There’s nothing kids need more to break up a day spent sitting still and listening than a fun P.E. class to let off some steam. Today’s P.E. teachers have lots of games to choose from, from classics to new inventions. Our list of games includes games that you can play with simple equipment to no equipment at all. Regardless of your students’ athletic abilities, there is something for everyone on our list of elementary P.E. games with tips from Coach Gelardi!
These games don’t require any equipment, just rules and space to play.
1. Bridge Tag
This game starts as simple tag but evolves into something more fun once the tagging begins. Once tagged, kids must form a bridge with their body and they can’t be freed until someone crawls under the bridge.
2. 6-7 Tag
This game capitalizes on something you’ll already hear in class: six-seven. When a player gets tagged, they strike a “7” pose. They can be released if a player slides under them and says “6” then they make the 6-7 movement.
3. Rock Paper Scissors Tag
A fun spin on tag, children will tag one another and then play a quick game of Rock Paper Scissors to determine who has to sit and who gets to continue playing.
4. Ten Second Tag
Assign designated chasers and runners. Runners line up in a line and, if tagged, go to the end of the line. This keeps the players moving and the game going.
5. The Border
Divide the area into two halves. Select one or two taggers to stand in the center. The rest of the players line up at one end of the area. In the restricted zone, players must move without their feet touching the floor. They can crawl or seal walk or move any way that keeps their feet off the floor. In the free zone, players can move however they want. Players get to switch sides once per round. If a player is tagged, they join the tagger’s team for the next round.
6. Switch
In this game, divide the area into four squares. Students have to quickly move from one spot to another when they hear the word “switch!”
7. Turtle Tag
Tag, but you can flip onto your back and become a “turtle” for. 10 seconds to avoid being tagged.
8. Blob Tag
Pick two students to start as the Blob, then as they tag other kids, they become part of the Blob. Be sure to demonstrate safe tagging, stressing the importance of soft touches and not moving too roughly when they are part of the blob.
9. Home Free Bad Guy Blob Tag
In this tag game, set up safe zones. Tagged players join the “blob” or chain and try to tag others. But, players can escape to safe zones. The goal is to be the last player outside the blob.
10. Shoe Relay
All students need to play this game is the shoes on their feet. First, players remove one or both shoes and put them in a pile. On the signal, they run to find their shoes, put them on, and tag the next teammate.
11. Human Alphabet
For this game, students spell letters with their bodies. Call out a letter and watch the class turn into Ms, Ns, and Zs.
12. Secret Agent Tag
In this version of tag, students who are secret agents can secretly revive players that have been tagged. Assign students to be citizens, taggers, and secret agents before. the game.
13. Man from Mars
Students stand in a line and ask the student in the middle (the man from mars) if they can pass. The man from mars decides if they can or not. The game is similar to Mother May I, but with an outer space theme.
14. Pac Man
This is a great game to play in the gym or in a space with lines on the floor. One person is Pac Man. Everyone travels along the lines and tries to avoid being “eaten.” Just like the classic video game.
Classic P.E. Games
These games have been around forever, for good reason! They build listening, rule-following, teamwork, and movement skills.
15. Red Light Green Light
One student is the stop light. They turn around when it is “green light” so the other students can advance. Then, when it’s “stop light” they turn towards the players. Whoever is caught moving is out.
16. What Time is It Mr. Fox?
Designate one “wolf.” The students ask the wolf, what time it is. Then, when the wolf replies with a number 1 through 12, they can take that many steps forward. The goal is to tag the wolf.
17. Leap Frog Tag
Combine leap frog and tag, two classic games. When a player is tagged, they must crouch into a “Frog” and can only be freed when a player leapfrogs over them.
18. Mousetrap
At the start of the game, half the students form a circle with linked hands, the trap. The other players are mice and run in and out of the circle. When the cat yells “Snap!” the trap drops their arms and catches any mice inside the trap. The game ends when all the mice are caught.
19. Steal the Bacon
Line two teams up on opposite sides of the space. Assign each player a number. Then, the teacher calls a number and those players rush to the middle to steal an object, the bacon. They want to bring it back to their side safely without getting tagged by their opponent.
20. Kickball
The rules of kickball are the same as baseball, but with a kickball. This game is more accessible than baseball, and faster moving.
21. Dodgeball
The rules of dodgeball are simple: avoid the ball and throw your ball to get as many people out as possible. Last man standing wins. Dodgeball can get competitive, so set clear boundaries and use soft balls.
22. Tug of War
Divide students into teams and see who wins when pulling on a rope. There are the classic divisions-girls vs. boys, but you can also get creative with Hufflepuffs vs. Gryffindors or Bluey vs. Bingo.
23. Four Square
Draw a large square divided into four parts. Each part has a number (1-4) and the players move from square 1 to 4 (the king). For each round, the server (at number 4), they hit the ball underhand. The ball can bounce one time per square. If it bounces more times or the ball goes out of bounds, then that player is out, the players move up a square and a new player can come into square 1.
