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.
Category: K
Jump The River
Grade level: K-8
Equipment: 2 skipping ropes
Game Description: Super simple, super fun jumping activity, especially for long jump practice :p (Thanks Deric Hafer)
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)
Shoe Relay
Grade level: K-6
Equipment: None (shoes)
Game Description: Try something different with a simple shoe relay: use as a warm-up, team-building, or just to do try something new!
Here Comes The Gator!
Grade level: K-3
Equipment: Hula hoops & cones
Game Description: Another fun game idea from Deric Hafer! The frogs try to get to the other side, while trying to avoid the gators. Great for the imagination and the heart.
Lava Monster
Grade level: K-5
Equipment: Mats, polyspots, bell (or music)
Game Description: Unique tag game idea, run away from the Lava monster! (Thanks to Lori Schoessler)
Tatanka
Grade level: K-6
Equipment: None
Game Description: Try this traditional Indigenous game for some good old fashioned fun. Get nice and sweaty.
Plants vs Animals
Grade level: K-6
Equipment: Cones, pool noodles
Game Description: Simple and effective game to get kids moving! (Thanks to Anne Guillmaine for yet another great 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)