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Welcome to the Upside Down,

Today we use a Stranger Things hook to build a practical “Max” list for PE: the song, games, instant activities, warmups, attention grabs, and unit we can repeat without losing joy or learning. The aim is alignment between what we love and what students actually want.

• defining a “Max” list that anchors planning
• Max game: Rollout for tight spaces

• Max instant activity: Tractor Buoy Sea Monster
• Rainy day Max activity: cup stacking for focus and flow
• Attention-grabbing Max system: Match Me and clap patterns
• Capstone Max unit: fifth-grade Tchoukball tournament

Take care,

Dave

-Kindergarten PE Games and Activities ebook ($3.99 for 10 activities)

-Check out supersizedphysed.com for more resources, including free PDFs, articles, and courses to help with your PE program. Please leave a review to help grow this podcast and keep pushing our profession forward.

-Team Building Games Ebook ($4.99 with preview): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Team-Building-Games-and-Activities-for-PE-Class-14063095

Grab my free copy of the Outside PE Checklist as a reference that includes equipment, procedures, transitions, and other essentials for successful outdoor teaching

-Free resources include Substack and Medium articles with PE tips, games, and strategies

-High Fives and Empowering Lives  book available as an ebook or paperback

-Paperback or download: HERE

-Amazon Ebook: HERE

Support the show

Become a supporter of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/385837/support

Send us a text

Welcome to Hawkins PE Nation!

Today we turn fan joy into teaching fuel, using Stranger Things as a lens for building classroom culture, designing our own teaching genre, empowering teams, and fighting the daily “demogorgons.” A real-life tour from Detroit to Vecna’s house sets the stage for practical PE strategies and a call to legacy.

• building Hawkins as a strong, inclusive classroom culture
• blending genres to design a unique teaching program
• small-sided, game-centered learning with music and movement
• defining team roles inspired by the Hawkins crew
• practical team-building games that include every student
• strategies to fight exhaustion, disengagement, negativity and doubt
• reflecting on legacy and the impact we want to leave

Take care,

Dave/"Dustin"

-Kindergarten PE Games and Activities ebook ($3.99 for 10 activities)

-Check out supersizedphysed.com for more resources, including free PDFs, articles, and courses to help with your PE program. Please leave a review to help grow this podcast and keep pushing our profession forward.

-Team Building Games Ebook ($4.99 with preview): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Team-Building-Games-and-Activities-for-PE-Class-14063095

Grab my free copy of the Outside PE Checklist as a reference that includes equipment, procedures, transitions, and other essentials for successful outdoor teaching

-Free resources include Substack and Medium articles with PE tips, games, and strategies

-High Fives and Empowering Lives  book available as an ebook or paperback

-Paperback or download: HERE

-Amazon Ebook: HERE

Support the show

Become a supporter of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/385837/support

Send us a text

Hello PE Nation!

Today I wanted to share six new principles that guide our teaching and our lives: take risks, embrace the journey, no limits, Kaizen, love your craft, and change the game. Stories range from a final hello to a principal to the Savannah Bananas’ reinvention of baseball, with clear takeaways for any classroom.

• why taking smart risks reduces regret
• embracing process and momentum over titles
• removing false limits for ourselves and students
• Kaizen as daily, steady improvement
• loving the craft so students feel it
• how to change the game without losing standards
• practical ways to make PE more joyful and inclusive
• book one context and what’s coming in book two

If you want to pick up “High Fives and Empowering Lives, A Physical Educator’s Quest for Excellence,” check the show notes to support the show.

Happy teaching,

Dave

-Kindergarten PE Games and Activities ebook ($3.99 for 10 activities)

-Check out supersizedphysed.com for more resources, including free PDFs, articles, and courses to help with your PE program. Please leave a review to help grow this podcast and keep pushing our profession forward.

-Team Building Games Ebook (with preview): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Team-Building-Games-and-Activities-for-PE-Class-14063095

Grab my copy of the Outside PE Checklist as a reference that includes equipment, procedures, transitions, and other essentials for successful outdoor teaching

-Free resources include Substack and Medium articles with PE tips, games, and strategies

-High Fives and Empowering Lives  book available as an ebook or paperback

-Paperback or download: HERE

-Amazon Ebook: HERE

Support the show

Become a supporter of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/385837/support

Send us a text

Let's play, PE Nation!

