May 8, 2013- Sideline basketball

Grades 6-12

Equipment: One basketball, pinnies to separate the teams.

This is a good basketball game if there are many students and not a lot of room.  Students are split into two teams.  Then each team is split into two teams.  You should have four teams total: two starting teams and two teams on the sideline.  If a team is not starting, they are still to wear the correct pinnie color.  Students not currently playing get on the sidelines of the court.  These players may be used as an option to pass to.  Regular basketball rules apply except there is no out of bounds. After about 5 minutes switch the starters and the players on the sidelines.

Variations: I play this game and do not allow anyone to dribble.  This keeps the sideline players more involved in the game because they have to be used more often.

May 7, 2013- Soccer Knockout

Ages: 1-12

Equipment: Bowling pins for all students, 15-20 indoor soccer balls

All students are given a bowling pin except two.  The two students start on the sideline.  Each student gets to put their bowling pin anywhere on the playing surface that they choose.  The object is to kick the balls and knock over the other classmates pins.  Any way the pin gets knocked over counts (even accidents).  When a student's pin is knocked over, they must give it to one of the two students that are on the sideline.  (Don't worry.  Students won't be out long!)  Once a student on the sideline gets their pin, they may put it anywhere on the playing surface and being playing.  Play is continuous.  The game ends whenever the teacher decides it should end.  No winner, no losers.

Variations: boys may only kick at boys pins, girls may only kick at girls pins. 

May 6, 2013- Slime Ball (variation)

Equipment: assorted foam balls (about 20-25)

Ages: K-5

Number one rule: Slime (the balls) stays on the ground!  Students run and hit the balls with an open hand to try and "slime" their classmates.  A person is slimed if they are hit in the foot by a slime ball.  When they are "slimed" they must go outside of a basketball court or to a designated area.  Once there they are given an exercise- 5 jumping jacks, 3 pushups, 10 sit ups, etc.  Once students finish their exercise they can come back into the game.  Many students ask if they accidently hit a ball are they still required to do their exercise?  I tell them that if they are hit in the foot any way they must complete their exercise.

Variation: Have different colored balls mean different exercises ex: Green= 3 pushups, Yellow= 5 jumping jacks, etc.
This game is usually played "every man for himself" but can also be played as teams.

March 9, 2012- Chain Tag

Start with one person as "it".  When that person tags another students, they must hold hands.  Those two have created a chain.  The chain then chases around the other students.  As students keep getting tagged, they join the chain.  Stop the game after a few minutes or after most students are tagged.  Safety is very important in this game.  Tell the students if they need to let go that is ok, as long as they form the chain again before they start moving.


AGES: 2nd grade and up

MODIFICATIONS: have students skip or jump (or any other locomotor movement) instead of running to make it safer.

March 8, 2012- Crossfire

Crossfire can be a throwing or kicking game.  I usually use this as a kicking activity.  Split students into two teams.  Set up a line of cones along the basketaball basline on both sides.  Line 3 balls (make sure they are a different color/shape/size/ than all other balls).  The object is for students to kick balls at the 3 different balls and get them to move across the other team's line.  THEY MAY NOT DIRECTLY TOUCH THE 3 DIFFERENT BALLS IN ANY WAY.  They must kick from behind their own line, but may retrieve balls from the middle.  If anyone retrieves the different balls on accident, their team loses a point.  First team to 2 points wins.  When the game is over, set the balls in the middle and play again.

AGES: 3rd grade and up

EQUIPMENT: soft foam/ dodgeballs (make sure three are a different color/shape/size), enough cones to make a line on the basketball baseline.

MODIFICATIONS: this game can be done throwing or kicking.  Do boys vs. girls. 

March 2, 2012- Everybody's It

Everybody's It is a quick tag game you can do at the beginning or the end of a class as a filler.  Let the students know that EVERYBODY is it.  When they tag someone, the person that gets tagged must do 3 jumping jacks, then they can return to tagging others.  If students tag each other at the same time, they both have 3 jumping jacks, then they can return to tagging.  Games of Everybody's It are very short because the students are running or jumping constantly.  Play for about a minute or two, give them a little break, then go again.

