physical education games for 6th graders

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46 Unique Phys Ed Games Your Students Will Love

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There’s nothing kids need more to break up a day spent sitting still and listening than a fun PE class to let off some steam. In the old days, going to gym class probably included playing kickball or dodgeball after running a few laps. Since then, there have been countless reinventions of and variations on old classics as well as completely new games. Although there is no shortage of options, we love that the supplies required remain relatively minimal. You can transport to another galaxy using just a pool noodle or two or create a life-size game of Connect 4 using just Hula-Hoops. You’ll want to make sure to have some staples on hand like balls, beanbags, and parachutes. There are even PE games for kindergartners based on beloved children’s TV shows and party games. Regardless of your students’ athletic abilities, there is something for everyone on our list of elementary PE games!

1. Tic-Tac-Toe Relay

Elementary PE games that not only get students moving but also get them thinking are our favorites. Grab some Hula-Hoops and a few scarves or beanbags and get ready to watch the fun!

Learn more: Tic-Tac-Toe Relay at S&S Blog

2. Blob Tag

Pick two students to start as the Blob, then as they tag other kids, they will become part of the Blob. Be sure to demonstrate safe tagging, stressing the importance of soft touches.

Learn more: Blob Tag at Playworks

3. Cross the River

This fun game has multiple levels that students have to work through, including “get to the island,” “cross the river,” and “you lost a rock.”

Learn more: Cross the River at The PE Specialist

4. Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Cones

Line up cones, then have students pair up and stand on either side of a cone. Finally, call out head, shoulders, knees, or cones. If cones is called, students have to race to be the first to pick up their cone before their opponent.

Learn more: Head, Shoulders, Knees & Cones at S&S Blog

5. Spider Ball

Elementary PE games are often variations of dodgeball like this one. One or two players start with the ball and attempt to hit all of the runners as they run across the gym or field. If a player is hit, they can then join in and become a spider themselves.

Learn more: Spider Ball Game at Kid Activities

6. Crab Soccer

We love elementary PE games that require students to act like animals (and we think they will too). Similar to regular soccer, but students will need to play on all fours while maintaining a crab-like position.

Learn more: Crab Soccer at Playworks

7. Halloween Tag

This is the perfect PE game to play in October. It’s similar to tag, but there are witches, wizards, and blobs with no bones!

Learn more: Halloween Tag at The Physical Educator

8. Crazy Caterpillars

We love that this game is not only fun but also works on students’ hand-eye coordination. Students will have fun pushing their balls around the gym with pool noodles while building their caterpillars.

9. Monster Ball

You’ll need a large exercise ball or something similar to act as the monster ball in the middle. Make a square around the monster ball, divide the class into teams on either side of the square, then task the teams with throwing small balls at the monster ball to move it into the other team’s area.

Learn more: Monster Ball at The PE Specialist

10. Striker Ball

Striker ball is an enjoyable game that will keep your students entertained while working on reaction time and strategic planning. We love that there is limited setup required before playing.

Learn more: Striker Ball at S&S Blog

11. Parachute Tug-of-War

What list of elementary PE games would be complete without some parachute fun? So simple yet so fun, all you will need is a large parachute and enough students to create two teams. Have students stand on opposite sides of the parachute, then let them compete to see which side comes out on top.

Learn more: Parachute Tug-of-War at Mom Junction

12. Fleas Off the Parachute

Another fun parachute game where one team needs to try to keep the balls (fleas) on the parachute and the other tries to get them off.

Learn more: Fleas Off the Parachute at Mom Junction

13. Crazy Ball

The setup for this fun game is similar to kickball, with three bases and a home base. Crazy ball really is so crazy as it combines elements of football, Frisbee, and kickball!

Learn more: Crazy Ball at Health Beet

14. Bridge Tag

This game starts as simple tag but evolves into something more fun once the tagging begins. Once tagged, kids must form a bridge with their body and they can’t be freed until someone crawls through.

Learn more: Bridge Tag at Great Camp Games

15. Star Wars Tag

Elementary PE games that allow you to be your favorite movie character are just way too much fun! You will need two different-colored pool noodles to stand in for lightsabers. The tagger will have one color pool noodle that they use to tag students while the healer will have the other color that they will use to free their friends.

Learn more: Star Wars Tag at Great Camp Games

16. Rob the Nest

Create an obstacle course that leads to a nest of eggs (balls) and then divide the students into teams. They will have to race relay-style through the obstacles to retrieve eggs and bring them back to their team.

17. Four Corners

We love this classic game since it engages students physically while also working on color recognition for younger students. Have your students stand on a corner, then close their eyes and call out a color. Students standing on that color earn a point.

Learn more: Four Corners at The Many Little Joys

18. Movement Dice

This is a perfect warm-up that requires only a die and a sheet with corresponding exercises.

Learn more: Roll the Dice Movement Break at Teaching Littles

19. Rock, Paper, Scissors Tag

A fun spin on tag, children will tag one another and then play a quick game of Rock, Paper, Scissors to determine who has to sit and who gets to continue playing.

Learn more: Rock, Paper, Scissors Tag at Grade Onederful

20. Cornhole Cardio

This one is so fun but can be a little bit confusing, so be sure to leave plenty of time for instruction. Kids will be divided into teams before proceeding through a fun house that includes cornhole, running laps, and stacking cups.

Learn more: Cardio Cornhole at S&S Blog

21. Connect 4 Relay

This relay takes the game Connect 4 to a whole new level. Players must connect four dots either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

22. Zookeepers

Students will love imitating their favorite animals while playing this fun variation of Four Corners where the taggers are the zookeepers.

23. Racket Whack-It

Students stand with rackets in hand while balls are thrown at them—they must either dodge the balls or swat them away.

Learn more: Racket Whack-It via PEgames.org

24. Crazy Moves

Set mats out around the gym, then yell out a number. Students must race to the mat before it is already filled with the correct number of bodies.

Learn more: Crazy Moves at PEgames.org

25. Wheelbarrow Race

Sometimes the best elementary PE games are the simplest. An oldie but a goodie, wheelbarrow races require no equipment and are guaranteed to be a hit with your students.

Learn more: Wheelbarrow Race at wikiHow

26. Live-Action Pac-Man

Fans of retro video games like Pac-Man will get a kick out of this live-action version where students get to act out the characters.

27. Spaceship Tag

Give each of your students a Hula-Hoop (spaceship), then have them run around trying not to bump into anyone else’s spaceship or get tagged by the teacher (alien). Once your students get really good at it, you can add different levels of complexity.

28. Rock, Paper, Scissors Beanbag Balance

We love this spin on Rock, Paper, Scissors because it works on balance and coordination. Students walk around the gym until they find an opponent, then the winner collects a beanbag, which they must balance on their head!

Learn more: Rock, Paper, Scissors Beanbag Balance at PE Universe

29. Throwing, Catching, and Rolling

This is a fun activity but it will require a lot of preparation, including asking the school maintenance staff to collect industrial-sized paper towel rolls. We love this activity because it reminds us of the old-school arcade game Skee-Ball!

Learn more: Winter Activity at S&S Blog

30. Jenga Fitness

Although Jenga is fun enough on its own, combining it with fun physical challenges is sure to be a winner with young students.

Learn more: Jenga Fitness at S&S Blog

31. Volcanoes and Ice Cream Cones

Divide the class into two teams, then assign one team as volcanoes and the other as ice cream cones. Next, spread cones around the gym, half upside down and half right side up. Finally, have the teams race to flip as many cones as possible to either volcanoes or ice cream cones.

Learn more: Warm-Up Games at Prime Coaching Sport

This fun variation on dodgeball will have your students getting exercise while having a ton of fun! Begin with three balls on a basketball court. If you are hit by a ball, you are out. If you take a step while holding a ball, you are out. There are other rules surrounding getting out and also how to get back in, which can be found in this video.

33. Musical Hula-Hoops

PE games for kindergartners that are similar to party games are some of our favorites! Think musical chairs but with Hula-Hoops! Lay enough Hula-Hoops around the edge of the gym minus five students since they will be in the muscle pot. Once the music starts, students walk around the gym. When the music stops, whoever doesn’t find a Hula-Hoop becomes the new muscle pot!

34. 10-Second Tag

This game is perfect to play at the beginning of the year since it helps with learning names and allows the teacher to get to know the first student in line.

35. The Border

This game is so fun and requires no equipment whatsoever. Divide the gym into two sides. One side can move freely while the other side must avoid letting their feet touch the floor by rolling around, crawling, etc.

36. Freedom Catch

This is a simple throwing, catching, and tag game that will certainly be a hit with your PE class. Captors attempt to tag players so they can send them to jail. You can be freed if someone on your team runs to a freedom cone while throwing a ball to the jailed person. If the ball is caught by the jailed person, they can rejoin the game.

37. Oscar’s Trashcan

As far as PE games for kindergartners goes, this one is a guaranteed winner since it is based on the show Sesame Street . You’ll need two large areas that can be sectioned off to use as trash cans and also a lot of medium-size balls. There are two teams who must compete to fill their opponent’s trash can while emptying their own. Once over, the trash will be counted and the team with the least amount of trash in their trash can wins!

38. 4-Way Frisbee

Divide your class into four separate teams, who will compete for points by catching a Frisbee inside one of the designated goal areas. Defenders are also able to go into the goal areas. There are a number of other rules that can be applied so you can modify the game in a way that’s best for your class.

39. Badminton King’s/Queen’s Court

This one is simple but fun since it is played rapid-fire with kids waiting their turn to take on the King or Queen of the court. Two players start and as soon as a point is earned, the loser swaps places with another player. The goal is to be the player that stays on the court the longest, consistently knocking out new opponents.

40. Jumping and Landing Stations

Kids love stations and they definitely love jumping, so why not combine those things into one super-fun gym class? They’ll have a blast challenging themselves with all the different obstacles presented in this video.

41. Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course

Regardless of whether you’ve ever seen an episode of American Ninja Warrior , you are probably familiar with the concept and so are your students. Plus, you’ll probably have just as much fun as your students setting up the obstacles and testing them out!

42. Balloon Tennis

Since kids love playing keepy-uppy with a balloon, they will love taking it a step further with balloon tag!

43. Indoor Putting Green

If your school can afford to invest in these unique putting green sets, you can introduce the game of golf to kids as young as kindergarten. Who knows, you might just have a future Masters winner in your class!

44. Scooter Activities

Let’s be honest, we all have fond memories of using scooters in gym class. Regardless of whether you do a scooter sleigh or scooter hockey, we think there is something for everyone in this fun video.

45. Pick It Up

This is the perfect PE game to play if you are stuck in a small space with a good-size group. Teams win by making all of their beanbag shots and then collecting all of their dots and stacking them into a nice neat pile.

