Category: Outdoor

Gorilla Man Gun

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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)

Survival Kickball

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Grade level: 4-8
Equipment: Kickball (or baseball equipment), bases
Game Description: This game takes the classic game of kickball to another level. Last man standing, survival, be the last kicker on your team to make it to the end! Awesome idea (thanks to Deric Hafer)!

Cops N Robbers

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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

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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!)

Flasketball

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Grade level: 5-8
Equipment: Football, basketball court
Game Description: This game is similar to Ultimate Frisbee, but with a football, on a basketball court! Divide your classes into teams of 5 on 5 or less. This also depends on the number of basketball courts you have for class time. The game starts by having the two captains play Rock, Paper, Scissors to determine possession. If you win RPS, you decide if your team will defend or receive. Both teams head under their respective baskets on the basketball court and the defending team throws the football to the receiving team. Play begins by the receiving team picking up the ball, or catching it (this is the only time it can be dropped without a turnover) and begin to advance it toward their basket. The receiving team can only advance the football by throwing it to a team-mate who must catch it and STOP, like Ultimate Frisbee. If it is dropped, the defending team gets possession at that spot to try to advance it in the same manner toward their basket. Points are scored when the football goes through the basketball hoop. Play 5 minute quarters (like basketball) or 2- 10 minute halves, switching baskets at half time. Play round robin games or winners play winners. Some additional rules to follow: Defensive players are NOT allowed to hit the ball out of the hand of the offensive player. The ball can only be swatted out of the air after it has been thrown by a player. The defence can only guard within 1-2 feet of an offensive player (like ultimate frisbee). Some of the older classes will benefit from girl teams play girl teams or boys play boys. Or, you can make a rule, boys pass to girls and girls to boys in order to include all players get a fair chance at playing the game during game play. (Thanks to Mary Kerschbaum for this idea)

Capture The Flag Outdoors

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Grade level: 3-8
Equipment: 2 Flags, large playing area
Game Description: This has been the GAME OF THE YEAR at our school. LOTS of Fun, many skills and laughs have been had. Competition at its finest, and what a workout. It’s the standard version of Capture The Flag brought to physical education class! Find a large area (field, community center, playground, bushes, forest), make 2 teams, and get started. Teams spend a minute hiding their flag on their half of the area (no peeking). Once hidden, GO! The goal of the game is to capture the other teams flag before they capture yours and bring it across the middle line. Careful on the opponents side, because if you get tagged, you go to the jail for 2 mins. The tagger needs to tap the jail (a bench or something) and then they can resume play. No puppy-guarding the flag. Add in extra rules as you see fit, please watch the video for more specifics, I don’t have the time or the will to type everything out… just want to say thanks to Paul Grosskopf, a friend and colleague for setting all these things up for us this year (rules, mods, locations, flags, etc).