Octopus Tag

OBJECT - Don't get tagged by the octopus or any tentacles!

GAME TYPE - Tag game.

WHO'S IT FOR - Group One. You can have as many people as you want to play this game, but at least six.

WHAT YOU NEED - A rectangular space to run with clearly defined borders.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Set the borders of your area, which should be rectangular. The ends of the area are the safe zones.
2. Designate one person to be the octopus.
3. The octopus stands in the middle of the area, while all other players go to one of the safe zones (everyone in the same place).
4. When the octopus says "GO!", all other players must run from their safe zone to the other, trying to avoid the tag of the octopus. Players may not cross over the edges of the area.
5. If someone gets tagged by the octopus, they become a tentacle. Rather than attaching to the octopus, however, they must stay in the same place they were when they were tagged.
6. Once all players who have not been tagged, the octopus returns to the center of the area and says "GO!" again. Players race back to the other safe zone, this time trying to avoid the tag of the octopus AND any tentacles.
7. Tentacles may not move from their spot, they are rooted to the ground. However, they may take one step as long as their other foot is firmly planted.
8. Anyone who gets tagged by a tentacle becomes another tentacle and must stay in place to try and tag people the next time.
9. The last person who can avoid all tentacles and the octopus is the winner, and becomes the new octopus.

If any tentacle needs help staying put, you can use a carpet square, or draw a big circle where they need to stand using chalk, or tape.

THIS WORKS ON - Competition (trying to avoid the tag), following directions (staying inside the borders, staying in place as a tentacle)

Jingle Tag

OBJECT - Catch the jingler.

GAME TYPE - Tag game.

WHO'S IT FOR - Group One. You'll need four to ten people for this game.

WHAT YOU NEED - For variation one, jingle bells for everyone and one blindfold. For variation two, blindfolds for everyone and one set of jingle bells. For both groups, have an area with clearly defined borders.

HOW TO PLAY (Variation One):

1. Choose one person to be IT and blindfold them.
2. Give everyone else a set of jingle bells.
3. At the word "GO", IT tries to find someone else by listening for their jingle bells.
4. The jinglers must jingle their bells if they are moving. They also may not leave the defined area.
5. Adults can scatter around the area to help IT stay inside the borders.
6. When IT tags someone, they become the new IT.

HOW TO PLAY (Variation Two):

1. Choose one person to be IT, and blindfold everyone else.
2. Give IT a set of jingle bells.
3. At the word "GO", everyone tries to find IT by listening for the jingle bells.
4. IT must jingle the bells when moving. IT may not leave the defined area.
5. Adults can scatter around the area to help the blindfolded people stay in the area.
6. When someone catches IT, they become the new IT.

Watch out for the safety of anyone who is blindfolded. They shouldn't move too fast, and be sure the area is cleared of anything they might trip on.

THIS WORKS ON - Sensory (using ears instead of eyes), competition (trying to tag/not be tagged).

Shadow Tag

OBJECT - Tag the shadows!

GAME TYPE - Tag game.

WHO'S IT FOR - Group Two. You can have at least four for this game, or as many as you want.

WHAT YOU NEED - A sunny day.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. One person is designated as IT.
2. At the word "GO", IT attempts to tag the other players. The catch is, IT must tag their shadow by stepping on it.
3. If someone's shadow is tagged, they become the new IT.
4. Play as long as you like.

Play late in the day for easier tags (longer shadows). Play at midday for a more difficult game.

THIS WORKS ON - Competition (trying not to get out), following directions (tagging shadow and not person).

Fox and Geese

OBJECT - As the fox, catch the geese. As the geese, avoid the fox.

GAME TYPE - Tag game.

WHO'S IT FOR - Group Two. You don't want to have too many people playing this game, probably make six the limit.

WHAT YOU NEED - Sidewalk chalk and a big enough concrete area to use.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Draw a large circle on the concrete. Next, divide it into eight sections, creating pie wedges.
2. Select one player to be the fox. The rest are geese.
3. The fox is going to try to catch the geese. The catch of this game is that the fox and the geese may only run on the lines of the circle and that divide the circle.
4. Without leaving the chalk line, players must run around the circle. The fox tries to tag the geese. If a goose is tagged, they're out.
5. Because no one can leave the lines, playetrs must be very aware of where everyone else is to avoid collisions. Because everyone is on the lines, no one can pass anyone else.
6. The last goose to avoid being tagged becomes the fox in the next round.