A camp classic from 1999 gets new life in our PE classes as we teach Tractor Buoy Sea Monster, a fast, no-equipment game that borrows the logic of rock, paper, scissors. We explain the gestures, the rules and a quick partner activity that fills three to five minutes with fun and fair play.

Check out this game if you’d like, and more games in my team building activities for PE. It’ll be in the show notes, and it helps support the show if you’d like to move on further with more games and activities that I put together for you, as well as my kindergarten games and activities ebook I just put out.

-Kindergarten PE Games and Activities ebook ($3.99 for 10 activities)

-Check out supersizedphysed.com for more resources, including free PDFs, articles, and courses to help with your PE program. Please leave a review to help grow this podcast and keep pushing our profession forward.

-Team Building Games Ebook (with preview): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Team-Building-Games-and-Activities-for-PE-Class-14063095

Grab my copy of the Outside PE Checklist as a reference that includes equipment, procedures, transitions, and other essentials for successful outdoor teaching

-Free resources include Substack and Medium articles with PE tips, games, and strategies

-High Fives and Empowering Lives  book available as an ebook or paperback

-Paperback or download: HERE

-Amazon Ebook: HERE

Support the show

Become a supporter of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/385837/support

Send us a text

Let's go PE Nation!

Today I want to share with you three kindergarten PE games that keep kids moving, teach boundaries, and build early math skills while staying safe and simple to run. We also answer listener questions about the PE9 book series and the ongoing saga of our inflatable mascot, Webster.

• top 10 kindergarten games overview and eBook link
• "Treasure Hunters" rules, sorting by color, and math add-ons
• "Gotham City" for teaching boundaries through story
• "Rollout" circle setup for rainy-day PE

Grab the eBook that's in the show notes. I know it will give you value and more fun games to play with your K-2 classes.

Enjoy,

Dave

-Kindergarten PE Games and Activities ebook ($3.99 for 10 activities)

-Check out supersizedphysed.com for more resources, including free PDFs, articles, and courses to help with your PE program. Please leave a review to help grow this podcast and keep pushing our profession forward.

-Team Building Games Ebook (with preview): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Team-Building-Games-and-Activities-for-PE-Class-14063095

Grab my copy of the Outside PE Checklist as a reference that includes equipment, procedures, transitions, and other essentials for successful outdoor teaching

-Free resources include Substack and Medium articles with PE tips, games, and strategies

-High Fives and Empowering Lives  book available as an ebook or paperback

-Paperback or download: HERE

-Amazon Ebook: HERE

Support the show

Become a supporter of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/385837/support

Send us a text

Let's wreck things PE Nation!

We turn a simple throwing drill into a Wreck-It Ralph game that hooks K–2 and scales to older grades with smart rules, roles, and safety. Clear setups, rebuild roles, and distance tweaks keep the action fast while teaching form, teamwork, and boundaries.

• using a movie theme to boost engagement
• safe setup with midline and mat buffers
• roles for Wreck-It Ralphs and Fix-It Felixes
• rotation timing for fairness and flow
• throwing cues and age-based distances
• rebuild rules and defend-from-distance guidance
• scoring options: continuous play vs timed wins
• modifications for grades 3–5
• PDF visual guide available in the show notes

Grab the PDF in the show notes to go through the steps and levels and just get a visual of it as well

Take care and teach on,

Dave

-Wreck-it Ralph PDF

-Kindergarten PE Games and Activities ebook ($3.99 for 10 activities)

-Check out supersizedphysed.com for more resources, including free PDFs, articles, and courses to help with your PE program. Please leave a review to help grow this podcast and keep pushing our profession forward.

-Team Building Games Ebook (with preview): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Team-Building-Games-and-Activities-for-PE-Class-14063095

-Free resources include Substack and Medium articles with PE tips, games, and strategies

-High Fives and Empowering Lives  book available as an ebook or paperback

-Paperback or download: HERE

-Amazon Ebook: HERE

Support the show

Become a supporter of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/385837/support

Send us a text

What's up PE Nation!

MJ vs. Lebron- It's not even close!!! We explore the concept of becoming a "generational teacher" - an educator whose impact extends beyond a single academic year to influence generations of students through meaningful connections and holistic teaching approaches.

