Cup Stacking
When I first started teaching I was cleaning out my gym closet and I came across a box filled with blue cups. I thought to myself, why would cups be in this closet and I ignored them as they collected dust for a few years. Then, one day I decided to throw them into a lesson and I was amazed at how much students enjoyed stacking and down stacking cups. Literally, stacking and unstacking small cups! I was blown away at how simple, yet powerful they were. I watched students who weren't the most athletic become PE Superstars. All it took were cups! Small blue cups! Once I saw the potential they had on my class and our school, I began to learn more about how I could implement them in stations, warm-ups, and into their very own unit. Fast forward to present day, and my cup stacking unit is one of the most exciting, school-wide anticipated, and enjoyable unit that I am able to teach to my students. This page is dedicated to some awesome activities I have learned, adapted, and created over the years. So, go through your gym closet and see what has dust on it, break it out, and see how your students react!
The Brand New resource will take your students on an alphabet cup adventure.
Enjoy these 26 alphabet cup pictures (A-Z) and watch your students read, build, and learn.
Can you say triple threat teaching?
They can be printed, laminated, or projected.
Use as part of stations, warm-ups, fun challenges, relay races, or thrown into any lesson that involves cups or fitness.
Have students partner up (in push-up position for a real challenge) and race to create the letters, words, or sentences as fast as they can using eye-hand coordination, reaction time, and dexterity.
These cup stacking alphabet cards are also perfect for when you don't have your gym and are in the classroom or students are in a limited space environment.
Fill your teaching resource cup with this A+ creation.
Enjoy these 26 alphabet cup pictures (A-Z) and watch your students read, build, and learn.
Can you say triple threat teaching?
They can be printed, laminated, or projected.
Use as part of stations, warm-ups, fun challenges, relay races, or thrown into any lesson that involves cups or fitness.
Have students partner up (in push-up position for a real challenge) and race to create the letters, words, or sentences as fast as they can using eye-hand coordination, reaction time, and dexterity.
These cup stacking alphabet cards are also perfect for when you don't have your gym and are in the classroom or students are in a limited space environment.
Fill your teaching resource cup with this A+ creation.
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The Brand New resource will take your students on an alphabet cup adventure.
Enjoy these 26 numbered cup pictures (1-26) and watch your students read, build, and learn.
Can you say triple threat teaching?
They can be printed, laminated, or projected.
Use as part of stations, warm-ups, fun challenges, relay races, or thrown into any lesson that involves cups or fitness.
Have students partner up (in push-up position for a real challenge) and race to create numbers, answer math questions, or create math challenges as fast as they can using eye-hand coordination, reaction time, and dexterity.
These cup stacking numbered cards are also perfect for when you don't have your gym and are in the classroom or students are in a limited space environment.
Fill your teaching resource cup with this 1+0+0 creation.
Enjoy these 26 numbered cup pictures (1-26) and watch your students read, build, and learn.
Can you say triple threat teaching?
They can be printed, laminated, or projected.
Use as part of stations, warm-ups, fun challenges, relay races, or thrown into any lesson that involves cups or fitness.
Have students partner up (in push-up position for a real challenge) and race to create numbers, answer math questions, or create math challenges as fast as they can using eye-hand coordination, reaction time, and dexterity.
These cup stacking numbered cards are also perfect for when you don't have your gym and are in the classroom or students are in a limited space environment.
Fill your teaching resource cup with this 1+0+0 creation.
The Brand New resource will take your students on an alphabet cup adventure.
Enjoy these 37 design cup pictures (shapes, fun stuff, designs) and watch your students read, build, and learn.
Can you say triple threat teaching?
They can be printed, laminated, or projected.
Use as part of stations, warm-ups, fun challenges, relay races, or thrown into any lesson that involves cups or fitness.
Have students partner up (in push-up position for a real challenge) and race to create the designs, shapes, or faces as fast as they can using eye-hand coordination, reaction time, and dexterity.
These cup stacking alphabet cards are also perfect for when you don't have your gym and are in the classroom or students are in a limited space environment.
