Grade level: 1-5
Equipment: Scooters, hula hoops
Game Description: Cowboys, round up those horses! For extra fun, add some food – could use beanbags or scarves or whatever you have. Easy, fun idea (thanks to Diana Gyuras)!
Category: ALL
Cops N Robbers
Grade level: K-6
Equipment: None
Game Description: Here’s the classic game of Cops N Robbers. First and most importantly is to find a fun area to play this game (technically it could be played anywhere but the more obstacles and hiding spots, the better). You’ll create a couple Cops whose job is to find and tag the Robbers. Once robbers are tagged they need to go to jail. Sounds simple because it is, and it’s a whole lot of fun too! (Thanks to a friend and colleague Paul Grosskopf for bringing this game back to life)
Plants vs Animals
Grade level: K-6
Equipment: Cones, pool noodles
Game Description: Simple and effective game to get kids moving! (Thanks to Anne Guillmaine for yet another great idea)
Tit For Tat
Grade level: 4-8
Equipment: Mats, cones, hula hoops
Game Description: This game is a VERY fun variation (thanks Marshall for this variation) of the widely popular strategy game of “Yoshi”. Two teams faceoff against eachother in this invasion/territory game. The goal of the game is to get as many points as possible by having as many players as possible in the destination zones on the opposite teams side. The rounds are timed (2, 3, 4, 5 mins, or whatever time you’d like). Players are safe on their own half but can get tagged if on the opponents side (unless in a safe area). Tagged players will need to be saved, if a teammate can safely rescue them. LOTS of movement, teamwork, and laughs. Amazing variation to a classic game, thanks again to Marshall.
Throw For The Throne
Grade level: 4-8
Equipment: Foam balls, mats, 2 chairs
Game Description: Awesome idea: set-up castles using mats and chairs, throw dodgeballs to complete tasks, and be the first team to get your knight catching the winning ball while sitting on the throne – lots of great stuff involved here! (Thanks to Curtis Kroetsch for this idea)
Predators & Prey
Grade level: 1-6
Equipment: None
Game Description: Here is an awesome cross-curricular idea that’s lots of fun, and teaches science concepts through play. Find a playing area indoors or outdoors. Have a quick discussion to see what students know about predators, prey, carnivores, herbivores, omnivores, etc. Ask students to give some examples. Then start setting up the game (it’s really simple actually). You’ll start by choosing a herbavore (example rabbits). Most of the players will be the rabbits. Their job is to simply run away from the taggers (the omnivores and carnivore). Then choose 2-3 players to be the omnivores (example foxes). The foxes will be chasing down the rabbits to try to tag them. But then you will also choose a carnivore, at the top of that food chain (example wolf). The wolf is able to chase after either the foxes or the rabbits and tag them. When players are tagged they need to go to the teacher at the side to perform a predetermined quick exercise to get back into the game. The teacher also has a special job… (thanks to Richard Turenne for this game idea!)
Mirror Mirror
Grade level: 1-5
Equipment: Music
Game Description: Mirror Mirror could be a stand-alone game, could be used as a warm-up, or fitness activity. Quite a bit of action in this one. Start by dividing players into 2 equal groups. One group stands outside the basketball court line, while the other group stands inside. When the music plays, the group on the outside runs in one direction, while the group on the inside runs in the opposite direction. When the music stops, the group on the outside STOPS and FREEZES into any position/pose that they want. The players from the inside must then go and stand in front (1-2 meters apart) of a frozen player and copy or mirror the pose. Then the outside group becomes the inside group, vice-versa. If there’s an odd number, assign 1 player that is allowed to join a group. For older students, challenge them with a fitness pose – like a plank, side plank, lunge, squat, etc. Give it a go, let us know what you think! (Thanks to Anne Guilmaine for this idea)
Flasketball
Grade level: 5-8
Equipment: Football, basketball court
Game Description: This game is similar to Ultimate Frisbee, but with a football, on a basketball court! Divide your classes into teams of 5 on 5 or less. This also depends on the number of basketball courts you have for class time. The game starts by having the two captains play Rock, Paper, Scissors to determine possession. If you win RPS, you decide if your team will defend or receive. Both teams head under their respective baskets on the basketball court and the defending team throws the football to the receiving team. Play begins by the receiving team picking up the ball, or catching it (this is the only time it can be dropped without a turnover) and begin to advance it toward their basket. The receiving team can only advance the football by throwing it to a team-mate who must catch it and STOP, like Ultimate Frisbee. If it is dropped, the defending team gets possession at that spot to try to advance it in the same manner toward their basket. Points are scored when the football goes through the basketball hoop. Play 5 minute quarters (like basketball) or 2- 10 minute halves, switching baskets at half time. Play round robin games or winners play winners. Some additional rules to follow: Defensive players are NOT allowed to hit the ball out of the hand of the offensive player. The ball can only be swatted out of the air after it has been thrown by a player. The defence can only guard within 1-2 feet of an offensive player (like ultimate frisbee). Some of the older classes will benefit from girl teams play girl teams or boys play boys. Or, you can make a rule, boys pass to girls and girls to boys in order to include all players get a fair chance at playing the game during game play. (Thanks to Mary Kerschbaum for this idea)
Capture The Flag Outdoors
Grade level: 3-8
Equipment: 2 Flags, large playing area
Game Description: This has been the GAME OF THE YEAR at our school. LOTS of Fun, many skills and laughs have been had. Competition at its finest, and what a workout. It’s the standard version of Capture The Flag brought to physical education class! Find a large area (field, community center, playground, bushes, forest), make 2 teams, and get started. Teams spend a minute hiding their flag on their half of the area (no peeking). Once hidden, GO! The goal of the game is to capture the other teams flag before they capture yours and bring it across the middle line. Careful on the opponents side, because if you get tagged, you go to the jail for 2 mins. The tagger needs to tap the jail (a bench or something) and then they can resume play. No puppy-guarding the flag. Add in extra rules as you see fit, please watch the video for more specifics, I don’t have the time or the will to type everything out… just want to say thanks to Paul Grosskopf, a friend and colleague for setting all these things up for us this year (rules, mods, locations, flags, etc).
Noodle Basketball
Grade level: 5-8
Equipment: Basketballs, Nets, Pool Noodles
Game Description: This is a basketball-type game that uses the typical skills in basketball, though with it’s own twist for a unique basketball tag type game. Two teams will faceoff against eachother. The object of the game is for your team to score as many points as possible into the bball net, or trash can or something if you don’t have nets. But if your ball gets touched by a noodle (held by one of the taggers) then you must return back to your side and start over. Give maybe 1/4 or 1/3 of the players a pool noodle, the rest of the team gets their own basketball. If you have a pool noodle then you must stay on your own side. Change the taggers each round. Round 1: layups only. Round 2: add jump shots. Round 3: add 3-pointers. Round 4: Taggers can go everywhere, and if a player is tagged then he or she must perform some sort of exercise. (Thanks to Randy Eich)