Wellness activities that keep Collierville students engaged

Movement isn’t just a curriculum requirement – it’s a critical life skill that supports mental wellness, physical health and builds social skills. So when we receive grant requests for PE equipment, we love to make teacher dreams happen. We know that PE is crucial to a well-rounded education: movement increases activity, focus and even improves test scores. And Collierville Schools makes it a priority. Depending on their grade level, students will participate in anywhere from 40 minutes a day to 90 minutes a week of exercise. This means every student in Collierville is directly impacted by PE class activities. While kids love typical activities like basketball or relay races, all Collierville Schools have unique offerings to switch up lesson plans. Here are a few innovative activities kids enjoy the most!

9 Square

In Collierville High School PE classes, students are now enjoying a face-based, volleyball-inspired game: 9 Square! Students divide into two teams, and nine players take to the court on each side of the net. When a point is scored, one player subs in and another out, rotating the players frequently to ensure everyone gets in on the action. CEF granted CHS two full-game kits in a recent grant cycle, so PE teachers can split classes into smaller groups and give each student even more playing time. Innovative grants like these are relatively inexpensive but make a big impact: more than 2,000 students will get a chance to play a game that’s engaging, builds hand-eye coordination and teamwork skills, and keeps them moving during the school day. 

Omnikin balls

At Crosswind, students enjoy reimagined sports with Omnikin Balls! These larger-than-standard balls range from 48 to 72 inches in diameter and are surprisingly lightweight for their size, making them usable by all students, regardless of skill or ability. Their floaty nature gives volleyball beginners more time to position for hits and slows down soccer games by letting students practice passing, dribbling and teamwork skills without fear of hard impact. Their size also supports students who struggle with flexibility, offering stability during balance activities or movement routines. While you can use them to play adapted versions of traditional sports, you can also create unique games that require moving the Omnikin Balls through obstacles, fostering teamwork, communication and collaboration. As students work together to achieve a goal, they build leadership, problem-solving and adaptability skills. 

Futsal soccer equipment

On the heels of the United States hosting the World Cup, soccer is on the top of everyone’s mind! Kids in particular are showing a strong interest in the sport. Students in Collierville High School's wellness and lifetime classes are even practicing with new futsal soccer equipment. Unlike a typical game of soccer on an outdoor field, futsal soccer is played on a hard, indoor court. In the past, the school used cones as goals and an outdoor soccer ball on the gym floor. This new equipment is specifically created to be played indoors on wood floors, and the goals give the students a target to shoot at and a realistic goal for them to aim at. 

If you would like to invest in quality fitness equipment in Collierville Schools, you can help by supporting our teacher grant fund!