Fill your teaching resource cup with this wacky creation!
Enjoy these 37 design cup pictures (shapes, fun stuff, designs) and watch your students read, build, and learn.
Can you say triple threat teaching?
They can be printed, laminated, or projected.
Use as part of stations, warm-ups, fun challenges, relay races, or thrown into any lesson that involves cups or fitness.
Have students partner up (in push-up position for a real challenge) and race to create the designs, shapes, or faces as fast as they can using eye-hand coordination, reaction time, and dexterity.
These cup stacking alphabet cards are also perfect for when you don't have your gym and are in the classroom or students are in a limited space environment.
Fill your teaching resource cup with this wacky creation!
The bundled resource will take your students on an a cup adventure of a lifetime!
Enjoy these 26 alphabet cup pictures (A-Z), 26 numbered cup pictures (1-26) and design cup pictures (37) and my Top-Selling Cup Stacking Resource and watch your students read, build, and learn.
Can you say cup stacking activities for weeks?
They can be printed, laminated, or projected.
Use as part of stations, warm-ups, fun challenges, relay races, or thrown into any lesson that involves cups or fitness.
Have students partner up (in push-up position for a real challenge) and race to create the letters, solve math problems, or create wacky designs as fast as they can using eye-hand coordination, reaction time, and dexterity.
Use the cup stacking cards as a must-have resource when teaching your cup stacking/eye-hand unit. (3,6,9,12 cup designs)
These cup stacking cards are also perfect for when you don't have your gym and are in the classroom or students are in a limited space environment.
Fill your teaching resource cup with this solid bundled creation.
Enjoy these 26 alphabet cup pictures (A-Z), 26 numbered cup pictures (1-26) and design cup pictures (37) and my Top-Selling Cup Stacking Resource and watch your students read, build, and learn.
Can you say cup stacking activities for weeks?
They can be printed, laminated, or projected.
Use as part of stations, warm-ups, fun challenges, relay races, or thrown into any lesson that involves cups or fitness.
Have students partner up (in push-up position for a real challenge) and race to create the letters, solve math problems, or create wacky designs as fast as they can using eye-hand coordination, reaction time, and dexterity.
Use the cup stacking cards as a must-have resource when teaching your cup stacking/eye-hand unit. (3,6,9,12 cup designs)
These cup stacking cards are also perfect for when you don't have your gym and are in the classroom or students are in a limited space environment.
Fill your teaching resource cup with this solid bundled creation.
Get Interactive with this Cup Stacking Challenge PE PowerPoint! Put the cups in your students' hands and let the clock begin. This is perfect for a classroom, small space or even a large gym. Take them through these 24 fun, interactive cup stacking challenges as they put their brains and muscles to work at the same time! Use it as a great way to introduce new concepts, review/refresh during your cup stacking unit, or even use as an assessment. This resource will bring your classes to life, make your students engaged and involved, and most importantly make learning fun all while scaffolding and differentiated levels of instruction! It is guaranteed to get them talking, learning, and having fun all while you enjoy it with the best seat in the class!
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Cup Stacking Activities
Here are some Awesome Cup Stacking Activities that can be used as part of stations, warm-ups, or main activities!
