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.
Category: Warm-up
Hoop Pass
Grade level: K-8
Equipment: Hula Hoop
Game Description: Team-building game. A group holds hands in a circle or line and passes a hula hoop from player to player without breaking the chain-link. Not as easy as it sounds! Time trials, team vs. team, or large group are all fun ways to play this game.
Pacman
Grade level: K-5
Equipment: None
Game Description: In the Pacman physical education game, all players must stay on the lines. The Pacman will go around clapping his hands together like a giant Pacman mouth, trying to tag the other players. Once tagged, players also become a Pacman until everyone has been caught – then it’s time for a new round! Great for spatial awareness and switching directions.
Fitness Ball Run
Grade level: 2-8
Equipment: Any type of ball
Game Description: Fitness Ball Run is a fitness warm-up type activity that’s simple to set-up and simple to do! Players start by forming a line. That line will jog throughout the playing area. While they jog, they pass a ball back from person to person, and when it gets to the last person in line, that person sprints up to the front with the ball, and becomes the new leader. The game continues like that for a certain amount of time.
Great Wall
Grade level: K-4
Equipment: None
Game Description: This tag game is similar to a British Bulldog style game, except when players are tagged, they start forming a wall across the middle that increasingly grows bigger as more players are tagged. Players who aren’t tagged will try to dodge the tagger, but also must go under, around, or passed the wall without making contact. Try it out and form your own Great Wall in your gym! Read More →
Continuous Tag
Grade level: K-4
Equipment: None
Game Description: Continuous tag is…well…continuous! The action doesn’t ever stop, since as players get tagged on one half of the playing area, they run to the opposite side, perform an exercise or skill, then run back and rejoin the game. It’s as simple as that!
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.
Mat Tag
Grade level: 2-8
Equipment: 4 mats, 2 dodgeballs
Game Description: Mat tag is a quick warm-up game that can be used as a part of a baseball unit, or as a stand-alone mini-game. There are 4 mats that represent the bases. Players will continuously round the bases in one direction trying not to get tagged by the taggers who have dodgeballs. Runners are safe on the mats, but only a certain amount of players can be on a mat (base) at a time! Lots of flow, lots of motion, try it out! Read More →
Red Light Green Light
Grade level: K-4
Equipment: None
Game Description: Red light: stop. Green light: go. One of the most basic ideas to use to practice basic routine and whistle sequences, as well as basic movement skills. Lots of different ideas and variations can be implemented to enhance this game.
Knock em Downers & Pick em Uppers
Grade level: K-4
Equipment: Bowling pins or pylons
Game Description: Half knock em down, the other half picks em up! Cones or pins work great! This game can last as long as you want it to last, then switch roles. Lots of running, bending, crouching, and manipulating in this game. Read More →