The best games are the ones where you are moving your body. Not only are they entertaining, but they’re also extremely healthy. One of the best things you can do for your health is to move your body as much as possible, so we want you to get some fresh air and get moving with some fun activities. . This isn’t all fun and games, though - we also want you to understand what is going on in your body while exercising.
There are two forms of exercise that you could be performing when playing any physically demanding game. The first is known as “aerobic” (say it like this: er-oh-bik) exercise. Aerobic exercise is when your body utilizes oxygen as its primary source of energy. The second is known as “anaerobic” (say it like this: an-er-oh-bik) exercise. Anaerobic exercise is when your body does not utilize oxygen as its primary source of energy but instead uses reserved body fat or glycogen (say it like this: glai-kuh-jn).
How do you know when you are in an aerobic state versus an anaerobic state?
Here’s a good rule of thumb: if you cannot speak easily when you’re doing the exercise, it’s an anaerobic exercise and when you can speak easily, you are doing an aerobic exercise.
By contrast, you’re doing aerobic exercise when you can still control your breath while exercising. Aerobics are done repetitively over a sustained period. While doing aerobic exercise, you will breathe much faster and deeper than you do when you rest.
Aerobic or Anaerobic?
Here are the rules. You will engage in three games. After you engage in these games, you will record how these games made your body feel during and after. Based on your recordings, you will determine which sort of exercise you just did: aerobic or anaerobic?
Game #1: Jump Rope (Double Dutch)
Instructions for rope swingers:
Step 1. Grab one end of two ropes in each hand. Stand facing each other. Make sure you are far enough away but most of the rope is still on the floor.
Step 2. Rotate the ropes simultaneously. Agree on a rope to start with, and then say “three, two, one, go!” Do the same with the other rope. Move your left arm from the elbow clockwise and the right arm from the elbow counterclockwise, making sure that the circles made with each rope are of the same size and barely touching one another.
Instructions for jumpers:
Step 1. A turner will give the jumper the go. When the turner says, “3, 2, 1, go!” on the “go,” the jumper will jump in. However, don’t jump right into the center from the center. Rather, jump in diagonally and when the rope closest to you touches the ground.
Step 2: Keep your feet close together and have your knees slightly bent. Lightly hop up and down and attempt to establish your rhythm with the rope rotators. When you get the hang of it, you can try out tricks like jumping on one leg or even dance moves if you’re feeling daring!
*Pro Tip: If you’re having trouble getting started with jumping in the middle, you can ease yourway in by standing in the middle of one rope instead of two. Then, you can add a second rope and begin in the middle instead of jumping in from the outside
Is Double Dutch Aerobic or Anaerobic?
Answer: Aerobic! If you get the hang of double dutch, you can stand there jumping for quite awhile. You might begin to breathe heavily, but double dutch is an aerobic exercise as long as a steady rhythm is maintained. During double dutch, your body is utilizing oxygen to enable you to continue jumping.
Safety Tip:
While it’s okay to feel a little out of breath when exercising, make sure to stop and rest if you feel dizzy, faint, overheated, or have trouble breathing. Make sure to drink plenty of water before exercising, and don’t be afraid to take breaks to take care of yourself!
Game #2: Relay Race
The first thing you need to do is establish a starting line and a finishing line. All of the racers must then stand next to each other on the starting line. Next, have someone count down, “3, 2, 1,go!” and on “go,” each racer must run as fast as they can to the finishing line. Whoever is first to the finish line wins!
Are relay races anaerobic or aerobic?
Answer: Anaerobic! Relay races are maximum effort sprints to test who amongst the racers is fastest. That is almost a perfect definition of what anaerobic exercise consists of! During your relay race, your body was using its fat and glycogen stores to facilitate your sprints! Notice how out of breath you are? That’s because your body wasn’t using much oxygen when you were sprinting!
Game #3: Manhunt
To learn more about your circulatory system, join the Loops Crew in Adventure 3: The Circulatory System as they travel through Ancient China in the Adventure Series: 12 Systems of the Body!
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