Bedlam

OBJECT - Make it from corner to corner.

GAME TYPE - Racing game and/or elimination game.

WHO'S IT FOR - Group Two. You need at least four, but really, the optimal number would be twelve or more to make it true bedlam.

WHAT YOU NEED - A large square or rectangular space with clearly defined border. Also, a stopwatch or timer of some sort.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Have the players stand in different corners of the playing area. There should be an equal number, or close to it, in each corner.
2. On the word "GO", all players have ten seconds to race from one corner to the opposite corner, meaning all players will meet in the middle and create bedlam.
3. Everyone who makes it to their corner within the time period gets one point.
4. On the next run, give them nine seconds. Then eight, then seven, etc. You can go as low as you want.
5. When you reach a point where no one can make the opposite corner in the time period, the game is over. Add up the points to determine the winner.

For an alternate, more competitive game, put two flags on each person's waist. Give a ten second time limit for all rounds. Players still cross the square and must end up in the opposite corner. They can grab other player's flags in the middle, but must be in the correct corner within the time limit. Any player who loses both flags or does not make it to their corner in time is out. Redistribute the players so the number in each corner is close to equal. The last one standing wins.

THIS WORKS ON - Competition (racing against others), time management (getting to corner in time), spatial awareness (knowing where you are, the space you have to get to, and obstacles that must be avoided).

Rooms

OBJECT - Switch rooms quickly, or be eliminated.

GAME TYPE - Elimination game.

WHO'S IT FOR - Group One. It doesn't matter how many people you have to play this game.

WHAT YOU NEED - An area, inside or outside, sectioned off into at least four squares. The squares can be in a box shape, or in a line. The squares also need to be labeled with the name of a different room - living room, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Set up the playing area as described above.
2. Have all players stand in one room.
3. You call out a room. All players must move to that room.
4. The last player to make it to the room is eliminated.
5. If you call out a room where everyone already is, they must stay there. Anyone who moves to another room is eliminated.
6. The last person standing is the winner.

As a variation, you can set a time limit for moving into the enxt room, like five seconds. Anyone who doesn't make it in that time is out.

THIS WORKS ON - Following directions (going to specific room), attending (to what room is being called)

Greedy

OBJECT - Make the most baskets.

GAME TYPE - Elimination game.

WHO'S IT FOR - Group Three. You should have no more than ten people playing this game at once.

WHAT YOU NEED - A basketball hoop and enough basketballs so each player can have one. The basketballs should be unique enough that players can tell them apart. This can be a marking on the ball, or an entirely different style of ball. You should also have a scorecard.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Have each player line up outside the three point line, and give each a basketball.
2. On the word "GO", every player shoots their basketballs to try to make a basket.
3. When a player misses, they must get the rebopund (and make sure it is their ball), and shoot from where they got the rebound. They may not move closer to the basket. If a ball goes out of bounds, the player may bring the ball back in bounds before shooting again.
4. Once a player makes a shot, they yell "POINT" and run back to the three point line to start shooting again.
5. Keep track of the points. When a player scores five baskets, they can stop and move off the court.
6. The last player shooting (who doesn't make five points) is eleiminated.
7. Players start again from behiond the three point line. In the next round, you only need four points. The next round, and all rounds after that, need only three points.
8. Players can use their basketballs to block other shots, throwing their balls in the air to knock another one off its flight path. The danger in this, however, is that you have to shoot from where your ball goes, which will probably be somewhere in the wrong direction.
9. Keep eleiminating until one player is left standing. This player wins.

This game can get pretty chaotic, so make sure everyone knows exactly which ball is theirs.

THIS WORKS ON - Competition (trying to score the most baskets while everyone else is shooting), athletic ability (basketball skills)

Spoons

OBJECT - Make four of a kind, and don't be the last one to grab a spoon.

GAME TYPE - Elimination game.

WHO'S IT FOR - Group Three. This should ideally be played with a group of no more than seven or eight.

WHAT YOU NEED - A full deck of playing cards and one spoon for each player, minus one.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Have all players sit in a circle with spoons in the middle. There should be enough spoons in the middle so every player except one can grab a spoon.
2. Have one player shuffle and deal the cards (help if you need to). Four cards get dealt to each player. All extra cards are placed in front of the dealer.
3. The object is to make four of a kind in your hand. This means you want to have all four 3s or all four Kings, etc.
4. On the word "GO", the dealer takes a card from the extra card deck. The dealer must then discard one card and pass it to the player on his/her left. While the next player decides if he/she wants to use that card, the dealer draws another one.
5. Play continues like this, with each player discarding and passing. You may only have four cards in your hand at a time, and you may only pick up one card at a time.
6. When the last player discards, instead of passing the card to the dealer, they make a discard pile. Should you run out of cards without someone getting four of a kind, the dealer may shuffle those cards and use them as a new deck.
7. When someone makes four of a kind in their hand, they must grab a spoon. However, they want to do this in such a way that no one else notices.
8. If anyone notices that a spoon has been taken, they can grab a spoon as well, even if they don't have four of a kind in their hand.
9. Whoever does not get a spoon in the round is out.
10. Remove a spoon and play again.
11. Keep playing until only one remains. They are the winner.

