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).

Bottle Ball

OBJECT - Knock down the bottles!

GAME TYPE - Two team game, dodge game.

WHO'S IT FOR - Group Two. You should have at least three per side, but no more than eight.

WHAT YOU NEED - Twelve to twenty 2-liter plastic soda bottles, some empty, some filled with water. You'll also need two or three playground balls and a marked off space for the playing area.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Divide the group into two teams. The two teams go to opposite sides of a playing area, separated by a line.
2. Set up the plastic bottles at the back of the playing area, with space between them.
3. Place the three playground balls at the center. All players line up in front of their plastic bottles.
4. On the word "GO", players race to try and get the balls. No player may cross the center line.
5. The object of the game is to knock down all of the other team's bottles. The full ones should be harder to knock down than the empty ones.
6. This game also adds elements of dodge ball, in that if you hit another player with your throw (unless the ball touches the ground first), they are out. However, as soon as a bottle gets knocked over, all out players on the team whose bottle went down may reenter the game.
7. If a player catches a throw, they may return one player from their own team to the game. Nothing happens to the thrower.
8. If a ball goes out of bounds, one of the players from the team on the side where it went out of bounds may retrieve it. They may not throw the ball until they have come back in bounds.
9. Once all the bottles of one team have been knocked down, the game is over.

For a variation, give one point for each empty bottle knocked over, three for each full bottle knocked over, and set a time limit.

THIS WORKS ON - Athletic ability (throwing, running), competition (playing against another team), eye-hand coordination (aiming at targets), teamwork (playing as a team).

Threeball

OBJECT - Score the most points and win the game.

GAME TYPE - Individual game.

WHO'S IT FOR - Group Two. You'll need eight or so players to play this game.

WHAT YOU NEED - Three kickable balls, a box, and a large field to play in.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Set up the field, with three bases and a home plate. They don't have to be as far apart as in standard baseball, but there should be some distance between them.
2. Set up the box in the middle, where the pitcher's mound would be.
3. Everyone plays defense and should go in the field, except for one player who is the first kicker.
4. The kicker stands at home plate with three balls on the ground in front of them.
5. The kicker kicks all three of the balls in different directions, and starts to run the bases.
6. The kicker scores a point every time they cross a base. If a player crosses home plate, they can keep running, and each base is worth two points.
7. The defense must corral the balls and put them in the box.
8. Once all three balls are in the box, the kicker is out. Add up the number of bases they crossed before being out for their score.
9. A new kicker comes up, while the old one goes to the field.
10. The winner is the one, at the end of the game, who scored the most points.

With enough players, you can even have two teams, with all players kicking before taking the field.

THIS WORKS ON - Competition (trying to score/prevent scoring), following directions (rules of the game)

Costume Relay

OBJECT - Win the race.

GAME TYPE - Racing game.

WHO'S IT FOR - Group Two. You need at least four people for this race, but the more the merrier.

WHAT YOU NEED - Lots of old clothes, including hats, scarves, shirts, pants, skirts, gloves, shoes, sunglasses, masks, etc. Be creative.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Divide the players into at least two teams, more if you have enough.
2. Have the players stand at one end of the race track, with a box of clothes at the opposite end.
3. Before starting the race, let each team know what they must have in order to win. For example, they should have a hat, pants, a shirt, a scarf, a belt, shoes, and one other item they can decide on. The players may decide which article of clothing to grab when they reach the box of clothes, or you can designate each player to get something.
4. On the word "GO", the first two players race to the box and grab one of the clothing items from their list (or the article of clothing they have been assigned). They must put it on and race back to the start.
5. When the players reach the start, they take off the clothing piece they grabbed (such as a hat) and put it on the next player. The next player then runs to the box, grabs another article of clothing, puts it on, and runs back.
6. Whenever a player reaches the start, they must take off everything they've gotten from the box and put it on the next player.
7. When a runner puts on the last article of clothing they needed from the box, they run back to start and put the entire costume on the next player. That player must run back to the box, put everything back, and run back. The first team to finish the race wins.

You don't have to have the last player put everything back. If you want, you can end the race when they've completed the costume, then take votes on who has the best outfit.

THIS WORKS ON - Athletic ability (running the race), teamwork (dressing your teammates), creativity (deciding what the best outfit would look like), functional skills (dressing, identifying articles of clothing)

Paper Football Tournament

OBJECT - Win the paper football tournament!

GAME TYPE - Individual game.

WHO'S IT FOR - Groups Two and Three. You need two people for a game, and more for a tournament.

