Category: Gr 2

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)

The BEST Rock Paper Scissors Battle


Grade level: K-8
Equipment: Hula Hoops
Game Description: This game is amazing. Players have a super fun RPS battle that they won’t soon forget. 2 teams faceoff across from eachother. Place a bunch of hula hoops between teams in a line. 1 player from each team hops towards the other, and when they meet, they RPS. Loser must jump out and join the end of the line while the winner keeps advancing. Meanwhile the next player in line from the losing side jumps in and hops towards the opponent. It’s a bit hard to explain through text, so watch the video to see this awesome game in action!

Coin Collectors


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)

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.

Camouflage


Grade level: K-6
Equipment: 5 large objects
Game Description: Camouflage is a unique game idea (thanks to Joe Defreitas for ANOTHER great idea) that can be played with a handful of players, or an entire large group! It’s an ‘enhanced’ game of hide-and-seek where players will hide behind one of 5 large objects (example crash mats or exercise equipment) and hope to not be found by the caller. The caller will probably be the teacher for the first round at least. The caller will sit in a position where he/she cannot see the players hiding behind the objects. The caller will count down from 10 to 1 while the players hide. At the end of the countdown, the caller will say a name (or names) as well as a number from 1 to 5 which correlates with the objects that were hidden behind. If the player is found, he/she is OUT (can still continue to play). Last one remaining after all the rounds is the winner.

Home Alone


Grade level: K-4
Equipment: Hula hoops, cones
Game Description: A great game to help with visual awareness, strategic play, attacking, and defense. Try out HOME ALONE. Basically goes like this: lay out 8 hoops in a playing area and choose 1 player to stand in each hoop. Give the players in the hoop a cone (or item of your choice) – the cone/item represents the key to their house. THEY MUST PROTECT THE KEY!! Everyone else who doesn’t have a key is a theif and they will try to take the key without getting tagged by the player in the hoop. If tagged then they try stealing from someone else, however, if successful, then they swap with the player in the hoop. Give it a go!!! (Thanks to Joe Defreitas)

Snow Pizza


Grade level: K-6
Equipment: Snow (or sand or concrete pad & chalk)
Game Description: Here’s a fun game to play in the fresh snow (thanks to a friend of mine Richard Turenne)! If you don’t have snow, try using sand or a cement pad and sidwalk chalk! First, players need to follow the leader (the teacher) who makes a pizza shape in the fresh snow by trailblazing a path. Throughout the process, stop and ask math questions related to fractions as you create a pizza shape (full, halves, quarters, etc). Once it’s created, time to PLAY! One player starts as a tagger in the middle of the pizza. The rest of the players start along the pizza crust. The tagger, known as the big bad pizza man or woman, will go and try to tag someone. EVERYONE MUST STAY ON THE LINES/PATHWAY. When someone gets caught, that player becomes the new tagger. Vary the size of your pizza circle depending on your numbers. ENJOY!

The Great Outdoor Treasure Hunt


Grade level: K-8
Equipment: Nature
Game Description: What better way to use outdoor space than a scavenger hunt!? This hunt is a bit different from your typical hunt, because instead of a list that players need to just check off when they see the items, they must BRING THE ITEMS HOME to their collection area. You can and should create a secret treasure item that you’ve hidden somewhere outside beforehand (for example hide a Kleenex box somewhere good and players need to also retrieve a tissue from the box). Simply start by creating a home area where individuals or partners (depending how you want to do it) put their hula hoop on the ground, which is their collection area to bring the items into. Next, go over the rules with all students, and give them a list of the items (or leave a master poster at the home area so they have to use their memory). Note that they can only bring 1 item back at a time! Obviously choose items that students can find or access in your area/community. Stress the importance of respecting property and not taking things that they shouldn’t. At the end, players will return all the items that need to be returned!