1. Cup Stack Relays- Students in small groups (4-5) at one end of the playing area, large amount of colored cups Each group will have 12 cups/ buckets in front of their group. On the signal the first player in line will run out and collect a card and bring it back to their group. Their group must work together to stack the cups so it looks like the picture. They will keep the card that represents their point total. They down stack the pile into 1 and the next player in line runs out to collect another card. Adaptations/Tips: 1) Have students travel using different locomotor patterns 2) Complicate pat- terns by stacking the cups 3) Use task cards for each group with a variety of patterns to engage and challenge students. See how many each group can complete before time is over. Variation- number each formation and once all groups have completed all 12 have them with their group create the number you call out. The group that finishes last performs laps/jumps rope while the other teams are competing to see who can do it the fastest. (use the pictures from the linked picture above- FREE)
2. Egyptians vs. Builders- Activity with two teams. One team is creating pyramids 2 on bottom and 1 on top with cups while other team are creating towers with one, one, one straight up. Goal is to create more of pyramids or towers depending upon team. Teams see who can have the most at the end of the time limit. Switch roles and keep track after each round. (Variation- same concept, but 2 teams of Uppers (up stack) and 1 team of Downers (down stack)
3. Partner Cup Stacking- players will take turns cup stacking 3, 6, 3 formationsFacing each other partners take turns/collectively by using:
Right hand only
Left hand only
Push up position
Planking position
Eyes closed
Together while staying connected
Racing each other while partner counts quietly
Creatively decided by each group
4. Partner Stack and Tag- Players will be partnered up and will each have 3 cups. They will have to either stack tower 3 in a single stack or pyramid 2 and then 1 and then tag their partner before their partner tags them. Object is to stack fastest and then tag before partner tags you. If both trying to tag, then they run to opponent’s stack and continue activity. Pt for each time. Switch partners a few times. Variation- can add more than 3 cups and increase/decrease distance between partners.
5. Partner Cup Stack and Create- partners each have 6-12 cups each and they must work together to build (letters, numbers, shapes, objects, for height, etc.)
6. Partner Cup Stack Mirror and Move- 1 partner creates design and teaches it to partner with their cups. The partner starts to create it as fast as they can while their partner (the designer) performs as many of an exercise before they can create and downstack. They switch roles and can also decide exercises.
7. Cup Stacking Tournament- set up 6 poly spots with stacks of 12 cups, 5 poly spots with 12 cups on each, 4 poly spots with 12 and so on until you have 1 poly spot with 12 cups. 6 students line up behind the first row of poly spots and they each have their own cups. On your signal, the players begin creating 3,6,3 formation and then have to down stack before proceeding to next row. The next row only has 5 spots so 1 player will have to exit the round and report back to the end of their line as the players continue and race to be the 1st player to that single poly spot. The person that wins from each round advances until 12 students earn their spot in the championship. The championship I start 3 players at level 4 so they will have another shot if they lose to make it to the final 6. I create certificates, make a huge tournament from this for 3-5th grades, and award prizes to top students from each grade and from the overall championship. (See picture below)
x x x x x x (12 Cups on every x or poly spot you see)
x x x x x
x x x x
x x x
x x
x (Advances)
8. Team Cup Stacking Races- place 4 hula hoops on each corner of the gym for 1 race at a time or 8 hula hoops around the corners by dividing the gym up and each hoop has 12 downstacked cups in them. Students line up behind the cones (0's) and can join either cone since teams will be random each time. First 4 students report out to one of the hula hoops on their side. The players near the x1 starts on the signal as the teacher starts the stopwatch to time each race. The student must stack 3,6,3 and then downstack back in the hoop. They then run to X2 and tag them so they can begin. They do the same 3,6,3 and then downstack and run to X3 and so on until it gets to X4. That player creates 3,6,3, downstacks and then runs through the line where the to )'s are so the teacher stops the stopwatch. Goal is to twofold- to win the race, and to get the fastest overall time (1st, 2nd, 3rd) in the process. I make picture certificates with for the fastest teams and also hang them in the hallway for the school to see who is the fastest in each grade level and overall as well. Formation can be done with other equipment as well (dice- roll a certain number or 1 of each number before tagging partner, bucket builds, exercise- do 5 burpees and tag partner, etc.)