WHAT YOU NEED - A table and a paper football for each game. Find instructions on how to make a paper football here.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. You can set up the tournament in a couple of different ways. You can do a single elimination tournament, bracket style like the NCAA tournament. You could also have all players play everyone else and keep track of wins and losses, with the top two players meeting for the championship at the end. You can also come up with your own format.
2. To play paper football, seat two players across from each other at a table. There shouldn't be too much space between them.
3. Have players flick the football to the other end of the table. The goal is to get part of the football hanging over the edge of the table. You can check this by running your finger across the edge of the table. If the football moves, it's a goal.
4. If the football goes over the edge and falls to the floor, it doesn't count.
5. If the football does not score a goal, the opposing player must flick it from the place it stopped. The only way a player may move the football is if the football goes over the edge.
6. Whoever scores five points first is the winner.

Play as many games as you want, but try to keep it competitive and fun.

THIS WORKS ON - Fine motor (flicking the football), eye-hand coordination (aiming, trying to get the shot just right), competition (trying to score more goals than the other player)

Magazine Scavenger Hunt

OBJECT - Find the most items on your list.

GAME TYPE - Scavenger hunt.

WHO'S IT FOR - Group Two. Have as many people as you want. If there are less than four, everyone will work individually. If there are four or more players, teams will be made of two or three, depending on whether there's an odd or even number.

WHAT YOU NEED - Lots of magazines, scissors, glue, and a list of the items you want the players to search for. You can either have a list with a box for each item, or just a list with a separate piece of paper for a collage.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Divide the players into teams of two or three.
2. Give everyone a list that you've made previously. As mentioned before, the list can be simply a list of items, or it can have a box for each item.
3. Have each team search through the magazines, looking for each item mentioned and cutting them out.
4. At the end of a set time limit, the searching is done. The players can now glue the pictures either to their list or make a collage by gluing them onto a separate piece of paper.
5. The team that found the most items, or that were the most creative, wins.

If you want to try a variation, have the players come up with the list they need to search for.

Some suggestions for items to search for:

• A car
• A boat
• A hat
• A shoe
• Something red
• Something tiny
• Letters that spell the names of everyone in your team
• Something to eat
• Something shiny
• A celebrity

THIS WORKS ON - Creativity (coming up with items for what is listed), artistic ability (cutting and pasting), finding items (finding what's listed)

Around The World

OBJECT - Score all the shots first!

GAME TYPE - Individual game.

WHO'S IT FOR - Groups Two and Three. You need at least two for this game, and probably no more than 8.

WHAT YOU NEED - A basketball, a basketball court (or half-court), and some means of marking spots (chalk, tape, carpet squares).

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Mark ten spots around the basketball court, with shots increasing in difficulty. For example, spot #1 might be right by the basket (lay up) while shot #10 is behind the basket.
2. On their turn, each player will start at spot #1 and try to work their way up to spot #10.
3. If a player makes a shot, they move ahead and shoot again.
4. If a player misses a shot, their turn is over and the next player tries.
5. Each player starts their turn from the last place they missed.
6. The first person to make all ten shots is the winner.

Know your group's abilities, and don't make the shots impossible, but do make them challenging. If your group can barely get the ball to the hoop from the free throw line, don't make them shoot from midcourt.

THIS WORKS ON - Competition (trying to make all the baskets before anyone else), athletic ability (basketball skills), eye-hand coordination (making shots).

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).

Hungry Hippos

OBJECT - Feed the hippos!

GAME TYPE - Four team game.

WHO'S IT FOUR - Group Two and Group Three. You need at least four players to play, but probably no more than 12.

WHAT YOU NEED - Four boxes or laundry baskets, several playground balls, and a fairly large area.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Divide the players into four teams. There should be one to three players on each team.
2. Assign each team to one goal. This is a hippo, and this is where they will try to score.
3. Everyone must try to score a goal in their own hippo while trying to block goals in other hippos. It may be helpful for teams to divide themselves into offense and defense.
4. If there are only four players, the playing area will be much smaller than if there are twelve.
5. If a ball is kicked into a hippo, that hippo's team scores one point. The ball goes back into play.
6. Players may only kick the ball.
7. At the end of a set time limit, whichever team has the most points wins.

All four teams must cooperate to prevent other teams from scoring while trying to score themselves. This can make the game pretty chaotic, so watch for frustration.

THIS WORKS ON - Competition (trying to score goals against other teams), eye-foot coordination (trying to aim kicks), interteam cooperation (working with other teams to try and defend).

Circle Kickball

OBJECT - Don't knock over any objects.

GAME TYPE - One team game.

WHO'S IT FOR - Groups One and Two. You need at least six people for this game.

