Grade level: K-4
Equipment: Special Object (ex. trophy, stuffy, Olympic torch)
Game Description: Far Away is a super easy and effective game to explore spatial awareness. Players will move around and try to be FAR AWAY from others, teaching safety in numbers and moving to open spaces. (Thanks James Barton for this game idea)
Category: Warm-up
Mr Wolf Dice Roll
Grade level: K-3
Equipment: 1 Foam Dice
Game Description: Another Mr. Wolf type game (modification by Deric Hafer). Good for reaction time, running (or other movement skills) and following directions/commands. Use it in combination with the original or as a stand-alone game!
Tight Spaces Tag
Grade level: 2-8
Equipment: Flags
Game Description: A really fun and dynamic tag game for almost all ages (thanks Deric Hafer)!
Cleanies vs Messies
Grade level: K-3
Equipment: Cones, Soccerballs (for soccer variations)
Game Description: 5 different ways to play this updated version of Knockemdowners. It really is a classic game, students really move, and practice a variety of skills in fun variations which can be used in any primary PE class or football (soccer) program!
Sneak & React
Grade level: K-8
Equipment: None
Game Description: Great for all ages, super fun. Works on reaction timing. Use this one as an instant activity or a warm-up but it can be a stand alone game as well. You also don’t need any equipment either.
Gorilla Man Gun
Grade level: 2-7
Equipment: None
Game Description: A great game idea with no equipment needed! 3 different actions or poses: Gorilla, Man, and Gun. Uses the ‘Rock Paper Scissors’ format with a running portion and competition as well. Sure to get kids moving and having fun with decisive actions, movement execution, and chasing/fleeing. (Thanks to Angela Pilcher)
Cat & Mouse
Grade level: K-5
Equipment: Beanbags, cones
Game Description: This game combines a couple other game ideas into 1 unique and fun game: you’ve got the mice who need to grab the cheese along the way. And you’ve got the cats who try to stop the mice and catch them. (Thanks to Deric Hafer for this game)
Tatanka
Grade level: K-6
Equipment: None
Game Description: Try this traditional Indigenous game for some good old fashioned fun. Get nice and sweaty.
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)
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!)