24. Mother May I
In this classic game, one person is the “mother.” The other players ask the mother how they can move (Mother, can I jump four times). The goal is to tag the Mother and replace them.
25. Sharks and Minnows
Assign students to be either a shark or a minnow. The minnows attempt to run to a safe zone without being tagged by sharks that are waiting in the minnow. If a minnow is tagged, they become a shark and help catch the other minnows.
Phys Ed Games with Equipment
Use equipment you probably already have in the gym closet to play these games.
26. Tic Tac Toe
Set up a tic tac toe game with hula hoops, scarves or beanbags. Then, students play tic tac toe by tossing equipment into the spot they want.
27. Cross the River
Cross the River is a cooperative game. Set up a river with mats or other equipment. Then, teams must try to cross the river without touching the ground. If a player touches the water, the whole team must restart.
28. Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Cones
Line up cones, then have students pair up and stand on either side of a cone. Finally, call out head, shoulders, knees, or cones. If cones is called, students have to race to be the first to pick up their cone before their opponent.
29. Spider Ball
Elementary PE games are often variations of dodgeball like this one. First, one or two players start with the ball and attempt to hit all of the runners as they run across the gym or field. If a player is hit, they can then join in and become a spider themselves.
30. Crab Soccer
Students assume a “crab” position and move like crabs to move a huge ball from goal to goal.
31. Zombie Tag
Assign 3 or 4 students to be Zombies. The Zombies pull hula hoops behind them and hold pool noodles in their hands. The rest of the students, the humans, have to avoid the zombies. If they are tagged they become a zombie themselves. The game continues until all the players are zombies.
32. Monster Ball
You’ll need a large exercise ball or something similar to act as the monster ball in the middle. First make a square around the monster ball, then divide the class into teams on either side of the square. Finally, task the teams with throwing small balls at the monster ball to move it into the other team’s area.
33. Striker Ball
Players stand in a circle with their legs apart and act as goalies to hit a ball through each others’ legs. Students must keep the ball low and not block the ball by closing their legs.
34. Octopus Tag
Create an octopus with hula hoops and pool noodles. The octopus tags players by tagging them with a pool noodle tentacle.
35. Wheelbarrow race
Sometimes the best elementary PE games are the simplest. An oldie but a goodie, wheelbarrow races require no equipment and are guaranteed to be a hit with your students.
36. Star Wars Tag
Assign students to be a Stormtrooper (tagger) or Rebel (runner). The Stormtroopers use foam pool noodles as lightsabers to tag the Rebels. Tagged players can freeze, do exercises, or turn into Troopers.
37. Rob the Nest
Create an obstacle course that leads to a nest of eggs (balls). Then divide the students into teams. They will have to race relay-style through the obstacles to retrieve eggs and bring them back to their team.
38. Cornhole Cardio
This one is so fun but can be a little bit confusing, so be sure to leave plenty of time for instruction. Kids are divided into teams and must complete an obstacle course that ends in a round of cornhole.
39. Connect 4 Relay
This relay takes the game Connect 4 to a whole new level. Players must use hula hoops to create rows of four either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
40. Zookeeper Tag
Students will either be a zookeeper or an animal that escape from cages (mats or hula hoops). When the animals are tagged by the zookeeper, they run to a cage. The goal is to catch all the animals.
41. Mosquito Tag
Create mosquitos with a pool noodle hat and designate a few mosquitos to tag students in this clever tag rendition.
42. Pac-Man Hopping and Jumping
Fans of retro video games like Pac-Man will get a kick out of this live-action version where students get to act out the characters by jumping from hoop to hoop while avoiding being “eaten” by a Pacman.
43. Spaceship Tag
Players (astronauts) move around the gym in spaceships (hula hoops). Assign one or more students to be an alien that tag players. If an astronaut is tagged they have to do jumping jacks or freeze until rescued by another astronaut.
44. Rock Paper Scissors Beanbag Balance
This spin on Rock Paper Scissors works on balance and coordination. Students walk around the gym until they find an opponent, then the winner collects a beanbag, which they must balance on their head!
45. Volcanoes and Ice Cream Cones
Divide the class into two teams: Volcanoes and Ice Cream. First, spread cones around the gym, half upside down and half right side up. Then, have teams race to flip as many cones as possible to either volcanoes or ice cream cones.
46. Musical Hula-Hoops
PE games for kindergartners that are similar to party games are some of our favorites. This one’s like musical chairs but with Hula-Hoops! Kids walk through hula hoops until the music stops. Then, they have to sit down and claim their hoop.
47. Three-Ball
This fun variation on dodgeball begins with three balls on a basketball court. If you are hit by a ball or if you take a step while holding a ball, you are out.
