These games are great if you are looking for a filler in your lesson or a fun game to wrap up your lesson. They can take 10-15 minutes.

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Octopus Tag Materials: N/A

  • Teacher chooses 1 or 2 students to be the “octopus”. The octopus stands in the middle of the gym. The rest of the students are “fish”. The fish line up on wall facing the octopus.
  • When the octopus says “Swim fishies swim!” all of the fish run from one side of the gym to the other and try not to get tagged by the octopus.
  • If a student is tagged, they become “seaweed”. That student has to stand in the spot they were tagged and try to tag other fishes. The seaweed can not move from their spot
  • Continue playing until there are no more fish to tag.
  • Note: To making tagging safer you may want to use a tagging tool such as a pool noodle or foam frisbee/ball

What Time is it Mr./Ms. Wolf? Materials: N/A

  • One student stands at one end of the gym facing the wall. This student is the wolf.
  • The rest of the students stand on the other side of the gym facing towards the wolf.
  • The group of students say “What time is it Mr./Ms. Wolf?” and the student who is the wolf responds with the time. Ex. 5 O’clock.
  • The rest of the students then move forward 5 jumps. The students repeat the question and the wolf answers.
  • The wolf can also say “Lunchtime” which means the wolf turns around and tries to tag the other students as they run back to the wall. If a student gets tagged they help the wolf in the next round. 
  • Note: The way students move forward can be changed each round. For example they can hop on one foot, skip, leap, etc.

Under, Over, Freeze Materials: Playground

  • Ideally this game is played outside on the play ground, but can be played in the gym if needed.
  • Have students spread out on the playground.
  • When you say “Over!” students must climb over a piece of equipment.
  • When you say “Under!” students must climb under a piece of equipment.
  • When you say “Freeze!” students must stop wherever they are.
  • The goal is for the students to complete the action as quickly as possible. As they get more comfortable with the movements you can speed up your commands.
  • Notes: This can be done in the gym by students climbing through a tunnel or hula hoop for under. Students can climb over a bench or hop over equipment for over. This can also be turned into an obstacle course for the students.

Banana Tag Materials: N/A

  • Choose 2 people to be the taggers. Provide them with tagging tools such as pool noodles or foam frisbees.
  • Students run around the gym trying to not get tagged.
  • If a student gets tagged they must stand with their arms above their heads and palms of the hands touching. They are meant to look like a banana in this pose.
  • To get back in the game two different players must tap one arm of the person tagged. When one person touches the tagged person’s arm they put that arm down, as if they were peeling one side of a banana.
  • A different person must then touch the arm that is still in the air. Once the remaining arm is touched, the student puts their arm down and is back in the game.
  • Note: You can add in a 3 second safe zone for those who were tagged and are just joining back in the game. You can also encourage students to move using other locomotor movement than running

4 Corners Tag Materials: N/A

  • Choose 1 person to be “it” they will stand in the middle of the gym. That person will close their eyes and count to 10.
  • While the person is counting, the rest of the students need to be running to a corner. You can number the corners 1 through 4 if you wish.
  • When the person reaches 10, they stop and with their eyes close chose/point to a corner.
  • Once they chose the corner they can open their eyes and try to tag someone in that corner. The people from the chosen corner must run to a different corner to be safe.
  • If someone is tagged, they now become “it” and the other person joins back in the game. If no one is tagged, the original person is “it” for another round.
  • Note: It may be helpful to play music while the students are running so the person counting can not hear where they are running. You can also challenge your students to move super quietly so the person won’t hear them.