46. Dodgeball Variations

Since not all kids love having balls thrown at them, why not try a dodgeball alternative that uses gym equipment as targets rather than fellow students? For example, have each student stand in front of a Hula-Hoop with a bowling ball inside of it. Students need to protect their hoop while attempting to knock over their opponents’ pins.

What are your favorite elementary PE games to play with your class? Come and share in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group  on Facebook.

Plus, check out  our favorite recess games for the classroom ..

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50 Fun PE Games Your Students Will Love

by Sara Ipatenco

Kids naturally love PE because it’s a time to be active and play fun games. An essential part of the school day, PE teaches kids the life skill of getting regular exercise. While playing the same old games over and over again can get a bit boring, incorporating a wide variety of games into your lesson plans helps keep PE fun and engaging. With a few PE staples, such as foam balls, hula hoops, and bean bags, your students will be having fun in no time! Here are 50 PE games to get you started.

1. Blob tag

Choose one child to be “it.” As that child tags other children, they link arms or hold hands to create a “blob.” The game continues until the blob has tagged everyone in the game.

2. Chain tag

This is kind of like blob tag, but instead of forming a blob, students must link arms to form a chain.

3. Bean bag balance

Give each student a bean bag. Ask the students to balance their bean bags on various parts of their body, such as their foot or knee. See how long the students can balance before they move off their bean bag falls. Give increasingly hard challenges as you go, such as on the shoulder or the thumb.

4. Clap and catch

Arrange your class into a large circle. Give one player the ball and have them get ready to toss it. Players must clap before they catch the ball. If a student doesn’t clap or drop the ball, they are out.

5. Animal races

Line your PE class up at one end of the gym or playing field for this game. Call out an animal, such as a cheetah or a frog, and students have to race to the other end, running like that animal.

This is another racing game that starts with lining your students up on one end of the playing field. Every time you yell, “jump,” students jump as far as they can. Repeat until the winning player reaches the end of the field or until the whole class finishes.

7. Bridge tag

This game starts as regular tag, but each time a student is tagged he must kneel and form a bridge. Players can rejoin the game when another player crawls under their bridge, which frees them.

8. Crab soccer

This game follows the rules of traditional soccer, but players crab walk instead of regular running.

9. Step back

Put your class into teams of two. Have them stand about three feet apart and roll a hula hoop to each other. Once the other person catches the hula hoop, they must take a large step backward and continue playing. As they get further apart, the game gets more challenging.

10. Freeze tag

This is another tag game that starts out like traditional tag. However, once a student is tagged, they are “frozen” until another player tags them. They can then rejoin the game. The last player to be frozen gets to be “it” on the next round.

11. Parachute change

Arrange your students around a large parachute. Call out things like colors the students are wearing or birthday months. Any player who fits the category you call out has to run under the parachute and switch places with someone else.

12. Parachute volleyball

Have your students arrange themselves around a parachute. One half of the parachute is team A while the other half is team B. Put a beach ball in the middle of the parachute. The objective is to launch the ball off the parachute and over the heads of the opposing team, which scores one point.

13. Banana tag

Spread your students around the play area and choose two kids to be “it.” They are the monkeys. When they tag another student, he turns into a banana and must put both arms straight up above his head. Other players can free the “bananas” by peeling them, which means they pull down one arm and then the other arm.

14. Teacher island

This PE game includes the teacher! Stand on a stool and have a bunch of cones or balls handy. Start throwing them toward the students, who are spread out around you. If a student fails to make a catch, he is out. Play continues until only one student is left.

15. Throw archery

Set up five jump ropes at various distances from where your students will stand. Give them bean bags and have them try to get them past the different jump ropes. The further away the jump rope, the more points the student gets. For example, getting the bean bag past the first jump rope is worth ten points while getting it past the last jump rope is worth fifty points.

16. Crazy moves

Set out several mats around the play area. Start calling out numbers and that number of kids need to find a mat and stand on it together as fast as they can. Any student who doesn’t find a mat is out.

17. Rob the nest

Set up the game by putting a hula hoop (nest) in each corner of the play area and ten or more basketballs in the middle of the play area. Divide the class into 4 teams, one at each hula hoop. Students take turns getting a basketball and dribbling it to their hoop. Any time you blow the whistle, students can steal basketballs from other nests. The winner of each round is the one with the most basketballs when you blow the whistle a second time.

18. Tic-Tac-Throw

Set up nine hula hoops in a 3×3 grid, like a tic-tac-toe board. Make enough grids so you can divide your class into teams of two. Give the teams two different colors of bean bags. The students will throw the bean bags into the hula hoops trying to get three in a row.

19. Bounce into buckets

Set up enough buckets in the middle of the play area that there is one for each group of two kids. At each bucket, have one student on each side. The kids take turns trying to bounce balls into the buckets. Make it more challenging by having the students back up further from the bucket as they go.

20. Backward soccer

Play this game just like you would regular soccer but turn the soccer goals around backward.

21. Speed ball

This PE game combines basketball and soccer. Divide your students into two teams and give them a rubber ball to play with. Play starts with students passing the ball to other players on their team. There is no bounce passing in this game. If the ball hits the floor, the game switches to soccer.

22. Pool noodle archery

Have one student hold up a hula hoop while another child tries to launch pool noodles through the hoop. Once a student gets a noodle through, the players switch places.

23. Kangaroos and Crocs

Divide your class into two teams – one team will be kangaroos and the other team will be crocs. Have the teams line up back-to-back in the middle of the play area. Call out one of the animals. That team will try to make it to the end of the play area without getting tagged by the other team. Anyone tagged sits down and is out. Play continues with additional rounds.

24. Noodle hockey

Play a traditional PE game of court hockey but use pool noodles and a small plastic ball instead of hockey sticks and a puck.

25. Continuity ball

Have your students spread out in the play area. Give them one beach ball and challenge them to keep it from hitting the ground. Gradually add more beach balls until you have several going at the same time.

26. Birds on a branch

Set up two balance beams and split the class into two teams. Have the teams line up on the balance beams and call out directions, such as “stand on one foot” or “put your arms above your head.” If a student falls off the beam, he is out. The winning team is the one who keeps the most “birds” on their branch.

27. Shark zone

Set up mats, hula hoops, and other PE equipment around the gym. Use items that students can stand on or inside of. These are shark-free zones. Identify one or two students as sharks. When you say go, players will run around the gym standing on mats or inside hula hoops to stay away from the sharks. If a student fails to get to a safe area before being tagged, they are out.

28. Cats and mice

Give each student a scarf – one color for cats and one color for mice. Have them tuck the scarves into their back pockets or waistband as tails. Cats will chase mice and mice will chase cats. If the opposite team catches a tail, they keep it. The winning team is the one who steals all the tails first.

29. Tunnels and trains

Choose two students to start out as trains. The rest of the students put their hands and feet on the floor creating a tunnel with their bodies. The trains must crawl through the tunnels. When a train goes through the tunnel, that student joins the tunnel at the front and the next student at the back of the tunnel turns into a train. Play continues until all students have become trains.

30. Noisy running

Explain to students that you will be playing music and the louder the music gets the faster they need to run around the play area. As you turn down the volume, they will slow their running.

31. Freeze dance

Play some upbeat dance music and encourage students to free dance. When you stop the music, they must freeze. Any student who doesn’t freeze is out.

32. Eight dance

Choose one student to start the game. Turn on some upbeat music and have the student demonstrate any move they want, such as jumping or spinning in circles. The rest of the students must copy the move eight times. Let all the children have a turn to be the instructor.

33. British bulldogs

Choose one student to be the bulldog. He stands in the middle of the play area. The rest of the players try to get past the bulldog without getting tagged.

34. Body part tag

This game is played like traditional tag except that whatever body part gets tagged cannot be used anymore. If a student gets tagged on the arm, they cannot use their arm anymore. If he gets tagged on the leg, he has to hop on the other leg.

35. Crab Kickball

This game is played just like traditional kickball except that students must walk and play in the crab walk position.

36. Broom hockey

This is a PE game played like regular hockey except students use brooms instead of hockey sticks.

37. Hop in a hoop

Lay out several hula hoops in the play area. Have students run around the hoops while you play music. When you stop the music, students must hop into a hula hoop – one student per hoop. Students who don’t have a hoop are out.

38. Hot potato

Arrange your students in a circle and give them a small ball. They will pass the ball around the circle until you blow the whistle. The student holding the ball when the whistle blows is out.

39. Scooter tag

This PE game is played just like traditional tag except students must play by sitting on and moving around on scooters.

40. Bucketball

This game is played just like regular basketball except students use a bucket instead of the usual basketball hoop.

Break your class into small teams of 5 or 6 players. Give one student from each group a jump rope. That student will spin the jump rope on the ground while the other members of the group jump over it. If the “snake” touches a student, they are out.

42. Shipwreck or Captain Says

This is a game that puts a twist on the traditional “Simon Says.” Line your students up and start calling out commands that have to do with ships and pirates, such as “swab the deck” or “walk the plank.” Instead of saying “Simon says,” you’ll say, “Captain says.”

43. Hula hoop tag

This is another version of traditional tag. Students follow the same rules as regular tag, but they must spin a hula hoop while they run around.

44. Museum guard

This game is like freeze tag. Students will tiptoe silently around the play area pretending to sneak around a museum. When you call out “museum guard” they must freeze. Students who don’t freeze are out.

45. Mirror, Mirror

Divide your class into teams of two. Have them stand facing each other. One person does a move, and the other students must copy the move. Continue playing, encouraging students to make the movements harder and more complicated.

46. Backward tag

Play this game just like regular tag except students can only walk or run backward during play.

47. Alligators in the swamp

Choose several students to be alligators and have them lay on their stomachs in the middle of the play area. Spread them out so there are several feet between each alligator. The rest of the class starts on one end of the play area and has to try to get past the alligators. If an alligator tags them, they are out.

48. Sleeping baby

Students run around the play area until they hear the teacher yell, “sleeping baby.” At this point, all the kids drop to the floor and pretend to be sleeping. The last student to “fall asleep” is out.

49. Garbage tag

Wad up a bunch of pieces of paper to be the garbage. Choose one student to be “it.” That person starts to throw the garbage at the other players. Any player hit with a piece of garbage is out.

50. Lighthouse and ships

Place several obstacles around the gym, such as cones or mats. Students will close their eyes and pretend to be ships trying to get to the lighthouse. If they run into one of the obstacles, their ship is sunk and they are out.

PE class is about to get so much more fun for your students! Any of these games are sure to make PE their favorite class of the day.

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6th Grade Physical Education (PE) Lesson Plans

Blanket volleyball.