Everyone really needs to be careful with this game. Be sure you draw the circle very large to give everyone room to run, and make sure everyone is watching where they're going.

THIS WORKS ON - Competition (trying to avoid the tag, or trying to tag other players), following directions (staying on the chalk line), spatial awareness (knowing where everyone is in the space provided)

Marco Polo

OBJECT - Don't get tagged.

GAME TYPE - Tag games.

WHO'S IT FOR - Group Two. You need at least four people for this game, and probably no more than ten.

WHAT YOU NEED - Normally, you need a pool for this game. However, in this dry version, you'll need a large clearly defined space and a blindfold. You may want to have some musical instruments as well.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. First, set up your area. A roped off section will work, or a chalk marking with adults on the outside making sure no one leaves.
2. Select one player as IT. IT gets blindfolded.
3. All other players must avoid being caught by IT. However, since IT cannot see, he/she tries to find the other players by shouting "MARCO!"
4. When the other players hear "MARCO!", they must respond by shouting "POLO!" Failure to do so will result in being taken out of the game.
5. IT listens for the "POLO!" and moves towards the sound. The other players must sneak away as best they can.
6. No player may leave the marked off area. If IT does (accidentally), they get redirected back to the area. If another player leaves, they are out of the game.
7. If IT catches another player and tags them, they become the new IT.

It is possible within your setting that some of the children will be non-verbal. If this is the case, use musical instruments instead of the words "MARCO POLO". For example, IT may shake a tambourine in place of "MARCO", and all other players shake maracas in place of "POLO".

THIS WORKS ON - Competition (trying not to be tagged), following directions (saying the appropriate thing at the appropriate time, not leaving the area), sensory (using sense of sound rather than sight)

Dragon's Jewels

OBJECT - Steal the dragon's jewels!

GAME TYPE - Tag games.

WHO'S IT FOR - Group Two or Group Three. You should have at least five people to play this game.

WHAT YOU NEED - About ten to twenty small objects to double as jewels. I like to use beanbags, but you can use just about anything.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Choose one player to be the dragon.
2. Place the dragon's jewels in the center of the floor.
3. The dragon must protect the jewels, but may not touch them. The dragon can stand over them, crouch, and protect them in anyway, but no touching.
4. All other players try to steal the jewels. They can work together, trying to distract the dragon while others steal jewels.
5. If the dragon tags a player, that player is out of the game.
6. If the player gets away from the dragon with jewels and without being tagged, the jewels are successfully stolen.
7. If the player steals jewels, but gets tagged in the getaway, the jewels go back to the nest.
8. The round is over when either all jewels have been stolen, or all players have been tagged.
9. Everyone should get a chance to be the dragon. The winner will be the dragon who has successfully defended the most treasure.

Since the jewels do not belong to an individual, but rather to the whole team, be sure to stress team cooperation. The team can't steal much treasure unless they work together.

THIS WORKS ON - Teamwork (working together to steal jewels), strategy (figuring out the best way to stymie the dragon).

Bronco Tag

OBJECT - Grab onto the tail of the bronco!

GAME TYPE - Tag game

WHO'S IT FOR - Group Two. You should have at least seven children for this game.

WHAT YOU NEED - A big space to play in.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Divide everyone up into teams, with one person left over. There should be three to four people on a team. You can have as many teams as possible with your number of children. (Seven people - three on each of two teams, one person left over. Eight people - three on one team, four on the other, one left over. Ten people - three on each of three teams, one person left over.)
2. The teams are broncos. Line each team up and have them hold the waist of the person in front of them.
3. The person left over is IT. IT's job is to catch one of the broncos. To catch a bronco, IT must grab the waist of the person in back of the bronco.
4. The broncos must try to avoid IT. They must work together for this to work.
5. When IT catches a bronco, the player at the front of that bronco becomes the new IT.

It may take awhile for the broncos to get the hang of moving together, but keep working at it. Also, encourage a competitive spirit, but make sure everyone gets a chance to be IT.

THIS GAME WORKS ON - Teamwork (since the broncos have to move together to avoid being caught), competition (trying to avoid being IT).