WHAT YOU NEED - A kickball and several items for the center of the circle that can be knocked down.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Put everyone into a large circle, with at least an arm's length between them.
2. First, have the players jsut practice kicking the ball to someone else in the circle. Don't kick it too hard, or the other player won't be able to get it.
3. After everyone has kicked the ball to someone else a few times, put an object, such as an empty soda bottle, in the middle of the circle. Now the object of the game is to kick the ball across the circle without knocking over the object.
4. If the object gets knocked over, set it back up. See how many times the ball can be kicked across the circle before the object gets knocked over.
5. As the game progresses, make it more difficult by adding more objects to the circle. If one object gets knocked down, leave it as an obstacle. Only when everything gets knocked down do you set them up again.

This game is not a competition. People don't get eliminated for knocking down the object, though if someone refuses to follow directions and keeps aiming for the object, they may need to be removed.

THIS WORKS ON - Teamwork (everyone working together to keep the objects standing), eye-foot coordination (being able to aim kicks so the objects don't get hit), following directions (kicking to friends and not trying to hit center object).

Face Maker

OBJECT - Make a face using magazine pictures.

GAME TYPE - Art game.

WHO'S IT FOR - Group One and Group Two. You'll need enough people to cover the parts of the face, as listed below. If you have too many people, they can work in pairs or teams.

WHAT YOU NEED - Lots of old magazines, scissors, glue, and 10 sheets of paper.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Assign a facial feature to each player or team of players (eyes, ears, nose, mouth, hair, head, possibly neck, facial hair, or jewelry).
2. Have each player or team flip through the magazines look through their magazines to find their facial feature.
3. When they find it, they cut it out. (NOTE - Heads should be large, close up photos. The facial features on the head will be covered)
4. The players should find ten of their assigned facial feature.
5. Once all the facial features have been cut out, the players glue one onto each sheet of paper. Start with the head, then add the different facial features in any order after that. Facial features do not have to match.
6. Once all the faces are complete, have the players vote on which one they like the best.

This is not a competition. Everyone is working together to create faces.

THIS WORKS ON - Teamwork (working together to build a face), body concept (recognizing each facial feature and where it goes), artistic ability (being able to cut and paste), fine motor (operating the scissors).

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).

Animal Races

OBJECT - Run like an animal to win the race!

GAME TYPE - Racing games.

WHO'S IT FOR - Groups One and Two. There need to be at least two people for it to actually be a race, but it's better to have more competition.

WHAT YOU NEED - Cards that represent the various animals, and an area where the kids can run.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. The first thing to do is have the kids practice the various animal racing movements (see below the rules for a list of suggestions).
2. Once practiced, have heats for each movement. Have each student run a certain distance in one of the animal styles one at a time. Crown a champion of each animal class by who can finish each leg the fastest.
3. After all heats are done, do a big animal race. Have everyone start as one animal. When they reach a certain point, they switch to another animal. Keep switching as much as you want (use the animal cards to let them know when to switch), and the first one to reach the finish line is the winner.
4. You also may want to do the final animal race one at a time to keep things fair. Just keep track of the time, and the winner is the one who finishes the fastest.

These are good animal moves to use for the race:

• Cheetah Run - Run as fast as you can.
• Crab Walk - Walk on all fours with your back to the ground.
• Horse Trot - Gallop forward with one foot staying in front of the other.
• Kangaroo Hop - Jump forward with your feet together.
• Penguin Waddle - Walk with your legs pressed together.
• Snake Slither - Crawl forward with your belly staying on the ground.

THIS WORKS ON - Competition (racing against your peers), athletic ability (running, doing other animal moves quickly), sequencing (able to follow the moves and change when they need to)

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)

SPUD

OBJECT - Get everyone else to spell out SPUD by hitting them with the ball.

GAME TYPE - Dodge games.

WHO'S IT FOR - Group Two or Group Three. There should be at least three players for this game.

WHAT YOU NEED - A soft playground ball and plenty of space to run.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Gather all players in a circle and assign one player to be IT.
2. IT throws the ball as high as they can in the air, and all other players take off running.
3. IT catches the thrown ball and yells "FREEZE!" The running players must stop exactly where they are and not move.
4. IT must then try to hit one of the runners with the ball. IT may take up to three giant steps in their direction, then throw. The runner may not dodge.
5. If IT succeeds in hitting a runner, the runner gets a letter. The runner becomes the new IT.
6. If IT misses the runner, IT gets a letter. Choose a new IT in any way you like.
7. Everytime a runner gets hit, or IT misses, they get a letter. The first time, it's S. The second, P. The third, U. The fourth, D. If a player gets to D, they are out of the game.

Make sure no one is trying to hurt each other with their throws. Also, be very strict about the three step rule.

THIS WORKS ON - Eye-hand coordination (aiming the ball), following directions (three step rule, freeze), competition (trying to get other players out, being a good sport).

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).