Level: Grade 4 and up Objective: Group cooperation Equipment: Volleyball net, volleyball, several blankets or towels. Blanket Volleyball – Physical Education Lesson Plan PDF Procedure: 1) Divide class into two even teams. 2) Have each

Back and Forth Relay

Grade Level: 3rd and up Objectives: Students will change direction while running. Back and Forth Relay – PE Lesson Plan PDF Procedures: 1) Divide class into two or more teams. 2) Have each team line up

Basketball Relay

Level: Grade 3 and up Objective: Students will use dribbling skill while running. Basketball Relay – PE Lesson Plan PDF Procedures: 1) Divide class into four even teams. 2) Have each team line up behind

Ball Throw Relay

Level: 3rd grade and up Objective: Students will use ball-handling skills while running Equipment: One ball per team Ball Throw Relay – PE Lesson Plan PDF Procedures: 1) Divide students into even teams. 2) Have

Jump Rope Relay

Level: 3rd grade and up Objective: Students will practice jump rope skills in a relay. Equipment: One jump rope per team. Jump Rope Relay – PE Lesson Plan PDF Procedures: 1) Divide class into groups

Batting Rotation Baseball

Level: Grade 3 and up Objective: Practice skills including batting, pitching, throwing, and catching. Equipment: four bases, one softball per four players, one bat per four players Batting Rotation Baseball – Physical Education Lesson Plan

Ten Points Football

Level: Grade 3 and up Objectives: Students will practice skills used in football such as catching, throwing, and hiking. Ten Points Football – Physical Education Lesson Plan PDF Procedures: 1) Divide students into two groups.

Boundary Ball Basketball

Boundary Ball-Basketball Level: Grade 3 and up Objective: Students will participate in practicing dribbling, passing, and shooting skills. Equipment: One basketball, one court Boundary Ball Basketball – Physical Education Lesson Plan PDF Procedures:  1) Divide

Nine Court Basketball

Level: Grade 3 and up Objective: Practice guarding, dribbling, passing, and shooting. Equipment: One basketball, masking tape, basketball court Nine Court Basketball – PE Lesson Plan PDF Procedures: 1) Show students that basketball court is

Level: Grade 3 and up Equipment: None The Blob – Physical Education Lesson Plan PDF Procedures: 1) One person is selected to be “it” 2) The are not to go outside the boundaries. (basketball court)

Sharks and Barracudas

Objective: Body awareness: running and tagging skills Level: Grades 3 and up Equipment: None Sharks and Barracudas – Physical Education Lesson Plan PDF Procedures: Divide the class into two teams (sharks, barracudas) Have the barracudas face

Objective: Develop Physical Fitness Level: Grade 3 and up Equipment: Either bowling pins or cones Knock Down – Physical Education Lesson Plan PDF Procedures: 1) Divide class into two teams. 2) One team will be

Five Pass Basketball

Level: 3rd and up Objective: Practice dribbling and passing skills. Equipment: One basketball and basketball court. Five Pass Basketball – PE Lesson Plan PDF Procedures: 1) Divide class into two teams. 2) Game is started

Newcomb Volleyball

Level: Grade 3 and up Objective: Practice volleyball skills used in a game and keep track of the ball. Equipment: One volleyball and net. Newcomb Volleyball – PE Physical Education Lesson Plan PDF Procedures: 1)

Chalkboard Relay

Level: 2nd grade and up Objective: In this lesson, students will be able to integrate math and physical education by the doing addition facts during a relay. Equipment: Chalkboard or Whiteboard Chalkboard Relay – PE

Running the Bases – Baseball PE

Four Corner Running- Baseball Level: Grade 2 and up Objective: Students will use body awareness while running from base to base. Equipment: Four bases Running the Bases – Four Corner Running Baseball PE Lesson Plan PDF Procedures:

Lead Up Games

The following activities can be done in a physical education classroom or just for fun. Lead-up games can be used as a warm up activity or a way to practice skills used in many sports.

Three Legged Relay

Level: K and up Objectives: Students will share and cooperate while participating in a relay Equipment: One burlap sack per team Three Legged Relay – Physical Education Lesson Plan PDF Procedures:  1) Divide class into

The following are relays that can be used in physical education or regular education classrooms. They can be done in a gym or outside. Relays are great activities that require students to work together and

Grade Level: K and up Objectives: Students will use jumping skills Equipment: One sack per team. Sack Relay – PE Physical Education Lesson Plan PDF Procedures:  1) Divide class into two or more teams. 2)

Beanbag Relay

Level: Kindergarten and up Objective: Balancing objects on different parts of the body. Equipment: One beanbag per team Beanbag Relay – PE Physical Education Lesson Plan PDF Procedures:  1) Divide class into two or more

Cranes & Crows

Objective: Cognitive awareness of distinguishing long a and o sounds. Level: Kindergarten and up Equipment: None Cranes & Crows – K-6 Physical Education Lesson Plan PDF Procedures: 1) Divide students into two groups and one

Dessert Island Stream

Objective: Students listening, direction Level: Kindergarten and up Equipment: None Dessert Island Stream – PE Physical Education Lesson Plan PDF Procedures: 1) Tell students that one end of the court is a desert, one is

Everyone’s It

Level: K and up Equipment: None Everyone’s It – PE Physical Education Lesson Plan PDF Procedures: 1) Every student in the class is it. 2) Anytime someone gets tagged they must do 10 jumping jacks.

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PHYSEDGAMES

…click a category above for great p.e. games, the pe games you will find on this site are used by professional physical education teachers as part of successful programs in school gyms – here you’ll find amazing ideas for p.e. – tried, tested, and proven by physed teachers and coaches , direct link to youtube channel: physedgames youtube, browse the categories at the top to enjoy quick and easy video descriptions to learn a new game for your class or visit our youtube to find the most popular games and get the latest game ideas sent directly to your video feed by subscribing. , game of the month.

Looking for some classic physical education ideas? Looking for something new and unique? There are all types of games & activities ranging from sport-specific (soccer, baseball, basketball, volleyball, lead-ups, etc) to LOG’s, tag, warm-up, fitness, team-building, dodgeball, literacy, numeracy, etc. Children need at least 90 minutes of exercise a day for healthy development – these games will motivate to get students moving and enjoying learning skills in the gym! So hopefully you will find lots here to help supplement your own program.

** Grade level specific categories are searchable: Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, and Grade 8 – browse through games that are appropriate for your grade level. HIGHSCHOOLS please note that most of the Grade 8 category games can be used and/or adapted for use at the highschool level – take a look and see what works! **

If you have a favorite PE activity or game idea that you use in your own program and you’d like to share, please send a detailed email to us at [email protected] and we will do our best to create a video to add to the list.

PhysedGames is frequently updated with new ideas to try out. We also offer a couple book options (hardcopy and electronic) to add to your physical education library. These book options convert many of the best game videos into more portable text-based and electronic forms. PLEASE NOTE that all games are firstly and always available for FREE in the video viewing format. For those interested, take a look at the popular PHYSEDGAMES TOP 99 PHYSEDGAMES TOP 99 (affiliate link) hardcopy book from Amazon or get top-rated Digital File Downloads (PDFs) on Teachers Pay Teachers. A big THANK-YOU goes out to those who support PHYSEDGAMES!

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Physical education games, games designed for learning..

Net & Wall

Striking & fielding, chasing & fleeing, health & fitness, cooperation, guard the pin, beanbag bocce, everyone’s it frozen tag, emotions mixup, frogs & fish, lobster ball, treasure grab, castlemania, star wars tag, giants, elves, & wizards, jake the hungry snake, prairie dog pickoff, on the lines, off the lines, reindeer round-up, rodeo roundup, beaches, bridges, & boats, whacky baseball, elf express, musical hoops, danish longball, team swarm tag, race to the bases, ghostbusters, pirates of the caribbean, rps tug-o-war, snowman blitz, chicken noodle tag, healthy hanukkah, halloween tag, space invaders, builders & bulldozers, chuck the chicken, game categories, a thematic approach to physical education..

By categorizing games based on the similarities that exist between their components (e.g. skills, tactics, playing area), we can take a thematic approach to teaching PE. In a thematic approach, students get to explore tactical problems that exist across a variety of games (e.g. getting open in invasion games). This approach promotes the transfer of learning between multiple games and supports the development of competent, confident movers.

Game Category

Invasion/territorial.

Invasion games are games in which two teams compete to outscore their opponents within a certain amount of time. Teams score by invading their opponents side of the field and sending the object (e.g. ball, puck) into a goal or getting the object pass a goal line. Players in invasion games constantly transition between offence and defence based on whether or not their team is in possession of the object.

Net and wall games are games in which players/teams compete to outscore their opponent(s). They do so by sending the object (e.g. ball, shuttlecock) to a space in their opponents’ court so that it cannot be played or returned within the boundaries of the game. Net and wall games are typically played on a net-divided court or in a common space using a shared wall.

Striking and fielding games are games in which teams attempt to outscore their opponents by scoring more runs/ points within a set amount of innings. To score a run, players typically need to run around a certain amount of bases or run between two set bases. Within an inning, teams alternate between being at bat (offence) and fielding the ball (defence).

Target games are games in which players compete to outscore their opponents by placing a projectile (e.g. ball, dart, arrow) closer to a target than their opponent is able to. Some target games are “unopposed” (i.e. a player’s opponent cannot interfere with their play and success depends solely on a player’s accuracy) while others are “opposed” (i.e. a player may interfere with their opponent’s play).

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10 Surefire games for PE – Easy to play, loads of fun!

Posted on March 2, 2020 by jcahill

The best games for me are the ones with limited equipment and little setup. A quick setup means quick takedown which means faster transitions. Also, with less equipment, there is usually less explanation and rules. Ultimately, this is what’s best for students, more movement and less time sitting. Especially for my younger students, this holds true. Here are ten of my favorite games with limited equipment. My hope is that you can grab a few ideas from below and add them to your physical education repertoire.

Pin-Up Relay

This partner challenge includes a fine balance of fitness and teamwork. I partner the students up and then send them to one end of the gymnasium with a bowling pin. On the other end of the floor, I place one spot in a straight line for each set of partners. On the signal to go, partners sprint across the gym to their spot. With their hands on each other’s shoulders, they attempt to stand the pin on the spot using only their feet. When successful, they grab the pin, sprint back to the other side to grab a laminated strip of paper, which represents a point. Students repeat the process, trying to score as many points as possible in three minutes.

ROOMBA CLEAN-UP

Roomba Clean-up is a variation of Hungry Hippos gone wild. Scatter various equipment throughout the gym. I use a variety of balls. This represents the mess the Roomba vacuum cleaners need to clean up. Each Roomba consists of a set of partners, a scooter board, and a laundry basket or bucket and a hula hoop to place collected balls in. One student sits with crossed legs on the scooter, holding a laundry basket upside-down. The other student is the Roomba’s motor. On the signal to go, the motor pushes the Roomba throughout the gym in an attempt to collect three balls. Once three balls are in the “vacuum bag,” the Roomba returns to their hula hoop to empty the bag. At this time, the two players switch roles and repeat.