x3 x4 x4 x3
0 0
x2 x1 x1 x2
1. Cup Stack Relays- Students in small groups (4-5) at one end of the playing area, large amount of colored cups Each group will have 12 cups/ buckets in front of their group. On the signal the first player in line will run out and collect a card and bring it back to their group. Their group must work together to stack the cups so it looks like the picture. They will keep the card that represents their point total. They down stack the pile into 1 and the next player in line runs out to collect another card. Adaptations/Tips: 1) Have students travel using different locomotor patterns 2) Complicate pat- terns by stacking the cups 3) Use task cards for each group with a variety of patterns to engage and challenge students. See how many each group can complete before time is over. Variation- number each formation and once all groups have completed all 12 have them with their group create the number you call out. The group that finishes last performs laps/jumps rope while the other teams are competing to see who can do it the fastest. (use the pictures from the linked picture above- FREE)
2. Egyptians vs. Builders- Activity with two teams. One team is creating pyramids 2 on bottom and 1 on top with cups while other team are creating towers with one, one, one straight up. Goal is to create more of pyramids or towers depending upon team. Teams see who can have the most at the end of the time limit. Switch roles and keep track after each round. (Variation- same concept, but 2 teams of Uppers (up stack) and 1 team of Downers (down stack)
3. Partner Cup Stacking- players will take turns cup stacking 3, 6, 3 formationsFacing each other partners take turns/collectively by using:
Right hand only
Left hand only
Push up position
Planking position
Eyes closed
Together while staying connected
Racing each other while partner counts quietly
Creatively decided by each group
4. Partner Stack and Tag- Players will be partnered up and will each have 3 cups. They will have to either stack tower 3 in a single stack or pyramid 2 and then 1 and then tag their partner before their partner tags them. Object is to stack fastest and then tag before partner tags you. If both trying to tag, then they run to opponent’s stack and continue activity. Pt for each time. Switch partners a few times. Variation- can add more than 3 cups and increase/decrease distance between partners.
5. Partner Cup Stack and Create- partners each have 6-12 cups each and they must work together to build (letters, numbers, shapes, objects, for height, etc.)
6. Partner Cup Stack Mirror and Move- 1 partner creates design and teaches it to partner with their cups. The partner starts to create it as fast as they can while their partner (the designer) performs as many of an exercise before they can create and downstack. They switch roles and can also decide exercises.
7. Cup Stacking Tournament- set up 6 poly spots with stacks of 12 cups, 5 poly spots with 12 cups on each, 4 poly spots with 12 and so on until you have 1 poly spot with 12 cups. 6 students line up behind the first row of poly spots and they each have their own cups. On your signal, the players begin creating 3,6,3 formation and then have to down stack before proceeding to next row. The next row only has 5 spots so 1 player will have to exit the round and report back to the end of their line as the players continue and race to be the 1st player to that single poly spot. The person that wins from each round advances until 12 students earn their spot in the championship. The championship I start 3 players at level 4 so they will have another shot if they lose to make it to the final 6. I create certificates, make a huge tournament from this for 3-5th grades, and award prizes to top students from each grade and from the overall championship. (See picture below)
x x x x x x (12 Cups on every x or poly spot you see)
x x x x x
x x x x
x x x
x x
x (Advances)
8. Team Cup Stacking Races- place 4 hula hoops on each corner of the gym for 1 race at a time or 8 hula hoops around the corners by dividing the gym up and each hoop has 12 downstacked cups in them. Students line up behind the cones (0's) and can join either cone since teams will be random each time. First 4 students report out to one of the hula hoops on their side. The players near the x1 starts on the signal as the teacher starts the stopwatch to time each race. The student must stack 3,6,3 and then downstack back in the hoop. They then run to X2 and tag them so they can begin. They do the same 3,6,3 and then downstack and run to X3 and so on until it gets to X4. That player creates 3,6,3, downstacks and then runs through the line where the to )'s are so the teacher stops the stopwatch. Goal is to twofold- to win the race, and to get the fastest overall time (1st, 2nd, 3rd) in the process. I make picture certificates with for the fastest teams and also hang them in the hallway for the school to see who is the fastest in each grade level and overall as well. Formation can be done with other equipment as well (dice- roll a certain number or 1 of each number before tagging partner, bucket builds, exercise- do 5 burpees and tag partner, etc.)
x3 x4 x4 x3
0 0
x2 x1 x1 x2
Cup Stacking Videos
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Join the Cup Stacking World Record
