Pink Panther Clipboard Guide
PreK Physical Education
PINK PANTHER SHADOW
Unit: Safety & Spatial Awareness
Duration: 30 Mins (Pacing-Critical)
Guiding Question
How do we stay safe and ready to move in PE?
Learning Target & Success Criteria
Target: I can listen for a signal and safely move or freeze my body.
Success: Keep space • Watch/Listen for Pink Panther • Drop/Freeze fast.
Coach's Prep & Setup
- • Equipment: 1 large, soft Pink Panther plush & speaker/music.
- • Setup: Place floor spots. Clear center area. Create a wide, safe perimeter boundary with cones.
- • Pro-Tip: Keep Pink Panther hidden or tucked behind your back until introduced to maintain excitement.
Critical Safety Rules
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- No Touching: Students must never touch, grab, or tackle the Pink Panther stuffed animal.
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- Signal-Only: Pink Panther is a visual signal to change their *own* body, not a target to chase.
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- Bubble Space: Constant vigilance against bumping heads.
0 - 3 MIN Arrival & Ready Body
Students enter and find their assigned floor spots.
Quickly model and prompt: "Show me your Ready Body!" Explain that a very special sneaky visitor is hiding today...
Look-Fors: ✓ Body completely still ✓ Eyes on Coach ✓ Hands to themselves
3 - 6 MIN Warm-Up: Move & Freeze
Play music. Students travel through general space safely.
🚶 Walk / March
🤫 Tiptoe / Tiny Steps
When music stops: FREEZE! Challenge them to stop on a dime without falling or bumping.
Key Teaching Cue:
"Find your bubble!"
Stretch arms out wide to verify personal space bubble.
6 - 10 MIN Teach & Model: Meet the Pink Panther
Gather students at spots. Reveal Pink Panther! Explain the core gameplay mechanic:
"Pink Panther loves to surprise us. When Panther hides, we move. When Panther appears... CHANGE!"
Round 1 Action: DROP LOW Get close to floor safely. Practice 2-3 times while saying: "Panther hiding..." (stand) -> "PINK PANTHER!" (drop).
Crucial Boundary Reinforcement: "We never jump on or chase the Panther. We stay inside our own bubble and change our own shape!"
Pink Panther PE Lesson Plan Page 1 of 2
PreK Physical Education
MAIN GAMEPLAY & CLOSURE
Active Clipboard Guide
10 - 22 MIN Main Activity: Pink Panther Shadow
CORE GAMEPLAY
Spread students across the space. Play music. Walk around with the Panther hidden behind your back. Without warning, gently toss Panther into empty space or show him. Students must react instantly.
Round 1
PANTHER = DOWN
Get low to the floor immediately. Reset and walk when music plays.
Round 2
PANTHER = FREEZE
Freeze instantly like a stone statue. "Panther cannot see you!"
Round 3
PANTHER = HIDE
Curl body into a tiny ball. "Make yourself teeny tiny!"
Round 4
PANTHER = SILLY
Coach calls a pose: "Belly!", "Back!", "On one foot!", "Stand tall!"
🔥 Movement Variations (While Hiding):
• Tiptoe like a spy
• Slow-motion giant
• Tiny baby steps
• Side-to-side slide
22 - 26 MIN Pink Panther Super Challenge
Mix all previous cues and actions randomly!
Occasionally fake a Panther reveal to test focus. Teach them to rely solely on real visual signals or actual verbal commands. "Panther thinks you're too good!"
The Trick Element:
Students must wait until they *actually* see Panther. Teaches true visual response, not prediction.
Emerging Skills
Allow child to stay near coach and copy physical movements instead of reacting independently.
Adapted PE
Use ONLY "Freeze". Keep Panther high in hand instead of tossing. Pair visual cue with loud verbal cues.
Extend Challenge
Freeze on 1 foot, with 3 body parts touching ground, very wide/narrow, or super tall shapes.
Rapid Assessment Look-Fors
PreK Goal: Participation & Safety > Perfection
🔍 Spatial Awareness: Stays in own bubble; no bumping.
🔍 Response Time: Freezes/drops quickly after visual.
🔍 Body Control: Holds freeze position without wobbling.
🔍 Direction: Understands & shifts to correct shapes.
26 - 28 MIN | Clean & Reset
"Pink Panther is getting sleepy!" Tiptoe quietly back to spots. Place Panther in front. Re-establish "Ready Body."
28 - 30 MIN | Closure & Reflection
Ask: "How did we keep our friends safe?" (stayed in bubble). End with: Best Ready Body in 3...2...1!
Coach's Live Cue Board:
"Find your bubble!" "Eyes Up!" "See Panther? Change shape!"
Pink Panther PE Lesson Plan Page 2 of 2
Panther Action Cue Cards
PINK PANTHER ACTION CUE CARDS
Print on heavy cardstock, cut along the dashed guidelines, and laminate for maximum durability.
Visual Cue Set
Round 1
FREEZE!
Like a Stone Statue
❄️ DO NOT MOVE YOUR FEET!
Round 2
DROP LOW!
Get Down to the Floor
⬇️ BELLY CLOSE TO THE GROUND!
Round 3
TINY BALL!
Curl Up and Hide
📦 MAKE YOURSELF TEENY TINY!
Round 4
SILLY SHADOW!
Wacky Body Shapes
🤪 BELLY, BACK, OR ONE FOOT!
Pink Panther Shadow PE Lesson Support Visual Aid Collection