Dice Doubles vs. Cone Flip

I use this as an instant activity for my 3rd-5th grade classes. Half the class receives two dice each and the other half each receives a cone. Players with the dice find a player with a cone to challenge.

• To face-off, each player MUST complete 10 Jumping jacks and a HANDSHAKE to begin (Every round begins this way).
• Which will happen first, roll doubles or a successful cone flip?
• Players trade equipment after each round and find someone else to challenge.

Will You Be my “PAL”- entine?

Although this game can be played at any time of the year, I use it as a Valentine’s Day game. It begins with a discussion on what it means to be a pal or a friend. A good pal will always be there for you in a time of need.

Cupid and his/her helper are on the loose and want to turn you into a chocolate heart. If tagged by Cupid or the helper, players turn into a solid chocolate heart by freezing with their arms over their heads in the shape of a heart. The spell is broken when another student with a ring asks, “Will you be my “PAL” – entine? Of course, the only answer is yes. The “proposer” places the ring on the other player’s arm and the game continues. The player who had the ring now has to avoid Cupid while the player with the ring seeks a solid chocolate heart to rescue. I play this game with 1st grade -5th grade with equal success. The smiles and laughter are incredible!

Hit or Miss Striking

Sometimes the simplest games are the best games. Hit or Miss is definitely one of those games. My students play this game to help reinforce striking fundamentals. Simply place a pin equidistant from each partner. Students take turns striking a ball at the pin. I encourage them to step to the target for accuracy.  Also, make sure students trap the ball each time with their paddle rather than striking the ball back and forth like a tennis rally.

Streets, Allies, and Lamp Posts

This is a game that’s been around forever and is not one of my originals. However, I decided to include it because of its whole class cooperative component and the fact that it can be played in a limited space.

Begin the game by creating several lines. For example, for a class of 25, make five lines of five. Or for a larger class of 40, make eight lines of five. Before playing the actual game, students practice three formations; streets, allies, and lamp posts. Students face forward with their arms holding each other’s wrist. These are the streets. On the signal, “allies”, students quickly turn to the left, holding the wrists of the people who were in front and in back of them. Students create lamp posts by either lifting their arms above their heads of by placing their arms to their sides. Practice, theses formations repeatedly by calling them out until the students can quickly change from streets to allies to lamp posts without hesitation.

Next, select a cat and a mouse. The cat chases the mouse throughout the streets, allies and lamp posts. When the cat catches the mouse, select two other students to chase each other. With my older students, I introduce a dog. The dog chases the cat who chases the mouse who chases the dog.

RING BEARER

Partners try to clear the poly spots from the floor while tossing and catching with a deck ring. If a ball is caught while standing on a spot, the spot is taken back to the home hoop. Partners alternate tossing and catching. Balls can be tossed from anywhere on the perimeter, not just from the home hoop. For my younger grades, I allow the ball to bounce once for a successful catch.

Jump Rope Tag

Jump Rope Tag is my go-to warm-up games during my jump rope unit. It’s simple, fun, and exhausting. I select two taggers per 20 students. If tagged, students go to one of two jump rope stations on either end of the floor to complete 10 jumps to shake the spell. Jump ropes can also be made into the shape of a heart on the floor to jump in and out of 10 times! I play one minute rounds, changing taggers each time.

Toss 12 TURBO!

Anybody who follows me knows that traditional Toss 12 is one of my favorite games. Toss 12 Turbo is just a faster, more aerobic version of the same game. Partners work together to try to be the first team to score 12 points. Here’s how:

• 1 point- ball in hoop/ cylinder still standing
• 2 points – cylinder falls/ ball stops outside the hoop
• 3 points – cylinder falls AND the ball stops inside the hoop
• Must score EXACTLY 12 to win the round.

Beachball in a Basket

I love the cooperative component of this game as well as its versatility.

How to play:

• Spread out the laundry baskets, each with a beachball.
• Send 3-4 students to each basket.
• Students attempt to strike the beachball five times before guiding it into the basket.
• Each student must touch the ball at least once before it can be guided into the basket.

Depending on your group, you can instruct your students to use anything but their arms and hands.

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There you have it! My 10 Random yet SUREFIRE games for PE. Give a few of them a try and let me know what you think!

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Category: Physical Education Tags: pe games , Random games for pe

One Comment on “ 10 Surefire games for PE – Easy to play, loads of fun! ”

Amazing ideas!!!! Thanks for always sharing and especially for caring about lifetime fitness for our kids.

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Explore 6th Grade Physical Education classroom activities to inspire and engage your students

6th Grade Physical Education

181 activities, community activities - physical education, browse teacher-created activities from our community of seesaw ambassadors and seesaw certified educators..

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Aliens and Astronauts

Finally released in book volume 5 our famous ALIENS vs ASTRONAUTS!

Book Volume 5 is OUT!

Our best book yet has 50 warm up pe games!

100 PE Games Books!

Start your school year right, by getting kids happy and active, in the gym or outside, with our pegames.org books! This will be the only Physical Education book you’ll need this year to guarantee to keep the most kids happy and active for the most amount of time possible throughout the day!

Elementary PE Games

Every game, warm-up, challenge and activity on this site has been tested by our resident PE specialist. Mr. H. has been teaching physical education at the elementary school level for 7 years, and will make sure that we post only the best of the best.

As a Grade 7 teacher, it can be challenging to keep warm-up games and Daily Physical Activities fresh and new.Having participated in a number of these games, I feel I’ll be able to provide greater variety to my students this year and beyond. Educator: Ian Cox

During the average 45 minute block of physical education, students are actually active (i.e. moving around, elevating their heart rates), for approximately 17 minutes (less than half!). With our website, and the hundreds (soon to be thousands, as our updates continue), of activities, warm-ups, games, individual and group challenges…etc. we aim to keep kids moving, moving, moving.

Please feel free to start navigating the site, as there are all sorts of options for physical activity for your students. We are updating daily, so please continue to check back frequently as there will always be something new to keep your kids smiling and active.

New PE Games

Warm-Up PE Games

Equipment: 2-5 evil red balls. Beanbags. Description: Choose 2-5 kids to be it and give them each an evil red ball (these are the aliens).  Everyone else is an astronaut. Scatter the beanbags all around the gym, and hold onto the empty bin. If an astronaut is tagged...

Equipment: 2-5 evil red balls. Description: Choose 2-5 kids to be it and give them Evil Red Balls. If you get tagged by an Evil Red Ball, you must go down on your hands and knees wherever you are and pick and animal. Whichever animal you pick, you are only allowed to...

Equipment: 2-5 evil red balls. Description: Choose 2-5 kids to be it and give them Evil Red Balls. If you get tagged by an Evil Red Ball, then you must sit down on the ground,bring your knees up to your face, close your eyes and put your head down into the palms of...

• Pete Charrette

PE Games for Small Groups: 6 Gym Games Tailored for Active Learning and Engagement

There are many options for physical educators to teach their PE curriculum and address district, state and/or national standards. This gives physical education teachers a lot of flexibility in how they present material to their students. Small group games in PE offer many benefits over full-class, large group activities. A small group game in a gym class is any game or activity that may be played by a small collection of students, usually three to eight people. Because the numbers are low, they get more movement opportunities and chances to put a learned skill into practice.

Small group physical education games can be used to teach a wide variety of PE concepts and skills such as hand-eye coordination, footwork, and spatial awareness. They are also an excellent way to promote teamwork, social skills, and leadership. In order to teach children most effectively, PE teachers can separate them into groups based on their skill level and developmental stage. This gives the teacher more time to focus on each group. To keep every student engaged in learning, several small group or class games can be going on at the same time inside the designated learning space.

Why incorporate small group games in a PE class?

Small-group gym games provide a supportive environment that allows for more player-to-player interactions than traditional games. They also give players more opportunities to be successful and feel like valuable members of the group. These games challenge students but tend to be less competitive and therefore can reduce stress levels and create a more positive social atmosphere in the class. When students feel less anxious about their performance (as they might in larger groups), they are more likely to be engaged in fun game and better able to perform the desired skills in a game-like scenario.

In addition, the highlighted PE games in this blog article can directly correlate with SHAPE America Standard 2 which states: The physically literate individual applies knowledge of concepts, principles, strategies and tactics related to movement and performance. .* Small group games in PE assist students meet these expectations as well as others that may be determined by a district or state.

Tips for incorporating a small group PE game into your classes

Determine the skills or movement patterns you want your students to practice

Select small group games that allow for practicing these skills and movements in a game-like scenario. They can involve equipment or be equipment-free games

Make sure to utilize engaging games that are developmentally appropriate for your students

Playing area safety is key- make sure students have the space to move around freely and without hazard

Before playing, ensure that everyone is on the same page in terms of rules, regulations and boundaries

Have select students demonstrate the game

Encourage students to be active, play fair, and have fun

Keep the gym class game fun and not overly competitive

Stop the game from time to time to redirect behavior or provide rest periods

Have a wrap-up discussion to celebrate accomplishments

Let's take a look at six different small group games you may use in your program now that we know how and why they work for physical education.

1. Catch Ball

Team's work together to make a playground ball bounce 2 times inside another team’s court Skills Used: throwing and catching

1 playground ball per small group of students (8 to 12 students)

Indoor- Gym lines or small cones for court boundaries

Outdoor-Playground chalk for court boundaries

Two square or rectangle courts are set across from each other.

A serving line is set at back right

Game Instructions and Rules

Students spread out inside their side of the court.

This team game begins with a serve from the back right corner into the other teams court- The ball must pass the mid-line on the serve

The object is to get the ball to bounce two times in the other team members court. If the ball bounces once or a player drops it and it bounces once and then they catch it, it is still in play

If the ball is thrown to the other side and it bounces once and then out of bounds, the other team gets the point

If the ball bounces twice (in your own court) at any time before it crosses over to the other side, the other team gets the point. The serve changes after each point and rotates through the entire team

Players can pass it to any other player on their team (while it is live) before it crosses to the other side but if it is dropped and it bounces two times, the other team receives the point. The ball may bounce one time at any time during live play

Teachers should count “ONE” when it bounces the first time to remind students

2. Flash Ball

Game created by Dave Senecal. Find Dave (PEPALOOZA) on TPT here

Players attempt to eliminate other players (playing 1 vs. 1) by throwing a ball into their opponent’s rectangular court without them being able to catch it cleanly.