48. Freedom Catch
This is a simple throwing, catching, and tag game that will certainly be a hit with your P.E. class. To begin, captors attempt to tag players so they can send them to jail. But the captured can be freed by catching a ball thrown by a teammate.
49. Oscar’s Trashcan
As far as P.E. games for kindergartners go, this one is a guaranteed winner because it is based on the show Sesame Street. Two teams compete to fill their opponent’s trash can while emptying their own. The team with the least amount of trash in their trash can at the end wins!
50. Four-Way Frisbee
Divide your class into four separate teams, who will compete for points by catching a Frisbee inside one of the designated goal areas. Also, there are a number of other rules to modify the game in a way that’s best for your class.
51. Badminton King’s/Queen’s Court
This one is simple but fun since it is played rapid-fire with kids waiting their turn to take on the king or queen of the court. The goal is to be the player that stays on the court the longest by scoring points and knocking out new opponents.
52. Obstacle Course
Regardless of whether you’ve ever seen an episode of American Ninja Warrior, you’re probably familiar with the concept and so are your students. Plus, you’ll probably have just as much fun as your students setting up the obstacles and testing them out!
53. Balloon Tennis
What a fun way to learn the basics of tennis! Regular rules apply, but instead of a hard ball, students bat a balloon back and forth.
54. Indoor Putting Green
Use kid-sized golf clubs and a few obstacles to set up a game of minigolf on your field or even in the gym.
55. Pick It Up
Teams collect to pick up spots from the center area by tossing a bean bag onto the spot. When they land a beanbag they can pick up the spot and return the spot to the team’s pile. The goal is to collect all the team’s spots.
56. Scooter Hockey
Use scooters and hockey sticks and pucks to play a friendly game of hockey. This game is great for a day when you have to play indoors.
57. Tossin’ Towers
Build a tower of blocks. Then, kids stand in a circle and toss a ball all the way around. If they successfully toss and catch, they add another level to their tower.
58. Bozo Challenge
This is a fun, challenging activity to help students build their underhand throwing skills. Put buckets along one side of the space. Then, students toss a ball into the buckets.
59. Hula Hut Challenge
Build your students’ collaboration and teamwork skills as they progress through seven levels of building a hut out of Hula-Hoops. Add a relay component by having each student in a team run with a hula hoop to create their hula building.
60. Noodle Hockey
This fast-paced game is played just like floor hockey but with pool noodles instead of hockey sticks. Same adrenaline rush, much lower risk of injury (obviously).
61. Protect the Castle
To begin, five to seven kids stand in the middle protecting a group of objects such as bowling pins. Then, the rest of the kids throw balls at the pins, trying to knock them down.
62. Tit for Tat
First, choose a playing area that can be divided into two clear zones. Then, create safe zones with Hula-Hoops. Finally, divide students into two teams and begin play. The object is to pass safely into your opponent’s territory without being tagged.
63. Steal It Kickball
Have kids play this super-fun variation on the classic game of kickball. Use hula hoops for bases so that multiple runners can steal bases. Runners can attempt to advance from base to base on every pitch, not just when the ball is kicked.
Parachute P.E. Games
What list of elementary PE games would be complete without some parachute fun? So simple yet so fun, all you will need is a large parachute and enough students to create two teams.
64. Parachute Tug-of-War
Have students stand on opposite sides of the parachute. Then let them compete to see which side comes out on top.
65. Fleas Off the Parachute
Another fun parachute game! This time, one team tries to keep the balls (fleas) on the parachute and the other tries to get them off.
66. Sharks and Life Guards
Swimmers stand around the parachute. They shake the parachute with the goal of pulling “sharks” under the parachute.
67. Dizzy Dizzy
To play dizzy dizzy, students hold onto a parachute and spin it slower and then faster and faster.
68. Parachute Popcorn
To play parachute popcorn, students hold a parachute and slowly start waving it. Then, as you tell them it’s getting hotter and hotter they move it faster and faster. Add balls to the top of the parachute to pop like popcorn.
Sometimes you need a game you can indoors. These games are just the thing.
69. Simon Says Fitness
Simon Says can be played with younger and older kids. Increase the complexity or skill for older students.
70. Four Corners
This classic game engages students physically while also working on motor skills. Students move to one corner of the space and perform a specific movement.
71. Musical Statues
Play music and students dance. When the music stops, students have to freeze. If they don’t, they’re out.
72. Fitness BINGO
Create a fitness BINGO card and have students complete their card by doing activities that you call out.
73. Limbo
Get a broomstick and start the music. How low can you go!
74. Steal the Cup
A twist on steal the bacon, this version can be played in the classroom.
75. Movement Dice
This is a perfect warm-up that requires only a die and a sheet with corresponding exercises.
76. Human Knot
Students stand. in a circle and link hands. Then, they have to unravel their know without breaking hands.
