Classroom PE Games
These games are designed to maximize activity for kids in confined spaces (such as the classroom). Some of these games are high-intensity, some are based on movement that stimulates brain activity, and some are designed with the simple goal of getting kids up, active and happy to move. As every confined space and classroom is different, with its own set of challenges and hazards, please be sure to adapt these games so that they can work well for your kids and your space. The ideal spot to start for activity in confined spaces is with fitness circuits; so if you haven’t yet visited our fitness circuit section, we recommend you check it out! In order to get the most out of these games, try and avoid lag time during transitions. In order to do this, be sure that you have the next part of the activity ready to go (with a verbal cue, movement strategy or breathing exercise), so that the kids can move as seamlessly as possible from one motion to the next throughout the game.
This, That, The Other Thing
Equipment: At least 5 different objects volunteered by students. Description: Put a desk at the front of the class. Have the students offer up objects to be placed on the desk (they must be large enough to be seen by all students in the class). Choose about 5 objects...
Speedball
Equipment: A speedball (soft, squishy and palm-sized works best). Timer. Description: Have everyone sit on their desks with their legs hanging off the end. The teacher starts with the speedball at the front of the class (the speedball should be a soft, squishy ball)....
Poke Assassin
Equipment: NONE Description: Have the students all close their eyes and lay their heads down on their desks. 4 chairs are placed in each one of the 4 corners of the classroom. The teacher then walks around and taps 4 students on the head and taps four students on the...
Lava Field
Equipment: Foam tiles, carpet pieces...etc. Description: You will need foam tiles, carpet pieces or something that students can stand on for this game (don’t use paper because it tends to rip too easily). Divide the kids into teams of 4-6 players. Each team then gets...
Shrinking Ship
Equipment: NONE Description: The teacher calls out a number, a place in the classroom and a body part. Students must get to that part of the classroom, meet up with the specified number of students, and place the specified body part out in front of them. Anyone who...
Pencil Box Toss
Equipment: 1 pencil box per group. 1 beanbag per group. Description: The set-up for this game will depend on the set-up of your classroom. Each group/row/team of desks must set up one student’s pencil box against the wall somewhere in the class. It must be close...
Tour De Class
Equipment: NONE Description: Have the kids move their chairs away from their desks so that they can lift their legs in the air (the higher the legs, the harder the workout), and have them grip tightly the sides of their chairs. Start by telling them that you are going...
Gluestick Bowling
Equipment: As many gluesticks as you want! 1 beanbag per group. Description: Have 1 or more students form a tunnel by going into the plank position (or a push-up position), right beside each other. At one end of these students, set up the gluesticks in some sort of...
Tricky Tricky
Equipment: NONE Description: Have your class make a circle. Pick one student to go and stand in the corner with their eyes closed. While the student is in the corner, show the rest of the class who the leader is (we’ll call the leader Billy). Billy’s job is to keep...
Do This. Do That.
Equipment: NONE Description: Invite one student up to the front of the class, and have him start the session. The main component to this game is that whatever the student at the front of the class is doing, it must be an activity that involves a fair amount of...