Skills Used: throwing, catching and tapping

One oversized Wal-Mart plastic ball, Slo-Mo ball, or beach ball per playing group (around 16- 20” ball)

Construct lines to make up the rectangular courts) using chalk, tape or Velcro

The courts should measure around 18' L x 3’ W divided with a mid-line

Multiple games can take place around the gym/field/blacktop at one time

One player starts on each side of the rectangular court. A student ref stands off to the side and will rotate into the game

One player starts a rally by serving the ball into the other person’s rectangle with a relatively easy serve that can be cleanly received and then thrown back

The ball must bounce on the other player’s side inside their rectangle

After the bounce, the ball must be caught before it is thrown back to the other side

Players can not throw inside their rectangle. They must play to the side or behind the rectangular-shaped court

“Tap ups” can be used when the ball cannot be cleanly caught- the player can tap the ball up into the air but must catch it before it hits the ground

If the receiving player misses the ball (doesn’t catch it), they are out of the game and join the end of the line waiting to come back in

The ball can hit any outside line and needs to be played by the person that is in that particular rectangle. The mid-line however, cannot be hit. This results as an out

If knocked out of the game, a player joins the line to rotate back into the next open side

Use the next person rotating in as the referee to make the call

3. Paddle 4 Square

An active game where players strike a ball with their paddle or racket in an attempt to eliminate other players and advance to the highest square, becoming the King/Queen.

Skills Used: striking

At least 4 paddles or rackets per small group

1 small bouncy foam ball per small group

Court lines constructed with chalk or tape

Numbers 1 – 4 written in each square

One player stands in each of the 4 squares. A line is formed at Square #1 to rotate in.

A server in Square #4 (sometimes known as King/Queen square) drops the ball and then hits it underhand with the paddle into another square

The person receiving the serve hits the ball with the paddle back into any other person’s square and the “rally” continues until someone gets knocked out of the game by 1. Hitting any of the “inside” lines, 2. Hitting the ball out of bounds, 3. Hitting the ball before letting it bounce at least once inside their square, 4. Touching the ball with anything other than the paddle or 5. Hitting the ball after it landed in someone else’s square without letting them hit it first

The ball can hit any outside line and needs to be played by the person that is in that particular square. The inside lines however, cannot be hit- hitting an inside line results in an out

If knocked out of the game, a player joins the line to rotate back into Square #1

Use the next person rotating in as the referee to make the call in the next rally

Video courtesy of Andrew Wymer. Find Andrew on Twitter: @AndrewWyner10s

4. Pin Ball

Two teams play against each other as each team of players work together to toss a foam ball or flying disc at the other team's bowling pin at the end of their court in an attempt to knock it down. Skills Used: throwing, catching

1 ball per small group (yarn ball, foam ball or Frisbee)

4 cones or gym lines to mark off a playing area/court

2 hula hoops at each end of the Court

2 Bowling pins or empty 2 Liter’s (placed inside the hula hoop)

Students spread out inside their side of the court to start. (3 vs 3 or 4 vs 4 works well).

One team begins with the ball and attempts to pass the ball down the court and shoot the ball to knock over the pin set inside the other team’s hoop

A player with possession of the ball cannot travel with it. They can pivot and make 1 step toward their target (a teammate or the pin) but cannot advance themselves up the court

“Complete” passes must be made to keep possession. If the ball drops to the floor, possession goes to the other team at that exact point

There is no contact whatsoever in the game on defense

If a team makes connecting passes down the court and is able to get an accurate shot that knocks down the other team’s pin, they are awarded 1 point

Games go for a set time or until a team scores “10 points” first

5. Intercept (Indoor and Outdoor Game)

A simple game where one team of players pass a soccer ball around a field or gym while another team attempt to throw a separate ball to hit it while it is rolling. Skills Used: kicking, throwing, fielding

1 soccer ball per small group

1 gator skin ball per small group

Students spread out in small teams on a grassy field or large gym (2 vs 2 or 3 vs 3 work best)

One team starts with the soccer ball and they pass it back and forth to each other on the ground in a specified area, using only their feet

The other team tries to hit the soccer ball with their ball, using a Nerf or gator skin.

When the soccer ball is struck, the teams exchange roles and execute the opposite activity.

The team with the Nerf or gator skin ball cannot run with the ball but must advance it by throwing it a teammate in an attempt to get closer to the soccer ball

6. Rescue Me

A creative game where one team of players pass footballs (or other type of balls) past another team to the opposing end zone. where teammates wait to catch and throw the ball and are ultimately rescued. Skills Used: throwing, catching

Equipment and Playing Zone

Several balls (footballs, Nerf balls, Frisbees, etc.) per playing group

Cones or lines to mark playing areas and end zones

The game is played in small groups of 12 – 16 (6 – 8 per team)

Several balls are dispersed on each side of the playing area

The playing area is divided with a mid-line and 2 end-zone lines approximately 30 to 50 feet apart

Teams put half of their players in their side of the playing area and the other half go behind the other teams end-zone.

Each team attempts to save their teammates from the other team’s end zone by throwing them a ball

The players in the opposing end zone must make a “complete’ catch in the air that is thrown from one of their teammates

If they catch it they must throw the same ball back to any one of their teammates in their “home playing area”, back across the mid-line

If a player makes a successful catch and then throws the ball from the end zone line back across the mid-line to their home playing area and it is caught, they are RESCUED

They then join their teammates in their “home playing field” and attempt to save the remaining players on the other team's side of the end zone

If a ball is not caught, it is thrown back to either playing area and the process is repeated again

A team wins when everyone on their squad has been rescued!

Final thoughts

Now that you know about these six small group PE games, it's time to put them into action with your class. Not only are these games fun, but they also aid in developing students' throwing, catching, foot dribbling and striking skills. Before beginning any game, it is essential that students have the right equipment and are familiar with the rules. Correct and encourage your students as they work together in their class teams. Make sure to rotate the games on a regular basis so that students don't get bored. Most importantly, have fun! With a little preparation, you can easily add these games to your physical education class and provide a beneficial learning experience for your students.

Do you have any favorite small group games for PE? Let us know in the comments below!

Need some FREE physical education games?

Do you need some FUN games for your physical education program that include detailed instructions and play diagrams? Cap'n Pete's Power PE has you covered!

Fill in the form below to download the FREE Physical Education Games Packet- 18 Game Set to use in your PE program! Inside this package are 18 fun and exciting PE games for students, designed for a wide range of ages.

This set is a PDF digital download that includes selected games (3 from each) from the following sets from Cap’n Pete’s PE Games Super Bundle.

1. PE Base Games, 2. PE Basketball Games, 3. PE Soccer Games, 4. PE Volleyball/Net Games, 5. PE Disc Games, and 6. PE Small Group Multi-skill Games

If you're looking for a ton of PE Games that are ideal for large, medium or small-sized groups, check out Cap'n Pete's PE Games: Super Bundle- Basketball, Soccer, Net, Disc, Base & Small Group Games.

This Super Bundle includes 150 games from 6 PE game sets that originate from the following resources: PE Base Games , PE Basketball Games, PE Soccer Games, PE Volleyball and Net Games, PE Disc Games, and PE Small Group Multi-Skill Games. Each set has 25 top-rated games that can be used by PE and classroom teachers to teach skills and keep students HAPPY and ACTIVE!!!

You can download them from either of the following platforms: Cap'n Pete's Power PE Website or Teachers Pay Teachers- Cap'n Pete's TPT Store

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2 comentarios

Hey Vickie...thanks for responding. I am retired from teaching but still designing resources for PE and health teachers. Thanks for using my stuff!!!

Do you still teach or design games?? I use your stuff often!!

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30 Best Energetic PE and Gym Games for Kids

1.  Bean Bag Balance

2.  bean bag toss, 3.  balloon drop, 4.  animal jumping tracks , 5.  animal yoga , 6.  drop, catch, throw and tag, 7.  simon says, 8.  hopscotch , 9.  move it or lose it, 10.  red rover rollover.

Phone screens shrinks your kids’ daily physical activity requirements, which may hurt their physical motor skill development. However, recess and gym games for kids are a great stimulus to develop their motor ability. A great idea would be to engage them with age-appropriate yet fun games. If you are looking for such exciting games for your gym class, here are 30 games that will make your job easier.

List of 30 Best Gym Games for Kids

With different types of games available in the market, we have classified our list in categories to help you to find the best PE games for kids:

Exciting Gym Games For Kindergartners

Preschoolers are full of energy and excitement, and physical activity boosts this trait. Physical exercises also improve their balance, reflex, flexibility and other motor skills crucial for their holistic development. Here are some amazing gym activities and workouts for kids to boost their fitness as well as their overall well-being:

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A good game to start with, it’s all about challenging the little ones to balance the bean bag on different parts of their body. Ask kids to walk or crawl with balancing bean bags on the shoulders, between the knees, on the back, etc.

This game will enhance their fine motor development as it involves walking, running, hopping, and maintaining momentary stillness- all by striking the right balance.  

  Tip : Get creative! Engage with them by visualizing funny scenarios, like asking them to imagine the bean bag as an egg that will fall and crack if the balance goes off.

This is another game where bean bag just serves the purpose. Bean bags are easy to grip and cause no injury even in accidental hits. To play the game, you can draw the targets on the floor and have kids throw the bean bags into targets. This will develop their accuracy, throwing and coordination skills. 

Tip: To make the game livelier, you can put down hula hoops or baskets instead of drawing targets manually. 

Volleying the balloon up high for as long and not letting it drop is the essence of the game. Allow kids to use their hands to keep the balloon off the ground, as this will enhance their flexibility and striking abilities.

Tip: As an add-on in the game, a teacher can ask students to call out a fellow student’s name while volleying up the balloon. This way, students can learn each other’s names and coordinate.

For little ones, this outdoor game can prove to be engaging. The idea is to draw different colored tracks and ask the kids to jump by chanting the color names. This game will foster color recognition and gross motor skills in kids. 

Tips: Do not use more than four colors for preschool kids otherwise they will feel burnout switching colors and will /eventually lose interest.

It’s time to get some yoga poses for kids to get them moving. For this game, you can use cards with animal yoga poses on them. Simply ask the kids to pull out a card from the deck and imitate the yoga pose shown on the card. Playing such games regularly can improve their overall flexibility. 

Tip: You can make the game more interesting by playing it in groups with half the class strength. Make a group of four students each and assign a card to them. Let the other half of the class decide on the best performers!

Preschool years are the best when it comes to firming the hand grip of kids. You can play this Drop and Catch game in groups but with a twist. Ask the kid in the middle to tag another kid and throw the ball to him while the latter will have to catch the ball before it bounces twice. This is a fun ball game for kids .

Tip: If the ball is too challenging to catch for kids, use a balloon.

Wanna know how to get your students hooked to giggles on Wednesdays? Well, Simone says ‘play’! Simon Says is one of the best games to achieve fun and physical movement at the same time. You can use all the exercises to get the kids moving such as touching toes, side bends to touch the ground, hopping forward and backward, flamingo legs, jumping in one place, etc.

Tip : To add a more exciting touch to the game, you can incorporate dance songs for kids and get them grooving.