AGES: Kindergarten and up

SAFETY: Make sure the students understand the difference between a tag and a push.  Pushing results in sitting out.

February 24, 2012- Endurance Tag

Endurance is a LONG tagging game (hence the name).  Choose 3 students to be the taggers and give them noodles.  The other taggers line up on the other side of the gym.  I use the basketball baselines as the boundaries.  They must run to the other side without getting tagged.  If they make it to the other side (past the baseline) they are in a safe zone.  Each student is given 1 straw that they carry back to the starting line.  The object is to get as many straws as possible.  If someone is tagged they must exchange their straws for the tagger's noodle.  They are now the new tagger.  The game ends when all of the straws are taken.  Have students count up the amount of straws they have and return them to the teacher.

AGES: Kindergarten and up

EQUIPMENT: 3 tagging noodles, 300 straws (I buy a 100 pack and cut them into thirds), a bucket to hold the straws in.

February 23, 2012- Fitness Marathon

The fitness marathon is a great way to get children experience with many different activities in a short amount of time.  This also assumes that the students understand what all activities mean.  Basically you write out a list of activities for the students to do.  They do these activities with a partner.  When their partner and them finish, they sign their name on each other's sheet.  This will keep students accountable, and also help them interact with every student in the class.

EXAMPLE:
30 sit ups
30 push ups
100 jumping jacks
Throw and catch a ball 25 times
Touch all 4 gymnasium walls
20 mountain climbers
40 squats
25 forward-backward line jumps
25 side to side line jumps
hula hoop 20 times
jump rope 100 times
give your teacher a high five
plank as long as you can, now try again


You can add or subtract any activities.  The goal is to just keep the students active and interacting with others.  You choose the activities and the amount of work each student does.  Make it your own!!!

AGES: 3rd grade and up

February 21, 2012- Indiana Jones

Indiana Jones is a dodgeball and running game.  Split the students into two groups.  One groups stands at the basketball baseline.  The other stands on both sidelines all the way down the court.  The group on the sidelines has dodgeballs in their hands.  On the whistle the group on the baseline runs to try to make it to the other end without getting hit with a dodgeball.  If they get hit with a ball, they are out, and join the group on the sideline throwing.  The last person left is the winner- INDIANA JONES!  After you determine a winner the teams switch tasks.

AGES: 4th grade and up

EQUIPMENT: jerseys to differentiate between teams, about 25-30 dodgeballs

February 17, 2012- Toilet Tag

Pick 2-3 students to be the taggers.  When someone is tagged they must kneel down on one knee and hold their hand out to the side.  The only way to get back in is if another student "flushes" them by pushing their hand down.  Play for a few minutes then change taggers. 

EQUIPMENT: 2-3 tagging noodles

AGES: Kindergarten and up

MODIFICATIONS: I sometimes make my students spin 3 times after being flushed to mimic the actions of a toilet

February 16, 2012- Pitcher's Hand Kickball

This is a kickball game that can make every student successful.  Put out 4 mats for the bases.  Play typical kickball rules, except that ONLY way you can get someone out is by giving the ball to the pitcher while a runner is off base.  That is the ONLY way to get out. A caught ball is not an out.  There are no force outs.  You may have as many students on base as you would like.  The pitcher must stand inside a cirlce (I use a hula hoop) and pitch.  The pitcher can go outside the circle, but it only count as an out if the pitcher has the ball AND he or she is inside the circle.  There is a chance (a good chance) that a team can get several outs on one play.  We play 6 outs then we switch sides.  Make sure students keep the same order in line so everyone gets to kick.  If they get out of line, they automatically get 2 outs.

