need to do 5 frog jumps
- Move the castle further away
- Use a smaller ball, like a tennis ball
Before playing, explore how to catch depending on where the ball is. Use these teaching cues as a guide;
- Eyes on the ball
- Soft fingers
- Butterfly hands: thumbs together and fingers pointing up for balls being caught above the waist
- Wriggly worms: fingers pointing down for balls being caught below the waist
- Move hands to the ball
- Let all children have a turn being the witch
- Try changing it to 'Friendly Pixie' or 'Cheeky Fairy' if children are scared of the 'Wicked Witch'
- Allow more hesitant children to become the witch's assistant