Grade level: K-8
Equipment: Coins (example: pennies)
Game Description: Coin collectors can be played in the gym or adapted for outside, and used for any age group. It’s a super simple idea, give it a go as it should be lots of FUN! Start by having players line up at one end of the gym facing the wall (no peeking!). The teacher hides coins scattered throughout the gym floor. The teacher says ‘Go’ and students run to find a coin. When they find one, they stand on it and stay there. Once all the coins are found, the players who did not find one have to do 10 jumping jacks, or crunches, or pushups, etc (player or teacher can choose). Players then line up again, while teacher takes out one coin and re-hides the rest. Continue to take out one coin each round until there is only one coin remaining to be hidden. To determine how many coins to use: take the class size and cut it in half, and that is how many coins to start with (if 20 people in class, hide 10 coins). One final tip to make it easier to operate: have the students stay standing on the coin until you come and get it, so you don’t have to find them all on your own after the round is over. (Thanks to Jesse Edwards)
Category: Gr 8
Bottle & Ball
Grade level: 3-8
Equipment: Plastic Bottle, cones, balls
Game Description: Bottle & Ball is a game idea that was sent from Iran. It’s a game to work on hand eye coordination, reacting, and catching. First, you will need to cut plastic drink bottles into halves (1 half for each player). Then players will line up along an edge holding their bottle in hand (alternatively they could use a bowl or small pail). The students stand 1 meter apart. The teacher or one of the students throws the balls from a distance of 5 to 6 meters, respectively from the number one student to the end and then from the end to the number one student. Anyone who can catch the ball with their bottle or shuttle (without the ball falling to the ground) can take a step forward. The first person to reach the final marking cone gets 1 point, then everyone returns to the starting point and the game starts again from the starting point. (Thanks Dr. Mehdi Dehghani)
Kings Kone
Grade level: 4-8
Equipment: Cones, foam balls
Game Description: King’s Kone is an awesome dodgeball variant game. Teams face-off to try to win rounds of a dodgeball game with a twist… (using whatever dodgeball rules you’d like) put down the Kings Kones as well as extra targets. There are a few ways to win: knock down the other teams cones, knock out all of the players, or shoot the special ball into the basketball hoop. Using different coloured dodgeballs will allow for some special rules such as jailbreak. This game is sure to get the players asking for more – LOTS of throwing, catching, ducking, running, dodging, sweating, and fun to be had by all! (Thanks to Don Smith)
Foosball Soccer
Grade level: 4-8
Equipment: Pool Noodles, Type of Soccer Ball
Game Description: Bring the game of Foosball to the PE class! First decide on how large of a game to play (full, half, small size). Then, choose a formation. Players will roughly stay in their rows, able to move left and right, similar to a game of table foosball. BUT players must also join together in a line holding pool noodles, so that they are attached in their entire row and must move together without breaking apart. If players break apart, the ball goes to the opposing team! Rows should be about 2-4 players. Players can alternate rows/positions after a certain time. (Thanks to Randy Eich for this game idea)
Pool Noodle Relays
Grade level: K-8
Equipment: Pool Noodles, Cones
Game Description: A simple video explaining 5 fun ways to use pool noodles in a relay format. Quick, fun, ideas that involve teamwork, balance, and/or other! Could be used as a warm-up of sorts as well. May seem elementary, but it a go and you’re sure to be surprised how fun it actually is.
Dude Perfect
Grade level: 5-8
Equipment: Variety
Game Description: Inspired by the Dude Perfect trick shots, this game gets students practicing their own myriad of skills and trickshots for a fun physical education class. Choose a bunch of tricks to try out, using whatever equipment and area that you have, break off in groups, and get going! Have groups invent their own tricks, and even do video recordings of their amazing shots.
Ultimate Warriors
Grade level: K-8
Equipment: Foam balls, cones
Game Description: Ultimate Warriors is another awesome game that gets students moving, having fun, and working on a variety of skills! Split the gym into 3 sections with cones and lines. Tell the players that there will be 3 games of dodgeball going on at the same time (each 3rd correlates with a group: farmers -> knights -> warriors). If a player is hit with a ball, the player moves down and the thrower moves up. The goal is to get to the top league (the warriors). If you’re in the top league (the warriors) and you hit someone you don’t move up and if you’re in the bottom league (the farmers) you don’t move down. Set a time limit to the game. The winners are the players who finish in the top league at the end of the round. Use your own dodgeball rules and as always HAVE FUN!!! (Thanks to Joe Defreitas)
Slappers!
Grade level: 4-8
Equipment: 4 nets, 4 bouncy balls (ex racquetball ball)
Game Description: Try out this amazing game called SLAPPERS. It’s a game that mainly uses the striking skill (or swatting, smacking, slapping – however you want to call it). 4 teams, 4 nets in the corners, 1 for each team. Throw a few balls in and players will go around SLAPPING the balls to try to score goals. Players can of course move around and strategize, position themselves, work on offense or defense, etc. They just can’t pick up the ball, or run with ball in hand, or throw/catch. Just slapping the ball around for some good old fun as well as developing many skills!
Mini Gym Riot
Grade level: 4-8
Equipment: None or Various
Game Description: Here’s a game idea perfect for anytime – give it a try and have a pile of fun! Teams will face-off in a series of challenges to try to earn points (like they would in a real gym riot, however with smaller groups and maybe different challenges). Create 4 teams, and have a list of challenges ready – with or without equipment or a combination. For every challenge, each team will send one member to complete the challenge against the other teams, MAKING SURE PLAYERS TAKE EVEN TURNS THROUGH EACH CHALLENGE. You could arrange ‘surprise’ challenges where students are surprised with which challenge they are going to have to complete, OR show them the list and let them choose who from their team will complete which challenge. Use the examples given in the video, or come up with some of your own creative ideas! Teams earn points whenever their member wins a challenge. See which team comes out on top at the end, and reward them if you’d like. I like to reward the winning team with 20 burpees ;p
5 Soccer Circle Ideas
Grade level: 4-8
Equipment: Soccerballs, cones
Game Description: Here are 5 soccer circle ideas you can use to work on passing (and dribbling) as well as more skills! They range from simple to moderately advanced and there’s really not much more to say about them – just find some space, bring a whole bunch of soccerballs, and have fun. Turn them into 5 different stations that groups rotate through, or have everyone doing the same one at the same time then switch to the next, or whatever works for your situation!