AGES: 2nd grade and up

EQUIPMENT: 1 kickball, 4 mats, 1 hula hoop

MODIFICATIONS: make somewhere an automatic home run.  For younger kids I like to use the farthest wall from home plate.  I reward a home run even if the ball doesn't hit the wall on the fly, so the outfielders have to run hard to stop the ball.  Play more or less outs depending on your students' abilities.

February 15, 2012- Oscar's Trash Can

This game may also be called Tornado Ball.  Basically two mats are set up in the middle of the gym.  The mats needs to be standing up and be connected in a circle.  Two students get inside the mat structure.  All of the other students throw balls (that are scattered on the floor) into the mat structure (trash can).  The two students inside the trash can must throw all of the balls out of the trash can.  Play for a couple of minutes then count the balls inside the trashcan.  After you count the balls, empty the trash can and pick two new students to be in the trashcan.

AGES: Kindergarten and up

EQUIPMENT: two folding gymnastic mats, as many dodgeballs as you can find

MODIFICATIONS: have students outside the trashcan work on throwing different ways- underhand, overhand, left hand, right hand, two hands, etc.

February 14, 2012- 4 Goal Soccer

Split your students into two even teams.  4 Goal Soccer is exactly what it sounds like.  It is a typical soccer game played with 4 goals instead of 2.  There also are 3 soccer balls on the field (or in the gym) at one time so there is more action for the students than a typical soccer game.  This keeps students involved more in the game.  When a goal is scored all 3 soccer balls start in the middle of the gym.  The team that got scored on gets to start with all 3 soccer balls.  If there is a handball play stops and the team gets to start with all 3 soccer balls at midfield. 

EQUIPMENT: 4 soccer goals, or tape to put on the walls to create goals, 3 soft foam soccer balls, jerseys to identify the two teams.

MODIFICATIONS: play with goalies, play without goalies, play with more soccer balls for bigger classes, can be played in a gym or outside.  If a lot of goals are being scored and play is being stopped many times, change the rules and after a goal the other team's goalie gets to start with the ball.  This will keep the game moving better.

AGES: 3rd grade and up

February 13, 2012- Castle Ball

Students are split into two even teams.  They are put on either side of the gym and cannot cross the half court line.  The object is to throw dodgeballs or soft foam balls and knock over the other team's castles.  Castles are built using 6 hula hoops.  (see below).  Make sure all 4 hula hoops that are standing up are inside the bottom hula hoop (in this case the yellow one).  When a castle gets knocked over, the team that knocked it over gets 1 point.  The team that owns the castle must now set it up again.  You may have 1 guard per castle.  Students are not to throw the balls at each other, and if they do they must sit out for a bit.  The game goes for a set amount of time.  (I've had students play this game for over 30 minutes and never tire of it.)

MODIFICATIONS: do girls vs. boys.  let teams choose as many guards as they want.

AGES: Kindergarten and up

a closeup of the castle

an example of how half of the gym should look for Castle Ball

EQUIPMENT: 36 hula hoops (for three castles per team.  You can use as many or as few as you choose).  25 dodgeballs or soft foam balls.  

February 10, 2012- Team Tag

Students need to be split into groups of 3 or 4.  No groups of 2.  Everyone is "it" in this game.  When a student gets tagged they have to sit down right where they got tagged.  The only way a student can get back in is for their teammate to tag them to return to the game.  If all members of the team are sitting at the same time, obviously that team cannot continue and must remain sitting on the ground.  Play until one team is victorious, then play again.

EQUIPMENT: none

MODIFICATIONS: instead of having students sit, have them to sit ups, pushups, jumping jacks, etc. while they are waiting to get back into the game.

