Grade level: K-4
Equipment: Balloons
Game Description: Using balloons, students will practice a whole pile of basic movement skills. Each student gets a balloon and will perform a list of actions: things like standing in front, jumping over, picking it up, balancing on a finger, etc, etc. A great beginners PE or beginning of the year physical education game.
Category: Fun
Treasure Hunters
Grade level: 3-8
Equipment: Bean-bags, hula-hoops
Game Description: Treasure Hunters will seek out treasure and plunder it from the other teams treasure boxes! Non-stop action and fun, players must think strategy and timing in this game. There are 4 teams going at it for a set amount of time…who can plunder the most! Read More →
Steal The Bacon
Grade level: K-8
Equipment: Scarf, flag, or object
Game Description: Steal The Bacon is a classic game. Two teams face off with the goal of trying to earn points each round by stealing the bacon in the middle and bringing it back to their own team without getting tagged. There is room for variation in this game as you see fit; perhaps add in some math equations where the answer to the problem is the number of the players who run! Read More →
Animals
Grade level: K-2
Equipment: None
Game Description: Such a simple warm-up game! Choose a theme – for example, the jungle. Then students can choose a jungle animal that they will pretend to be, perhaps a monkey or parrot, and spend a minute moving around like that animal, making the animal noises. After a minute, change the theme. For example, the arctic. Students will then choose an arctic animal like a penguin or seal and do the same thing.
Gaga Ball
Grade level: 3-8
Equipment: Soft bouncy ball, playing area
Game Description: Gaga Ball gets players inside a mini-arena and has them strike the ball at eachother below the knee, trying to eliminate each other from the ring. Once eliminated, players jump to the outside of the ring and wait there until the teacher yells out jailbreak or until a new round begins. Works on dodging, striking, and agility.
Volleyball Hoops
Grade level: 4-8
Equipment: Volleyballs
Game Description: A fun game to practice bumping and setting skills in volleyball. A passer tosses the ball to his teammate who then tries to bump or set the ball into the basketball hoop. Players rotate, and have many chances to score points for every successful hoop. A great way to practice passing accuracy. Definitely a must-play physical education game as a part of a volleyball unit or bumping or volleying progression.
Pin Knockover
Grade level: 2-8
Equipment: Plastic bowling pins, dodgeballs
Game Description: Pin Knockover is a classic target throwing or rolling game. Two teams match-up on each side of the gym and be the first team to knock over all of the opposing teams pins. Other skills involved are blocking, goaltending, running, underhand, overhand, ducking, etc. Great team game for development and enjoyment. Read More →
Capture The Flag
Grade level: 3-8
Equipment: Flags (or pins), hula hoops, pylons
Game Description: Capture The Flag is one of the most popular physical education games out there. It is an intense action game, with lots of team strategy, and lots of activity. There are many versions of this game; the version shown here has been tried and tested many times, and proves to be one of the most enjoyed games in the gym. The idea is simple: be the first team to capture all the flags, and bring them to your side. Careful to not get tagged, or you’re stuck in jail until someone saves you! Read More →
Parachute Game: Cat & Mouse
Grade Level: 1-6
Equipment: Parachute
Game Description: The mouse scurries underneath the parachute, unseen by the cat, who tries to catch him while the other players wave the parachute. This is the most requested Parachute game in physical education class. Give every student a chance to be the cat, or the mouse, or both.
Parachute Game: Popcorn
Grade Level: 1-6
Equipment: Parachute
Game Description: It’s time to make some popcorn! In this simple game, players turn the parachute into a frying pan. As the pan heats up, the parachute starts waving fast. When it’s at max heat and max speed, throw a bunch of dodgeballs on the parachute and watch the popcorn pop! A quick science and physical education lesson at the same time.