Holy Crackers
Length: 30 mins
Age Range: Elementary (6-12yrs old)
Space Requirements:
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Description:
Group pairs off and interviews their partner (5min.).
Then the group forms two circles one inside the other with one partner sitting in front of the other. One pair is chosen and the person in the back stands up introduces their partner and then is given 2 crackers to chew on for 10 secs. They then have to talk about their partner! Watch the crumbs fly!
NWES
Length: 30 mins
Age Range: Elementary (6-12yrs old)
Space Requirements:
Supply List:
Description:
Have the group form a square around you. Tell them to look at you and to look at who is standing on either side of you. “Have them orient themselves to you.” Leave the group and have them follow you and place themselves appropriately. Keep moving and make it confusing.
Toss-A-Name Game
Length: 30 mins
Age Range: Elementary (6-12yrs old)
Space Requirements:
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Description:
If you have trouble remembering a bunch of new names in just-met group situation and you dislike name tags, (Hello, my name is _____) as much as I do, this game provides an action-packed sequence that makes forgetting harder than remembering.
Break up into groups of about 8-10 people, and stand in an informal circle (no holidng hands or dress-right-dress is necessary). A leader introduces the game by saying his/her first name, then tosses a tennis ball (or whatever) to the person on his/her right or left. continuing in one direction, each person says his/her first name and continues tossing the ball in sequence until the leader again has the ball. The leader then calls out someone's name in the circle (You do hav eto remember at least one person's name!) and lofts the ball to him/her, and that person calls another individual's name, etc., etc.
After the ball has been flying about for a few minutes, or more usefully after you begin to get a feel for all the names in the group, start up another ball, increasing the frequency of names being called and the action. Add a third ball toward the end of hte game just for fun, because at this point the law of diminishing returns creeps in. Names and balls are flying about so rapidly that it's hard to pinpoint who's who as balls careen off heads and bodies.
If there are other groups playing the same game, stop occasionally and ask a third of the group (3 group) to transfer to another group and being the actiona gain. After awhile announce to the three groups that anyone can change groups whenever he/she wants to, ensuring that everyone gets to hear each person's name.
Moonball
Length: 30 mins
Age Range: Elementary (6-12yrs old)
Space Requirements:
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Description:
Moonball is an excellent one-prop-game that develops cooperation and fast reactions. Play becomes intensely competitive, as a group competes against its last best effort. Scatter your group (any number, but use 2 or more balls as the group size demands) on a basketball court or a field. Use a well inflated beach ball as the object of play. The gruop's objective is to hit the ball aloft as many times as possible before the ball strikes the ground.
Do not use a volleyball, basketball, etc for this game. A beach ball is a non-intimidating fun-related object of play and its flight characteristics fit in well with the low-key emphasis.
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Booop
Length: 30 mins
Age Range: Elementary (6-12yrs old)
Space Requirements:
Supply List:
Description:
Blow up one of the balloons and tie off the neck. Ask your group of 4-6 people to join hands in a circle and try to keep the balloon aloft (off the floor) by b atting the balloon with any parts of heir body, including hands which must remain clasped. If the balloon touches the gloor, the group loses use of thei rhands. As balloons continue to eventually and inevitably fall to the floor, keep removing parts of the anatomy that are allowed to strike the balloon; for example, elbows, shoulders, head, thigh, etc. The group that eventually loses use of their feet is out and can then recycle to any point of the game they choose. Watch for high kicks in a small circle.
Addition to BOOOP – For you trivia buffs, the name BOOOP comes from the sound of an elbow hitting a balloon.
Another variation requires the group to sit on the floor while boooping the baloons. As a last means of keeping the balloons aloft, allow no body contact, only air pressure; i.e., blowing. Another approach allows a designated person to call out BOOP commands. For example: Hands only; heads only (then clockwise & counter clockwise); sit down and toes only; on your back and hands only etc. Continue using as many parts of the anatomy as possible. This is a functional variation in that misses or mistakes have no consequence except laughter.
Finish by ordering the groups to see how long they can keep a balloon off the floor by blowing only.
Parachut Possibilities – Shark
Length: 30 mins
Age Range: Elementary (6-12yrs old)
Space Requirements:
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Description:
As a group stand in a circle, holding the edes of the parachute and sit down and sit down on the guym floor, pulling the edges of the chute up to your waist with your legs underneath.
As a person to act as the SHARK. THis nefarious individual scoots under the shut and begins patrolling the confines of the chute's perimeter (the SHARK pool). WHen the shark spies a pair of feet that looks delectable, she/he grabs those appenages and while alternately squeezing and relaxing their grip (chewing motion), the SHARK pulls the victim under the chute to join as a zombie shark. All this is accomplished administ much screaming and thrashing about by the victim. Then, thse two sharks continue patrolling the pool, looking for more wiggling meat. Continue play until the last victim becomes the next shark.
Parachute Possibilities – Tug-O-War
Length: 30 mins
Age Range: Elementary (6-12yrs old)
Space Requirements:
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Description:
A parachute quickies that doesn't work if your chut has holes in it.
If your cute is divided into colours, setting up the contest is easy. Reds against whites , or reds against yellows against whites, etc.
Simply have your group securely grasp the edge of the chut and pull with their “team” until one group pulls another group steadily in one direction. Watching the amount of tension applied to the rip-stop nylon and the stitches gives an idea of how well made a parachute must be.
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Parachute Possibilities: Cat and Mouse
Length: 30 mins
Age Range: Elementary (6-12yrs old)
Space Requirements:
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Description:
Position: Group kneels around the perimeter of a parachute and grasps the edge.
Object: For a mouse to stay hidden (uncaught) under the parachute while a cat, crawling on top of the parachut, tries to pounce on the mouse. The group tries to help the mouse by rapidly shaking he folds of the parachute up and down. Such irregular wave-like motion gives the mouse some hiding space and is confusing for the cat.
Benefits:
Parachute Possibilities
Length: 30 mins
Age Range: Elementary (6-12yrs old)
Space Requirements:
Supply List:
Description:
Where-Am-I?
Position: As in Cat and MOuse, except standing.
Object: For a blindfolded person, standing on top of and in the centre of the parachute, to try and find the only path out of the parachute. The path is designated by one or two people holding their piece of the parachute's arc to the floor, while the other standing floks moderately flap their sections up and down.
Verbal soun effects of a violent store add to the realism and make the task more challenging and fun. If your gym floor is dusty or dirty, for the sake of everyone's respiratory health, skip the last two activities or clean the place up a bit.
Hoop Relay
Length: 30 mins
Age Range: Elementary (6-12yrs old)
Space Requirements:
Supply List:
Description:
Teams line up.
The first person in line passes a loop over their head, down to their feet, and steps out, then passes it to the next person. The hoop is passed down the line until all players have completed the process.
Variation:
Teams divide into couples. They run out to a line, pick up the hoop, put it over their heads and pull it down to their feet, hop out, and run back to tag the next couple. If you can't find a good supply of “Hula-Hoops”, some ropes tied in a loop will work.