Category: ALL

Rodeo Roundup


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)!

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)

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)