Gym Class Games for Lower Elementary Kids

Gym games for kids are a fun way to make your classroom fun along with encouraging kids to stay fit. Here are some of the most exciting gym class activities for lower elementary kids:

Hopscotch is a classic, loved game among children and adults alike. It not only contributes to developing gross motor skills, but also coordination and numeracy skills. Draw numbers from 1 to 10 with some boxes and you are good to go! 

Tip: Bring a fun twist in the game by making new rules such as ‘low feet jump to 10’, ‘hope like a frog as you count’, etc.   

Incorporating movement in the classroom routine using visual cues card can do wonders for the overall development of kids. You can make a set of visual cue cards and mention different actions on them such as jumping high, marching around, running in place, etc. Have your kids pull out a card and mimic the action. This will help improve their gross motor skills, receptive language, and motor imitations.

Tip : Attach the visual cards to popsicle sticks to make them easy to carry and increase their mean life.

Every so often, schools have either limited budgets or are unable to get supplies when needed. In such cases, gym games for kids that can be played without any equipment come to the rescue and RRRO is one of them. Teachers should challenge the students to roll sideways from their position until they reach the finish line and touch one member of another team. It’s a great game for pleasant weather days and gives good exercise to little ones. 

Tip: The bigger the team, the better the game.

11.  Shark and Minnows

This one is another great game that doesn’t require any equipment or setup but will surely bring up some cute giggles. It’s a tag game where one student i.e., the shark chases the rest of the students i.e., minnows. Consequently, every tagged student becomes a shark until there is a single minnow left- the winner of the game. 

Tip: Don’t forget to set some ground rules else the kids may run hither and thither, eventually increasing the risk of getting hurt.

12.  Beach Ball Blanket Toss

Make groups of four and ask kids to hold all four corners each of a big cloth or bedsheet. Throw a beach ball on the blanket and watch the excitement of the other kids as they try to catch the bouncing ball. In all, a good game to build grip and patience.

Tip: Instead of using a big cotton cloth piece, you can use a quilt as it will give a good bounce, adding more thrill to the game.

13.  See if You Can

Activity card games are a brilliant educational resource to teach kids, be it academics or movement skills. You can use such cards conveniently to teach kids about body composition and get them on a moving spree. The cards have instructions that go around movements like jumping, skipping, sprinting, balancing, leaping, etc. 

Tip: Challenge kids to attempt 3 activities each within a set time.

14.  Make an 8

This game will prove to be an excellent physical activity for teachers, let alone students. All you have to do is arrange for two tall cones and place them 3-4 meters apart. Now ask your students to face forward and move side-to-side in and out of the cone making a figure 8.

Tip: Once the students form an 8, ask them to repeat the activity while holding a basketball.

15.  Catch the Cones 

Teachers can stand on a box with 10 colored cones in her hand while the students stand all around the box. The game begins when the teacher throws the cones in the air all around and the students will have to catch the cones before they hit the ground. The student with a maximum number of cones at the end will be the winner. Playing this game repeatedly will enhance the catching and coordination skills of the students.

Tip: You can add a fun element to the game by giving points for different colored cones. 

16.  Obstacle Course 

This is a fun indoor game for kids , Obstacle Course improves agility, balance, and coordination in young kids. Place obstacles such as hula hoops, chairs, or ropes on the floor and ask kids to move swiftly as they dodge them.

Fun PE Games for Upper Elementary Kids  

Physical activity games for kids are crucial for their growth. Let’s have a look at some fun PE activities for upper elementary kids!

17.  Egg and Spoon 

You cannot deny playing this ultimate hand-eye coordination game in your childhood. Simply give your students a spoon and ask them to balance the egg as they move from one point to another. The one who reaches the finishing line first wins the game. 

Tip: Dancing or singing while balancing the egg on the spoon will make it all the more challenging and fun. 

18.  Follow the Pattern 

Get set for an energetic and entertaining game that encompasses balancing activities with moving in patterns. The teacher will give calls throughout the game that will have instructions about the movement such as jumping and landing on two feet, galloping, hopping on one foot, etc. The students who follow all the patterns without fail will win the game.

Tip: You can level up the game by giving out calls every 20 seconds.

19.  Tail Tag

Students aged 9-12 years can be taught skills such as teamwork, healthy competition, strategy, and other physical skills through such games. As the name suggests, Tail Tag is all about grabbing as many tails as possible. Here tails are nothing but a piece of cloth that will be tied to a belt. Students have to grab and collect these tails as they chase each other.

Tip: Do not tuck or tie the cloth too tightly for kids as unmindful grabbing might lead to subtle hurt.

20.  Bounce the Bucket 

Another game that will surely make a PE class exciting! You will require 8 cones, 3 buckets, and 4 balls. Arrange the cones on the sidelines and buckets in the middle, and Tada! your setup is ready. The students will have to bounce the ball on the ground once and then throw it into the bucket from a distance. Bounce the Bucket will help motor skill-building in upper elementary kids. 

Tip: Use a basketball for a great bounce!

21.  Jump the Noodle 

In this game of two, you will just need a foam noodle. The idea is to jump over the noodle without touching it as the other player swipes it left, right and center. A pair that can finish 10 jumps each without any interruption receives the prize.

Tip: Allow the students to pair up themselves with their choice as it will help them coordinate and play.

22.  Rob the Nest

All the basketball lovers, assemble! The students will love the thrill and competition that this game offers. A large square is to be made using 4 hoops with many basketballs in the middle. Each team member will come forth and dribble the basketballs from the middle to their team’s spot. Once no ball remains in the ball, know that it’s time to run around and steal the balls from each other.

Tip: Make 4 teams with no more than 2 players to avoid complexity and confusion.

23.  Cat’s Corner 

Similar to dodgeball, the throwers in the game are cats who try to hit the runners i.e., mice using the ball. If the mouse gets hit by the ball before landing in the corner safe space, he is considered out.

Tip: To keep the game interesting, there must be an equal number of cats and mice.

24.  Shadow Tag

Tag games are a great way to engage the students . They aid in the development of skills like gross motor, endurance, and social and cognitive skills. Unlike other tag games, here students have to tag a runner’s shadow. A perfect time to play this game is during mid-day.

Tip: Set a rule where the player has to call out ‘SHADOW’ as soon as they hit a runner’s shadow, else they’ll be out of the game.

Top Gym Games for Middle Schoolers

PE games that incorporate empathy and teamwork are very important for middle schoolers ranging between fifth grade and eighth grade. Here are some of our favorites: 

25.  Backward Soccer 

Where are all the soccer lovers? This game is soccer but with a backward twist. Players are not allowed to use their feet to advance the ball; their hands are the action weapons now. They must use only their hands to shoot, pass or dribble. Even goalies will only be allowed to use their hands in defense. 

Tip:   Keep a guide ready in case the students get all mixed up with the rules.

26.  Yoga Cards

Yoga is a good option for middle schoolers. Keep some yoga cards ready for your next PE class and ask them to hold each yoga pose for not less than 10 seconds.

Tip: If some students repel the idea of yoga, don’t worry. They will surely appreciate how relaxed they feel after some meditation treat. You can also show them some meditation videos for added engagement.

27.  Noodle Archery 

This is a classic archery game but with some fun modifications. Hang one hula hoop or have someone hold for you at some distance. Set up three lines at a different distance from the hula hoop which will act as the shooting positions. Ask each student to throw the pool into the hoop once from each line. 

Tip: Assign points to each line- highest to the farthest line and lowest to the closest one. This will make the game more competitive. 

28.  Relay Race 

Relays are the real ‘old is gold’. This game has been there for ages and never fails to excite the players and spectators. Relay Race not only enhances the natural competitive side of children but also encourages the development of gross motor, teamwork, and empathy skills. One high-five between players and you know it’s time to take over the race.

Tip: The tip here is that there is no need for any tip. The game in itself is sufficient to keep you on your toes.

29.  Pole Weave 

This is a great exercise to do twice or thrice a week. Place three straight poles and three crossed poles diagonally on the ground. To win the game, students will have to jump over the cross poles and sprint to weave in and out of the straight poles without touching any of them. 

Tip : You can make the game more challenging by asking students to jump over the crossed poles and back at least 3 times.

30.  Speed Ball

A mix of basketball and soccer, this is a challenging brain game for kids . It is played in two groups where both teams have access to a basketball net and goals each on their side. A team player passes the ball in the air like a basketball, but if it falls on the ground, the game switches to soccer. It’s all hands now!

Tip: Keep negative marking when the ball falls on the ground to make the game competitive.

Let’s Make Fitness Fun for Kids!

PE classes can be very fulfilling if the games are both exciting and physically challenging at the same time. Instead of forcing them for boring squats and push-ups, you can engage them in such games. Motivation is necessary but how it is conveyed also plays a central role. And, it’s all up to PE teachers to how tactfully they face this challenge. Moreover, the list of the gym games for kids is not exhaustive. There’s always room for tailoring a game to your student’s needs and skill requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can i motivate students to be physically active.

It’s a challenging task, but you do not need to worry! Apart from engaging them in group gym games for kids, you can allow them to groove to some dance and music, with activities like Zumba and Dance Aerobics. However, you must be vigilant about the kind of music being played on the speakers. A smart move would be to decide student-friendly music playlist well in advance. Secondly, you must highlight the difference between being a fitness freak and being physically active.

How often can I let students play these games?

It depends on the schedule of PE classes provided by the school authorities. For preschool kids, the gym games for kids could be played once every day. However, for upper elementary and middle schoolers, twice or thrice a week would be enough.

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The PE Specialist

Awesome Resources for Physical Education Teachers

PE Games: Boom City | A Fun Throwing Activity |

What’s up Phys Ed Family!

One of my all time favorite content areas to teach is Throwing and Catching.  I’ve blogged previously about some of my favorite games like Hula Hut Throwdown or Monster Ball .  I love throwing and catching because there are just so many different games and activities you can play around those 2 skills.

This week I wanted to give you another one of my favorite throwing games for my 3rd graders and up, it’s called Boom City.

Normally when I teach this game, I give my students a quick Instant Activity and then have them go to Home Base Spots so I can take attendance.

For an example of a fun instant activity you could try out check out the video below ( if that seems too complicated, here’s a more simplified one you could try ):

After the instant activity and stretch we get right into the game.

Check out the video below for a basic overview: 

Note: In the video above, I didn’t go into any additional levels or variations of the game, but if you download the Free Lesson Plan at the bottom of this post you’ll find more details and examples of how I gamify this activity for my students to increase complexity and motivation (especially the older students).

Here’s an overview of the game

Equipment needed: .

• Benches (or folded up mats)
• Lots of soft balls for throwing
• 2 Buckets of Rings (or anything else to track points – popsicle sticks, noodle slices etc)
• Wristbands or jerseys to designate teams
• 4-6 pool noodles

Game Objective:

To try and get the most rings in your team’s bucket before the time runs out.