Sneakiness is encouraged when grabbing a spoon. When someone does notice, it usually turns chaotic quickly.

THIS WORKS ON - Observational skills (knowing when someone takes a spoon), matching (making four of a kind), competition (playing a game with peers)

Pyramid

OBJECT - Don't knock the pyramid over!

GAME TYPE - Elimination games.

WHO'S IT FOR - Group One. You can have about two to six players for this game. If you have more, it gets a little long.

WHAT YOU NEED - Plastic, paper or styrofoam cups, probably about ten to twenty for each player. Also, a table or other flat surface to play on.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Pass out cups to each player. Each player sits around the playing surface. Play goes to the left.
2. The first player puts a cup, upside down, on the table.
3. The next player puts a cup right next to the first cup.
4. The next player puts a cup on top of the first two cups, making a two level pyramid.
5. The next player adds another cup to the bottom row.
6. The next player adds a cup to the second row, so it balances on two cups.
7. The next player puts a cup at the top, making a three level pyramid.
8. Keep adding in this manner, building up the pyramid until it topples over.
9. Whoever added the cup that knocked down the pyramid is out.
10. Pick up the cups, and start over with the remaining players.
11. When it gets down to two players, the one who doesn't knock over the pyramid is the winner.

Players should be very careful not to jostle the table or playing surface at all, otherwise the pyramid will come tumbling down prematurely.

THIS WORKS ON - Eye-hand coordination (being able to balance cups on top of other cups), Desxterity (being able to move around the existing pyramid so as not to knock it over), competition (trying not to be the one to knock down the pyramid)

Paranoid

OBJECT - Protect your flag!

GAME TYPE - Elimination games.

WHO'S IT FOR - Group Three. There should be at least three people playing at a time, but it's more fun with more.

WHAT YOU NEED - Some type of flag for each player, and each player should have two. Flags should be loosely attached at the belt line so it can be easily pulled off. Also, you should have a boundaried area to play in, not too big, but big enough so people can move around. A circle is preferable.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Attach flags to player's waists. They should be easy to pull off. Each player gets two flags.
2. This is an everyone for themselves game, so players will be trying to capture other people's flags while protecting their own.
3. Once both a player's flags have been taken, they are out and must leave the area immediately.
4. Players may not stray out of the boundaries you have established. If a player does go outside the area, they are penalized one flag.

The game is called Paranoid because you're trying to keep everyone in your sight to keep your own flag safe. Players will find it difficult to keep their eyes everywhere at once. You may want to play smaller games with at least three people before working up to an all out game with everyone.

THIS WORKS ON - Strategy (trying to outthink your opponents), competition (trying to be the last one standing).

Scavenger Chairs

OBJECT - Like musical chairs, but here, you have to find stuff to not be eliminated.

GAME TYPE - Elimination games.

WHO'S IT FOR - Group Two, although it may be good for other groups as well. You need at least five people for this game.

WHAT YOU NEED - Chairs, a space with many objects around, and a list of easy to find objects within that space.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Have all players sit in chairs in a line. Their backs should be to a wall or to the outside of the area so they can clearly see all around the area.
2. Name the first item. When you say "GO!", all players must dash off to find that item.
3. Once the players have found the item, they run back to their chairs. However, one chair has been removed, so the last person to get back with the correct item is out.
4. Some players may come back with the wrong item. If they do, send them back to try again.
5. Keep removing chairs until only one person is able to get a seat. This person is the winner.

Make the objects more difficult to find as the game goes on, particularly in future rounds.

THIS WORKS ON - Competition (trying to find objects before the other players), following directions (finding the object told to you)

Apples to Oranges

OBJECT - Don't get caught with the wrong fruit when the music stops, or be out of the game!

GAME TYPE - Elimination Game

WHO'S IT FOR - Group One. There should be about six to ten students for this game.

WHAT YOU NEED - Music, chairs, an apple, an orange, and cards to represent the fruit. The fruit can be real or plastic...plastic fruit will most likely last longer as it can't be eaten. As the game progresses, you may want to use other fruit. Be creative.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. All players sit in a circle.
2. For the first round, only use the apple. No cards are needed in this first round.
3. When the music starts, pass the apple from person to person.
4. When the music stops, whoever is caught holding the apple is out.
5. The last person remaining in the circle is the winner!
6. After the first round, have all players sit in a circle again.
7. This time, use an apple and an orange. You will need an apple card and an orange card.
8. When the music starts, players pass the fruit around the circle one at a time (no player should be holding both the apple and orange at once).
9. When the music stops, draw a card at random. Whoever is holding the fruit that is on the card is out.
10. At the end of the round, the last two players will each be passing the fruit back and forth to each other. Whoever is left holding the fruit not on the card that is drawn is the winner!

In subsequent rounds, if the students are getting it, feel free to add more fruit, such as a banana, a lemon, or a peach.

THIS GAME WORKS ON - Social interaction (by passing the fruits to their peers), attending (paying attention to when the music stops), following directions (by following rules and passing when they're supposed to).