• Go big with your ideas - don't be afraid to rock the boat for a greater cause
• Help make great human beings, not just athletes - focus on developing character alongside skills
• Build relationships that matter - learn names, have fun with students, and show genuine interest
• Leave a legacy of impact - teach from the heart and care about your students as your own

Happy teaching,

Dave

Be a Generational Teacher-article

-Check out supersizedphysed.com for more resources, including free PDFs, articles, and courses to help with your PE program. Please leave a review to help grow this podcast and keep pushing our profession forward.

-Team Building Games Ebook (with preview): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Team-Building-Games-and-Activities-for-PE-Class-14063095

-Free resources include Substack and Medium articles with PE tips, games, and strategies

-High Fives and Empowering Lives  book available as an ebook or paperback

-Paperback or download: HERE

-Amazon Ebook: HERE

Support the show

Become a supporter of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/385837/support

Send us a text

What's up friends!

Let's talk outside PE! Teaching PE outside presents unique challenges from weather monitoring to wildlife encounters, requiring specific strategies and equipment to ensure effective instruction. Here are some things to consider:

• Weather conditions
• Unforeseen events
• The physical toll on teachers
• Specialized supplies
• Multiple backup plans ready at a moment's notice
• Proper gear
• Transitions and procedures

Grab my copy of the Outside PE Checklist as a reference that includes equipment, procedures, transitions, and other essentials for successful outdoor teaching. Let's keep pushing our profession forward!

Take care and happy teaching,

Dave

-Check out supersizedphysed.com for more resources, including free PDFs, articles, and courses to help with your PE program. Please leave a review to help grow this podcast and keep pushing our profession forward.

-Article on Outside PE Checklist

-Team Building Games Ebook (with preview): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Team-Building-Games-and-Activities-for-PE-Class-14063095

-Free resources include Substack and Medium articles with PE tips, games, and strategies

-High Fives and Empowering Lives  book available as an ebook or paperback

-Paperback or download: HERE

-Amazon Ebook: HERE

Support the show

Become a supporter of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/385837/support

Send us a text

Join the Galactic Battle PE Nation!

Let's transform your PE class with Space Battle, a target game using four-square grids as "spaceships" where students defend their pins while trying to knock down their opponents'. This game combines strategy, teamwork, and skill development while keeping all students actively engaged throughout.

• Setup requires four-square grids (painted, chalked, or taped) representing spaceships
• Bowling pins serve as "engines"
• Teams of 4-6 students per ship
• Last team with standing pins wins, or team with most pins after time limit
• Variations are unlimited
• Excellent opportunities for strategy discussions between rounds
• Even eliminated teams can continue participating

Take care,

Dave

Grab a copy of the PDF HERE

Article on Space Battle with rules and setup.

Check out supersizedphysed.com for more resources, including free PDFs, articles, and courses to help with your PE program. Please leave a review to help grow this podcast and keep pushing our profession forward.

-Team Building Games Ebook (with preview): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Team-Building-Games-and-Activities-for-PE-Class-14063095

-Kindergarten PE Kickoff Guide: article

-Free resources include Substack and Medium articles with PE tips, games, and strategies

-A free video course on the "PE-9": principles for improving your PE program

-High Fives and Empowering Lives  book available as an ebook or paperback

-Paperback or download: HERE

-Amazon Ebook: HERE

Support the show

Become a supporter of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/385837/support

Send us a text

What's up PE Nation!

Don't let kindergarten scare you!

Teaching kindergarten PE requires a thoughtful approach centered on structure, simplicity, positive reinforcement, basic games, and genuine enjoyment. When these five elements come together, kindergarten classes transform from potentially chaotic experiences into joyful learning environments where young students thrive.

• Structure forms the foundation for kindergarten success
• Students need consistent routines and expectations
• Keep instructions simple 
• Praise specific positive behaviors 
• Use tangible rewards 
• Stick to basic games 
• Have fun!

Take care and happy teaching!

Dave

Check out supersizedphysed.com for more resources, including free PDFs, articles, and courses to help with your kindergarten PE program. Please leave a review to help grow this podcast and keep pushing our profession forward.

-Team Building Games Ebook (with preview): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Team-Building-Games-and-Activities-for-PE-Class-14063095

-Kindergarten PE Kickoff Guide: article

-Free resources include Substack and Medium articles with PE tips, games, and strategies

-A free video course on the "PE-9": principles for improving your PE program

-High Fives and Empowering Lives  book available as an ebook or paperback

-Paperback or download: HERE

-Amazon Ebook: HERE

Support the show

Become a supporter of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/385837/support