AGES: 1st grade and up

February 9, 2012- Battleship

Battleship is a dodgeball game.  Students are divided into two teams.  The half court line on the basketball court splits the two teams up.  There are multiple ways to get out in this game.  If you throw a ball and someone catches it, the person that threw the ball is out.  If you get hit with a dodgeball you are out.  If you get hit with a beanbag (slid on the ground) then you are out.  If you get out you must go to the other teams side where a mat is laid out.  The mat should be a good distance away from the half court line (I usually put it under the basketball goals).  There are two ways to get back in.  The first way to get back to your side is if a teammate (or yourself) catches a ball thrown from a teammate across the half court line.  The second way is if a teammate from across halfcourt slides a beanbag and hits the mat (battleship).  In both instances EVERYONE is free to go back to their side and join the game.  When everyone is eliminated start the game over.

AGES: 5th grade and up

EQUIPMENT: 15-20 beanbags, 15-20 dodgeballs, 2 gymnastics mats

SAFETY: make sure students are SLIDING the beanbags.  If a student throws a beanbag they must sit out since that is obviously very dangerous (warn them of this ahead of time).

Februrary 8, 2012- Word Search Running

Word Search Running is a very simple game that can be used to help students in other areas (math, reading, etc.).  Set up 4 cones around the gym so you create a "track."  Students should get into partners.  While one partner is running 1 lap around the track, the other is working on the Word Search in the middle of the track.  After the partner completes their one lap, they take the Word Search and the other partner runs a lap.  This continues until either the worksheet is done or the class is out of time.  Make sure to explain the safety rules of the track.  No running inside the track.  When you are switching with your partner you need to WALK until you are outside the track, then you can begin running your lap.

MODIFICATIONS: talk to their classroom teacher and get math, reading, science worksheets for the students to do in the middle of the track.

AGES: Kindergarten- 2nd grade

EQUIPMENT: enough pencils for half the class, enough worksheets for half the class, 4 cones to make a "track"

February 7, 2012- Endless Knockout

Endless Knockout is a version of the basketball game Knockout where you don't have students sitting down if they get out.  You will need to split students up into 4 even groups.  Each group starts at a basket with 2 basketballs.  The first person in line shoots from the free throw line.  The next person in line also has a ball and shoots.  If the 1st person makes the shot they pass the ball to the next person in line and join the back of the line.  If the 2nd person in line makes the shot before the 1st person in line, the 1st person is out.  Instead of having that student wait until the next game, anyone that gets out simply rotates clockwise to a different basket.  The obejctive is for students to try and stay at the basket they originally started at (meaning they never got out).

AGES: 4th grade and up

EQUIPMENT: 8 basketballs, 4 basketball hoops

MODIFICATIONS: If you have a gym with 6 baskets and a big class, use them all.

February 6, 2012- Longbase

Longbase is a game very similar to Kickball.  The big difference between Longbase and Kickball is the bases themselves.  In Longbase you use big gymnastics mats as the bases, and you only use 3 of them.  Set up one where a good home plate would be in your gym (preferrably in a corner).  Set the other two bases as far apart as possible from home plate, and each other.  When a batter kicks they must run to the base without getting hit with the ball.  There are no force outs in this game.  You may have as many baserunners as you want on a base.  Students have the option to dive into a base (depending on how thick the mats are) but only if there is nobody else on base already.  If a ball is caught on the fly it is an out.  If a runner is it with  a ball it is an out.  If the batter kicks the ball and hits any part of the ceiling it is 3 outs.  In Longbase you play 6 outs before you switch sides.  Make sure students stay in the same order so everyone gets to kick.  If the line gets out of order the team gets 2 outs.  Keep score and make sure both teams get equal opportunity to kick.

AGES: 6th grade and up

EQUIPMENT: 3 large gymnastics mats, 1 kickball

February 3, 2012- Freeze Tag

Pick three taggers.  Taggers will be given tagging noodles (pool noodles).  When another student gets tagged they must stand still, put their hands on their heads, and spread their feet.  The only way to get unfrozen is to have another student crawl between a frozen player's feet.  Taggers may not tag someone that is getting another player unfrozen.  Play for a minute and a half or 2 minutes, then change taggers. 

AGES: Kindergarten and up

EQUIPMENT: 3 tagging noodles (pool noodles)