The team with the highest number of rings in their bucket at the end of the round is the winner and will receive one point.   

Discuss strategies, offer refinements, reset the rings and play again. 

Add additional  levels when appropriate before starting the next round

The team with the most points at the end of the class time will be declared the “Boom City Champions”

3 Jobs in the game:

• Throwers – throw a ball from behind the midline to a catcher on your team
• Catcher – go stand on the opposite side on the bench, try to catch a ball in order to steal a ring
• Blocker – stand in from of the black square and attempt to block the thrown balls from the other team

• To count as a successful catch – the catcher must have 2 feet on the bench and catch the ball in the air
• 1.) SPIKE THE BALL
• 2.) YELL BOOM CITY
• 3.) STEAL A RING – go steal a ring from the opposing teams bucket (behind the bench) and run across the gym to place the items in their own teams bucket *Have students say “SPIKE THE BALL… BOOM CITY… STEAL A RING”
• You may only carry one ring at a time
• Throwing a ball past the midline
• Blocking a ball while in the middle square (no blocking in the catching zone)
• Taking more than one ring
• You can go ANYWHERE to get a ball, BUT you must come to your side of the gym to throw it

After explaining the rules to the students and demonstrating each job  – allow each team to have 1 minute to discuss their strategies for success and then start the music to begin the gameplay.  After each round, have the students all meet back in the middle and declare the round winner and discuss strategies.  Then reset the rings/points in the correct bucket and begin the next round.  Play as many rounds as you can in the time you have.

*Note Explain additional levels if you want after each round

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Ben Landers (@thepespecialist)

Level Examples (Game Extensions)

Level 2: Add nerf footballs.  Same rules, except now you can get 2 points for a one handed catch.  One handed catch means no other part of your body touches the ball except for your hand (not one hand + head, not one hand + belly).  If a catcher catches a football with 2 hands they still get one ring.

Level 3: Give each team 2-3 noodles for the blockers to use to try and block the thrown balls

Level 4: Add foam frisbees.  Foam frisbees are also worth 2 rings when caught

Game Variations and Modifications

• Use different equipment for throwing (Frisbees, soft volleyballs, yarn balls,  larger or smaller balls, soft footballs, launch the items out of an elastic band launcher)
• If you don’t have enough benches you can use the area behind the end line as the “in-zone”, however I like having the catchers stand on something, because it increases their catches, which increases physical activity and boosts self confidence.  You could also use folded gymnastics mats, chairs or aerobic steps.
• Have students punt the ball, strike with a paddle, or volleyball serve it instead of throwing to work on different skills
• Ideas for more Levels from Jason Gray
• Cool idea for a tag variation from GlenGrovePE

Strategies to discuss with students

• Communicate – call their name or make eye contact before you throw it to someone on the bench
• Even numbers of throwers and catchers to keep the flow moving (or more catchers bc it takes longer to catch/spike/steal a point than it does to throw a ball.  If your team has a  really good thrower, they could keep a lot of people busy catching and running the rings.
• While you are blocking – catch a ball and throw it to your team members (2 jobs at once)
• Taller people might be better at blocking/catching (know your team’s strengths)
• If you are able to throw a Frisbee or football accurately it’s worth more points, but if you can’t it’s probably not worth it (know your strengths)
• Run fast & gather multiple items at a time not just one
• Throw a rainbow – this is good because it will go over the blockers and also it gives the catcher more time to get ready because the ball is in the air for a longer amount of time
• Get close to the middle line so you don’t have as far to throw the ball
• Eg.) if there are a bunch of catchers and no throwers – step off the bench and become a catcher

That’s it friends!

Hope you enjoy teaching and playing this game with your students.

If you want a detailed lesson plan, you can download it for free below: 

Have Fun and Teach On

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Reader Interactions

August 30, 2023 at 12:48 pm

Hello. Have you yourself ever tried this game using chairs? I don’t have benches and I’m really tempted to try it with chairs.

August 30, 2023 at 3:31 pm

As long as students are safe…chairs should work.

May have to modify the rules but it should be a fun adaptation!

September 8, 2022 at 6:14 pm

Where do you get your softie balls that you use for this game? I have been looking for something other than gatorskin balls as they are expensive. TY

September 9, 2022 at 3:20 pm

You can find all Ben’s recommended equipment and technology tools at the link below:

http://thepespecialist.com/amazon

The balls you are referring to are the Koogle Balls. A link to those is below:

https://amzn.to/2YFywFw

Hope this helps!

October 15, 2019 at 11:53 am

Love this game I think it will be so fun.. I also like your group.. I get some great ideas from it.

October 16, 2019 at 4:53 pm

Awesome to hear that!

March 11, 2019 at 2:26 pm

I haven’t tried this yet but love everything about the concept(s). I’m in my last year of teaching and looking for something I don’t already do, to strengthen throwing and catching skills. Boom City sounds like exactly what I’m searching for to keep things new and fresh with my intermediate students. Thank you!

March 12, 2019 at 3:02 pm

Awesome, hope it works for you!

January 4, 2018 at 1:50 pm

Do you have a video of your students playing this? I tried it today and I feel like I missed something. The kids seemed confused.

January 5, 2018 at 8:49 am

When we played, I broke it down into levels. So we first worked on just throwing across the midline the the designated area (benches/mats) Then we added in the catchers-focused on throwing TO your target, not past. If the Catcher caught the ball/frisbee, then they would practice the “spike, shout” Then we added in the taking the ring and running back to your home side, and back to the opposing side.

What helped one fifth grade class was having the catchers stand by me once they selected who the catchers were and the WHOLE class saw that they were switching sides.

Some classes were smaller so we used catchers & throwers/blockers shared the same role! Hopefully this helped

January 5, 2018 at 8:52 am

I actually braved it this week and played with 2nd grade! I shortened the throwing distance and we used mats stacked on top of one another. It really worked out well. I broke this down into smaller sections as well. Their instant activity was a overhand throwing activity with a partner of their choice for 3-4 minutes and then we divided the teams that way…partner who ended with the ball when the time went off, was on one time…other partner on opposite.

January 8, 2018 at 6:02 pm

Nice! Glad it went well.

I love splitting teams like that – kids are usually pretty bummed to not be with their BFF, but it usually makes for really even teams

January 5, 2018 at 1:25 pm

Do you switch up the catchers after a certain time limit? I do have to say I tried it with the most difficult 4th grade class on the first day back from break, that may have been my downfall. We could all see the potential of it being a great game, they just were not into it? I will try it again though, but I would love to see a video of students playing it.

January 8, 2018 at 6:01 pm

I don’t assign the roles. I let the kids choose which role they think their team needs them to be in. They can change roles anytime they want throughout the game. It’s more strategic and fun that way and also allow students to analyze their strengths

January 8, 2018 at 6:05 pm

Nope, sorry. It does really help to do an entire demo before starting so kids can see which side they will be throwing to and catching from. Like I did in the video demo, have a student stand on the bench and go through each role… or you can break it up into levels slowly adding each part of the game like Callen suggested

December 18, 2017 at 12:18 pm

What grade levels have you played this game with?

December 29, 2017 at 3:23 pm

I normally play with my 3rd – 5th grades

November 12, 2017 at 5:50 pm

What specific lines do you use in the gym for the blockers to stand behind? Do you make one or use a line that is already there?!? Thanks love the idea!

November 13, 2017 at 3:37 pm

We have 4 square courts, so I just put the benches in the middle of the 4 square court and tell the blockers they must stand outside of the 4 square court.

November 7, 2017 at 12:24 pm

Thank you very much for sharing so many resources and ideas! I really appreciate your willingness to share and all of the time and energy you have put into all of this! I am doing a throwing and catching unit now so will definitely try “Boom City”! Thanks Again!

November 7, 2017 at 7:17 pm

For Sure! Glad you’re finding it helpful, hope it goes well

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Warm Up Games

The PE Warm Up Games section provides you with Physical Education resources which will help you to plan PE Warm Up Games. Each PE Game outlines what equipment is required, how to set the game up, how to play the game and how to differentiate the game. The resources can be downloaded and can support your PE planning. Lots of the resources are free. Explore the PE Games below:

Dangerous Dogs

Dangerous Dogs is a PE Warm Up Game focused on leg and arm movement. To find out how to play this PE Game and for activity differentiation download now.

Traffic Lights Football

Traffic Lights Football / Soccer is PE warm up game focused on ball control. To find out how to play this PE Game and for activity differentiation download now.

Peg Invasion - 2 Games

Peg Invasion is PE warm up game focused on attacking and defending. To find out how to play this PE Game and for activity differentiation download now.

Dance Tag is a PE Warm Up Game focused on creativity and dance movement. To find out how to play this PE Game and for activity differentiation download now.

Cat and Mouse

Cat and Mouse is a PE Game focused on movement. To find out how to play this PE Game and for activity differentiation download now.

Dragon Tails

Dragon Tails is a PE Game focused on movement and strategy. To find out how to play this PE Game and for activity differentiation download now.

Kings & Queens

Kings and Queen: Rock, Paper, Scissors is a PE Game focused on exercises and strategy. To find out how to play this PE Game and for activity differentiation download now.

Slide in the mud

Slide in the mud is a PE Warm Up Game focused on tagging and teamwork. To find out how to play this PE Game and for activity differentiation download now.

Traffic Lights

Traffic Lights is a PE Warm Up Game focused on rule following and movement. To find out how to play this PE Game and for activity differentiation download now.

Body Parts is a PE Warm Up Game focused on reactions and movement. To find out how to play this PE Game and for activity differentiation download now.

Bridges and Rivers

Bridges and Rivers is a PE Warm Up Game focused on strength and movement. To find out how to play this PE Game and for activity differentiation download now.

Crossing the river

Crossing the river is a PE Warm Up Game focused on movement and space. To find out how to play this PE Game and for activity differentiation download now.

8 Great Outdoor PE Games for Kids

By MK Editor, May 23, 2021

This post is brought to you by CROSSNET, a four-way volleyball net that was designed with the physical education teacher in mind. With just a click of a button and detachment of poles you can easily set up your net to be a variety of heights. This provides gym teachers and volleyball coaches with easy flexibility allowing them to use CROSSNET with both their younger and older students.

There are so many classic outdoor Physical Education games (soccer, kickball, flag football…) that are great for getting kids moving while encouraging teamwork and strategy along with strength and endurance. But that doesn’t mean you have to keep it classic every time the bell rings. Here are eight of the best outdoor PE games, using balls, beanbags, flags, hula hoops or no equipment at all, for keeping things fresh and fun on days when it’s time to head outside and team sports just won’t cut it.

