Meet the Team
Michael McDonald
Bachelor of Kinesiology from U of S
Recess Guardians Executive
Director
Certified Personal Trainer
Exercise Expert
Why is Recess Important?
23 ½ Hours
Playworks
Problems with Recess
Bullying
Gossiping
Physical Inactivity
Boredom- Unbusy hands can lead to bad
situations
More harm done than good
Reasons
Students grow up too
quickly, forget how to
play
Unfamiliar with games to
play
No one will take
responsibility for getting
game started
The Act of Play
Play is a lost art
Students grow up too quickly
Play is crucial in ones upbringing
Recess is a time for kids to be just that... Kids!
Prescription for Play
Facts
Bullying occurs once every 7 minutes on the
playground
Obesity rates among children and youth aged 2
to 17 years are staggering
Childhood Obesity
Increasing amount of interactive, immobile
games
Source: Stop a Bully, www.stopabully.ca/bullying
Past Programs
• Canadian Intramural Recreation Association of
Ontario (CIRA)
• P.A.L.S. (Playground Activity Leaders in Schools)
• PROPS (Peers Running Organized Play Stations)
• Active Playgrounds
Source: The City of Hamilton Public Health Services
Our Advantage
Empowering students through peer leadership
On-the-ground interaction
Ownership and Accountability
A Safe Recess Should:
Promote FUN and participation
 Reduce bullying
Increase physical activity levels
Promote fair play
Teach movement and dexterity skills
Teach cooperation and respect
Promote creativity and problem solving
Provide equal opportunity for all
Mission
Recess Guardians’ mission is to motivate
children to bring positive attitudes to
the playground, while teaching their
peers how to play in an energetic, fun
and constructive way.
What is Recess Guardians?
How to play
Leadership Skills
Empowerment
CTV Interview
Recess Guardians Musts
A teacher who will take responsibility for the
program
A way to get equipment out on the playground
School must show excitement behind it, reward
the students for taking a leadership role
How it All Began
Started September, 2008
Started as drop in
program
In 11 Core Community
Schools in Saskatoon
Kids participated, but
turnout varied greatly
Year One Analysis
Pros
Cons
Kids had fun
Turnout was inconsistent
Learnt games to play in
their own time
Sometimes wouldn’t play
the games if they didn’t like
them off the start
Received shirts
Has positive grown-up role
models
Inexperienced adult
volunteers
Changes
Have a group of 8-16 students assigned to the
program, grades 4-8
Decrease the amount of schools
Have the same coaches at each school
Students must participate or they won’t be
welcome back
The RG Model: Option 1
8-16 Children
Grades 4-8
Minimum of 12 sessions
1 day a week, 1 hour after school
1-2 Volunteers per school
Option 1
Positives
Negatives
Get different students
working together
Not giving every student a
chance to participate
Allowing only the students
who want to attend, to
attend
Inconsistent turnout, having
to chase students after
school
Extra physical activity
during the day
Other activities can get in
the way
The RG Model: Option 2
One entire class during Phys. Ed. Time
Grades 4, 5, or 6
6 to 12 sessions
1 day a week
Either volunteer(s) or teacher
Option 2
Positives
Negatives
Everyone has a chance to
succeed and participate
Disruption from children
who don’t want to play the
games
Teacher is there to see how
it is run
Consistent attendance
Not having physical activity
after school, cuts down on
time they are active
The RG Model: Option 3
One entire class during Phys. Ed. Time
Grades 4, 5, or 6
6 to 8 sessions
3 to 4 days a week for 2 consecutive weeks
Either volunteer(s) or teacher
Option 3
Positives
Everyone has a chance to
participate
Sessions are close together
so they can remember the
games better
Teacher is present
Negatives
Students who don’t want to
play may distract others
Now What?
Volunteer
Volunteer or teacher?
In a volunteer you want
someone:
Reliable
Energetic
Positive
Likes to play
Games
Decide on a group of 1012 games
Should require very little
or no equipment
Easy to organize
Popular
Games cont’d.
Teach most of the games in the first 3 to 4
sessions
Have the students replay the games after that,
but always add in a new game for each session
Get a student to explain the rules to the other
students, allows them to lead their peers
For last session or two, bring care partners in for
the class to teach them
Teacher’s Role
Be EXCITED!
Organize students on the
playground
Get the students
participating in the
learning sessions
Teacher’s Role cont’d.
Different organizational ideas:
Assign 2 groups of students (3 in each group) to
organize games at recess.
Have them come up with one game idea, and to run
it for a specific recess.
Change up groups for each recess.
Teacher’s Role cont’d.
More ideas:
Have two students bring out equipment at recess
and allow others to play with it.
Have them work one on one, or in a group with
younger children and teach them to throw/catch.
Run indoor recesses with the games they were
taught.
Physical Literacy Push
Sport Manitoba’s “Games
with a purpose”
Teach the students these
skills
Have them work with
younger students on the
playground with these
skills
Students love teaching
younger students
Physical Literacy
Have the students set up circuits in the gym for
the students to do for indoor recess
Students love to be EMPOWERED
Obstacle courses and relays work great for this
type of program
Questions
Thank You!
Michael McDonald
mike@recessguardians.com
306-280-7244