Jack Frost Tag

Setup and Equipment:

  •  K-2: Four stuffed animal taggers
  •  Four hula hoops for the Heat Meisters (Optional for primary grades)

Guidelines:

  • Students that are chosen as taggers (Jack Frost) may tag or throw the stuffed animal or ball.
  • When a student is tagged they are immediately frozen and they stand perfectly straight up and down
  • Students have one way to avoid being tagged. They can do three very slow jumping jacks to simulate a standing snow angel. After 3 seconds they must continue moving and trying not to be tagged by jack frost.
  • The three “heat meisters” carry a hula hoop which is the defroster for this game.
  • They must put the hoop over and down over the frozen player to defrost them.
  • The game continues for about 2 minutes, then new taggers and “heat meisters” are chosen.

 

 

Bear Sighting Freeze Tag

Setup and Equipment:

  • Everybody It Version: No equipment needed

Guidelines:

  • Students are tagged with a two finger (peace sign) tag on someone’s knees.
  • If someone is tagged in this game; make themselves as big as they can by spreading legs and stretching out hands.These are  the protocols for a bear sighting in the woods near Spencer Butte. Remain standing in this frozen position until saved by a classmate.
  • To be saved from a frozen state, classmates will give them a high five to get back in the game.
  • Students have one way to avoid being tagged.  They are safe in in this game when they are pivoting on one foot. Students may do this for three turns, then they can move again.
  • Game changer: No bases. For 30 seconds there is no pivoting.
  • The game continues for about about five minutes or so.
  • Variation: Choose taggers who can use yarn balls as taggers.

 

 

Octopus Run

Octopus Run: 

Setup and Equipment;

  • Select three people to be the octopuses (octopi). They stand on the center line to be the taggers. They will will try to tag people using the two-finger peace tag on the upper back of their classmates.
  • The rest of the class are crabs (octopus prey) and stands on one of the lines at one end of the gym, facing  the octopi.

Guidelines:

  • The game starts when the teacher starts the music.
  • The octopi are allowed to run anywhere in the gym and use their tentacles (hands) to tag others.
  • When someone is tagged by an octopus, they become seaweed and their feet attach to the ocean floor. Their arms are outstretched and they wave in the air as they attempt to tag people when they run by them.
  • After most of the crabs have made it to the other side the music is stopped. The students that are running turn around and face the wall they came from.
  • The teacher restarts the music and the crabs attempt to run back to their original starting line.
  • Play continues in this manner until most of the players have had a turn.
  • Anytime an octopus gets tired they may switch with one of the seaweed.
  • The game is over when most of the crabs have been turned into seaweed.

Climbing Wall Tag

This is an “everybody it” tag game.

Equipment and Setup:

  • Many elementary schools have climbing walls that are not higher than eight feet. These “traversing walls” can be used in this game.
  • Open part or all of the climbing wall, so students have the room to climb up and down.
  • Emphasize climbing up and down the wall.

Guidelines:

  • Everyone is “it” to start the game.
  • Students may tag each other by using the a two-finger (peace) tag on the back of their classmates.
  • Three Second Standing Base: Players are immune from being tagged if they are standing and balancing on one foot. They can only do this for three seconds. Then, they have to move around the gym before they stand and balance on one foot again.
  • When a student is tagged they go to the wall and climb up and tap their hand above the highest handhold.
  • Then, climb back down and reenter the game.

 

Valentine Hug Tag

Setup and Equipment:

  • Four soft red balls for the “cupid – its”
  • Practice the hug: Lean forward with two soft taps
  • Practice the Macho Hug: Do a thumb handshake with two hand taps on the other person’s back
  • Practice becoming a “heart” by lifting arms (elbows up) above their heads and pointing their hands downwards to the top of their head.
  • When a person is tagged they stand frozen in this position.

Guidelines:

  • The “cupid – its” attempt to tag players by throwing or tagging them with the red ball
  • If a player is tagged, they stand frozen in the “heart” position
  • A heart is unfrozen and the player returns to the game when another player gives them a hug – or a “macho hug”
  • Continue the game by having the “old its” pick “new its”until turns are completed by each student.

 

Reindeer Tag

Setup and Equipment

  • Equipment: Yarn balls or stuffed animals for tagging
  • Four people are chosen to be “its”

Guidelines

  • When a student gets tagged they kneel with one knee down and one knee up. They put their thumbs on their head and spread their fingers out like antlers.
  • In order to be defrosted from the “reindeer position” the other players approach the frozen player from the front and wiggle their antlers/fingers together to free them.
  • After a one to two minute winter holiday song, a transition song is played. The theme from the Nutcracker works well right before the winter break.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crows and Cranes

Setup and Equipment:

  • Divide class into two teams.

Guidelines:

  • Have each team line up facing each other about 6-10 feet apart.
  • One team is the “crows” and one team is the “cranes.”
  • The teacher calls one of the teams.
  • The team’s name that is called has to run back to the end line without getting tagged by someone on the other team. If they get tagged, they join the other team.
  • If “crows” is called, cranes are chasing the crows. If “cranes” is called, crows are chasing the cranes.

Beanbag Slide Tag

Setup and Equipment:

  • Twenty – twenty-five beanbags are spread around the floor
  • Students are standing at walls of the gym to start the game
  • Guidelines:

  • The object of this game is to hit the other player’s feet by rolling the beanbag
  • Players may not run with a beanbag!
  • Students stay within the boundaries (black lines) unless retrieving a beanbag that is out of bounds.
  • On the teacher’s signal – students run into the playing area
  • Students may roll it towards the feet of another student
  • If a player is hit on the foot – they go to the “out” line (Having some mats set up at one end of the gym will work).
  • Players that are out – reenter the game when the player that got them out gets out
  • When students don’t know who got them out, they go to the “clock box” – the teacher will time them out for 1 minute or at which time – they may reenter game
  • When too many students are waiting to get back into the game, Teacher may call out “everybody free” and the game continues.
  • Oompa Loompa Tag

    Setup and Equipment:

    • Oompa Loompa Music from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
    • Golden tickets: Yarn balls will work
    • Four to five players are chosen to be taggers.
    • Taggers have the “golden ticket” and attempt to tag the other players.

    Guidelines:

    • When a player is tagged, they lean down and hold onto their ankles and become an Oompa Loompa.
    • Now, they begin to look for other Oompa Loompas.
    • The Oompa Loompas find each other by walking while holding their ankles.
    • When two Oompa Loompas find each other they hold their hands high and make a bridge.
    • When a third Oompa Loompa walks (while holding ankles) under the bridge, then all three of these players become free and return to the game.
    • Play continues for one to two minutes.
    • The next game starts after the “old taggers” hand their golden ticket (tagging ball) to the”new taggers”.

    Alternative Base: Set an area in front of each wall with cones about 10-12 feet apart and 3-4 feet in front of the wall. Students may rest for 3 seconds for a base. They can stay for 10 seconds if they move next to the wall for calf, hamstring or quad stretching.