1. Freeze Tag

Great for any age group, freeze tag is just like regular tag, except when a student is tagged, they must freeze with their feet planted widely apart; then they can be unfrozen only when another student crawls through their legs. Teachers can support group cooperation by encouraging students to unfreeze as many of their classmates as possible, and even award points to students who do the unfreezing.

2. Crazy Hoops

While this game works great as an indoor gym activity, it can be even more fun outdoors, where there is plenty of room plus more potential for obstacles and twists. In Crazy Hoops, students build teamwork and strategy skills along with math skills as they work together to grab colored beanbags from a central location and bring them back to drop into their team’s hula hoop. The teacher assigns point values to each color of bean bag: five points for beanbags that match the team’s hula hoop color, ten points for other colors, and one point for white, for example.

If your students are working on fractions or negative numbers, you can incorporate those skills as well (purple beanbags are worth -10 points, for example, or each purple beanbag divides the team’s total points by two).

There are also numerous ways to add twists to this game: You can allow students to use a turn to grab a beanbag from an opponent’s hula hoop and drop it back into the main pile, or instead of locating the main pile in a central spot, divide the beanbags by color and locate the piles in several different areas that students will have to run, climb or crawl to reach.

3. Capture the Flag

This game is great fun when played the traditional way, with two teams, each with its own territory, and one flag per team to guard or steal. Capture the Flag gets even more fun, however, when you switch things up.

Try selecting one spy per team, secretly and at random, who gets one chance to steal the flag belonging to their supposed team and bring it back to their actual team.

Or, for a fast-paced twist, use balls instead of flags and incorporate rules about throwing the “flag” to teammates in order get it back to the home base as quickly as possible. If you have a large PE class, try playing a chaos version of the game by dividing the field or court into multiple sections and having the same number of teams and flags compete for the win.

4. Frisbee Golf

Have students throw soft foam flying discs into buckets, baskets, cardboard boxes and other goals positioned all around your outdoor playing space. This game can be played by taking turns in a big group or in teams, and you can incorporate extra rules, such as having students dance in place for five seconds if they don’t land the frisbee in the goal in three or fewer tries.

5. CROSSNET

This four-square version of volleyball is a super-fun take on the traditional game. Incredibly easy to set up, with adjustable height levels for any age group, it’s a blast for kids from elementary up through high school. CROSSNET targets throwing and catching skills and helps kids develop their hand-eye coordination, while tapping into their competitive natures. It doesn’t take up a lot of room, making it perfect for days when you’re setting up stations outdoors for students to cycle through.

You may also interested in the Best Indoor PE Games for Kids .

6. Hopscotch

This classic game offers great plyometric exercise and balance training along with silly fun. Multiple teams of three or four students each can play at once on multiple hopscotch grids, racking up cumulative team points and competing to win.

It’s easy to switch things up in hopscotch to keep everyone engaged. For example, instead of writing numbers in the squares, have students draw animals, like cats, dogs and frogs, or write down the names of exercises, like jumping-jacks, squats and high-knees, in the squares. When students toss a marker onto a square, they have to make the corresponding animal sound or perform repetitions of the specified exercise before they can begin hopping.

Another twist is partner hopscotch, in which two students hopping along two grids drawn close together must hold hands as they strive to hop with balance and accuracy.

7. Topple Ball

Divide students into teams of four, and set up one cone per team with a tennis or Wiffle ball balanced on top. Have students take turns rolling other balls toward the cones, trying to topple them over. When the ball on top falls, the student who toppled it must try to chase it down and grab it within five seconds to win a point for their team. They also must set up the cone and ball on top for the next teammate to take their turn.

8. Beanbag Relay

Students develop teamwork along with speed and agility in a beanbag relay, which can be held on an outdoor track or blacktop, in an open field, or in nearly any other outdoor space. Set out cones or other markers, divide students into teams, and give each team three beanbags. Teams line up at the starting point with their beanbags, and the first runner from each team runs with one beanbag to drop it at the first marker. Then they race back to grab a second beanbag and run it to the second marker, and finish up by repeating with the third beanbag and marker. When they return to the starting point, they tag the second runner’s hand so the second runner can retrieve all the beanbags in reverse — racing to the first marker, grabbing the beanbag and running it back to the starting line, racing back to the second marker for the second beanbag, and so on.

Bonus: Fartlek Runs

Marathon Kids is all about running, but not necessarily about speed. We believe in getting kids moving by motivating them to cover cumulative distances over time, but we don’t really care about how fast they go — unless they or their coaches want to work on developing their speed. If you have students in track or who are simply interested in improving their running speed and endurance, Fartlek runs are a great way to kick things up a notch.

No, Fartlek training isn’t a PE game, per se — and yes, you’ll have to allow your students extra giggle time to adjust to the silly-sounding name (“fartlek” is a Swedish word that means “speed play”). But soon they’ll recognize the serious fun that Fartlek runs can be. Whereas regular interval training has runners recover between higher-intensity intervals by walking or even stopping altogether, Fartlek training has athletes continue running at a steady pace between bursts of speed, which helps condition both the body and the mind to build speed and endurance. Best of all, the natural challenge and variations inherent in Fartlek training can keep students motivated and engaged.

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Nutrition Based Physical Activity Games

Physical activity and healthy eating go hand in hand, so why not combine them both for some exciting fun! Studies show that incorporating movement into learning can assist a child in gaining and retaining knowledge. Nutrition education should be a life skill that is incorporated into daily routines and innovative learning strategies so our children are empowered to develop and maintain lifelong healthy habits. Taking an unstructured approach to learning and allowing children to move while they learn not only is a great way to get the brain stimulated and promote exercise – it also allows for a deeper dive into the mind-body connection. Discuss with your child why sitting less and moving more is important for good health along with the benefits of healthy eating.

Take Action

MyPlate Relay Race

A fun take on your typical relay race – this game explores different foods and their food groups and can be easily adapted to be played with as little or as many players – indoor or out!

Materials Needed:

• 5 buckets or bins (you can also use tupperwear containers, empty shoeboxes, soup pots or other items you have on hand at home)
• Bags – the same number of teams you have playing (plastic, recycled grocery bag, backpack, reusable tote, etc.)
• Don’t have any on hand? Make your own! Cut pictures out from the circulars in the paper or invite children to draw pictures with crayons or markers of various foods in each food group. Cut them out and write the name on the back to add in a spelling lesson!
• Optional: Colored markers or construction paper to create corresponding color labels for each food group

Steps for Set-Up:

• Gather five buckets or bins for each team and label them to show the five food groups: 1) Grains, 2) Fruits, 3) Vegetables, 4) Dairy, and 5) Meat/Meat Alternate
• You can also use the corresponding food group color to help identify the bucket or bin and reinforce the color of each food group by using colored construction paper or a colored marker.
• Place the buckets or bins at the end of a hallway or in an area where children can run a distance to get to it (e.g. backyard or safe open space)
• Take a baggie and place a variety of food models or pictures of foods in it. You will be giving each team a baggie of these, so make enough to cover each team you have playing. Make sure to have an equal amount in each!

Steps to play:

• Separate into teams and have each team line up at the “starting” line.
• Give each team a bag of food models/ food cutouts and assign a team leader. The baggie will stay with the first person at the beginning of the line.
• When the leader says “Go,” each team will begin its relay. Team members will take turns pulling a food model or picture from their team’s bag and running to the appropriate MyPlate bucket or bin and putting it in the correct one.
• After placing the food picture or model in the correct bucket or bin, the participant will run back and tag the next person in line. The teams will continue the activity until the bag at the starting line of each team is empty.
• When both teams have finished, remove the food models or pictures from the buckets or bins. Pull the items one by one from each as a check and review what foods “belong” in each food group.

Musical Fruits and Vegetables

This simple, but exciting game incorporates fun music with fruits and vegetables to encourage learning through movement!

• Fresh fruits and veggies
• Pictures of selected fruits and veggies (e.g. printed out, cut out from grocery circulars or invite children to draw their own)
• Slips of paper
• Pen or marker
• Music (played through a favorite device or singing to the tune of a favorite song)
• Place the pictures in a circle on the floor and tape each one to the floor to secure and prevent slipping when stepped on.
• Take slips of paper and write down each fruit and vegetable chosen for the game and a fun fact on each slip, then place in a cup.
• Gather the fruit and veggies and have them on hand nearby. Note: This game incorporates tasting the items, so these fruits and vegetables should match the ones in the pictures and be items you have on hand at home. Some ideas are apples, pears, kiwi, bananas, peaches, plums, strawberries, raisins, cranberries, carrots, sugar snap peas, celery, broccoli, etc.
• Start playing the music of your choice. As the music plays, invite children to move and dance around the circle. When the music stops, the children should stop on the nearest space.
• After everyone stops on a space, pull out a slip of paper. The child standing on the space corresponding to the slip drawn wins that piece of fruit or vegetable and joins you to help draw the next slip. Remember to tell the group about the fun fact!

Continue playing until everyone is a winner or you run out of time and taste test the produce won.

Eating Healthy Dance Party

Dancing is a great way to get your heart rate up and can be fun for all! This specific dance activity incorporates healthy eating messages into fun movements through music. Studies show that pairing learning with creative movement and music leads to better understanding and retention of learning for children. Share this activity with friends and relatives and invite them to join virtually. Consider scheduling an at-home dance party activity on a virtual meeting platform to show off your new songs and moves!

Visit these websites for fun songs to learn and incorporate movement:

• Songs for Teaching uses music to promote learning and provides a library full of nutrition and food songs.
• USDA ChooseMyPlate has three songs to learn and get moving to while promoting MyPlate and healthy eating.
• Color Me Healthy music gets children up and moving to a fun and happy beat.
• The Learning Station brings you the Fruit and Veggie Hokey Pokey! A twist on an all-time favorite dance song.

Adapt these games to fit your space. Use household items and modify to accommodate as many or little participants.

Host a songwriting contest using healthy foods and pair it with your favorite beat!

Consider using these activities as brain breaks or recess at home. Schedule recess, just like schools do, and make it a part of your family’s daily routine.

Dancing can be considered unstructured play and opens the door for additional exploration, creativity, and self-expression for your child. Invite them to teach you their favorite dance moves or lead an activity.

For more activities and ideas like this one, be sure to sign up for our news and updates . And if you like what you see, please donate to support our work creating more ways to help build a healthier future for kids.

Playing With Food

Encourage curiosity surrounding food by encouraging children to play with their food.

Easy Nutrition Education Activities

Use digital learning resources to take nutrition education at home to the next level.

Creative Expression and Movement

Have fun and explore feelings and emotions through movement and dance.

Nutrition Education

Nutrition education is especially important for kids, as they establish food patterns that carry into adulthood. Teaching students about MyPlate and the benefits of each food group can help promote healthy eating from a young age.

Categories: Nutrition & Healthy Eating , Physical Activity & Play , At Home , At School , Digital Resource