In today's fast-paced world, finding time for fun can be a challenge. What if you could set up engaging physical education games for kids of varying ages quickly? Say goodbye to complicated preparations and hello to quick, exciting activities that fit perfectly into your busy schedule. These simple yet effective games ensure that children stay active, entertained, and ready to play, no matter how packed your day might be. Below I will discuss 9 simple pe activities for kids: only 5 minutes to set up and for 3 different age groups.
Let's kick things off by diving into my top three game picks for young kids aged 6-9. Trust me, these little gems will have your kiddos laughing, running, and burning off that endless energy faster than you can say "nap time." So, grab your whistle and your sense of humor, because these physical education games for the elementary school age group are about to cause giggles and grins like nothing else!
Freeze Tag
This tag game is my go-to lesson plan for any group of kids. It doesn’t require any equipment to play although you could use cones or any kind of designated marker as a boundary line if needed. Gameplay for Freeze Tag is quite simple. One student will be “it”. They will then chase the other kids, and try to tag them. Once tagged, a student must freeze. An unfrozen student that isn’t “it” can tag a frozen student to unfreeze them. The game ends once every student is frozen or the designated time limit is reached. A chilly teamwork twist for this tag game that I like to add is that instead of just one player needed to unfreeze a frozen player, you need four players to tag you at the same time.
Hopscotch
For this pe teacher classic you’ll need sidewalk chalk and a small object like a beanbag, or any small stone you can find. To play this outdoor game, first use the sidewalk chalk to draw a hopscotch grid with numbered squares on the ground. Then a player will toss the small object into the first square. After that, the player will hop through the squares skipping the square with the stone. Then they must turn around and skip back, this time picking up the stone. If they didn’t hop on a line or out of the squares they toss the stone into the next square and do it again. To play this kids pe game with your whole class, make it a hopscotch relay! Divide the class into teams of 4-5 students, and have each group draw out their hopscotch grid with an equal number of squares. Have them form a line behind each of their respective grids, and race on the count of three. The first team done wins!
Simon Says
For this instant activity, one player is "Simon" and gives commands to the other kids, such as "Simon says do five jumping jacks!" The game description is that players must only follow the command if it begins with "Simon says." If "Simon" gives a command without saying "Simon says," players who follow it are out. The game continues until only one player remains, they then become the new "Simon." Simon says is also a great way to get your whole gym class into an exercise routine. Simply add in commands such as “Simon says do 5 pushups” - but also make sure you add in more social commands like “Simon says high-five someone not standing next to you” to balance out the exercise oriented commands and ensure your pe class has a great time.
Now let's shift gears and explore my top three pe games for any student aged 10-13. These physical education games are guaranteed to get any middle school student entertained, active, and away from their screens. Get ready for some serious fun and friendly competition that will have them moving, strategizing, and laughing all afternoon. Grab your game face and let's dive into some excitement!
Gaga Ball
For Gaga Ball all you need is a gaga ball pit and a playground ball. This pe game is played with multiple students who stand inside the enclosed pit. The objective is to hit the ball at or below the knees of another student to eliminate them from the game. The game begins with all students standing inside the pit. One student serves the ball by tossing it into the center, and the ball must bounce three times in the play area before it can be hit. Students then use their hands to hit the ball, aiming to strike other students below the knees. If a student is hit at or below the knees, they are out, and must leave the pit. Students can only hit the ball once before it touches another student or the wall of the pit. Be the last one in the pit to win! My favorite way to play Gaga Ball, which works great for those rainy days, is to use balloons instead of balls. If you pop it then you have to run a lap which is just regular physical activity for any young kids.
Double Dutch
There are just two things required to double dutch and that is two long jump ropes. To play you need a minimum of three people, two kids to turn the ropes and one kid to jump. The ropes are turned in opposite directions at the same time while the jumper simply jumps. The goal is to jump as many times as possible without hitting the ropes and disrupting the turn pattern. There are numerous double dutch chants that can help make this simple game more fun. My personal favorite chant is, “Cinderella dressed in yella, went downstairs to kiss a fella, made a mistake and kissed a snake.How many doctors did it take? 1, 2, 3...” Then you just keep counting until the jumper hits the ropes. What child doesn't love to jump rope? This pe lesson is a great way the help any young child develop fine motor skills and make any physical education class the highlight of a child's day.
Crab Soccer
For Crab Soccer all you need is a soccer ball and cones or markers to designate the goals. Players will move around on all fours with their stomachs facing up, imitatting the looks of crabs crawling around. Crab Soccer is a moderate intensity activity, and great for teaching gross motor skills. This pe game is made up of two teams - using their feet, kids will kick the ball into the opposing team's goal. The team with the most points at the end of the designated time limit wins. I like to play this game on the beach. The sand makes it harder to walk around but also makes the falls so much softer. Also where else would crabs play soccer?Now, let's turn our attention to the top three pe games for teens aged 14-17. These pe games are designed to bring out their competitive spirit, creativity, and helps develop some teamwork skills. Perfect for luring them away from their phones and into some real-world fun, these activities will have your teens laughing, strategizing, and enjoying every moment of high school pe. Buckle up and get ready to dive into the ultimate teen game experience!
9 Square
Watch this video, or read the rules below.
All you need for this fun game is a 9 Square set and an inflatable ball. The game is played with nine or more players, each standing in one of the squares within the grid. The objective is to advance to and maintain the center square by strategically hitting the ball into other players' squares, without it landing on the ground in your own square. The game begins with the ball being served from the center square. Players then hit the ball with an open hand, aiming to send it into any of the other eight squares. If the ball lands outside the grid, that player is out and must leave the game. The remaining players then rotate to fill the empty squares, with a new player entering the lowest-numbered square. The best part is you can play for as short or long as you’d like, as there are no specific rules that end the game. My favorite way to play 9 Square is to use a volleyball instead of a soft ball. It adds a technical challenge high school students will certainly enjoy.
Fitness Bingo
Prep this game by finding a free custom bingo card generator online and fill out the cards with the activities or exercises you want your gym class to do. Print out the sheets, and if you want, put them in plastic sheet protectors so they can be reused. Hand each student a fitness bingo card and a dry erase marker at the at the beginning of class, and have your students spread out around the gym an arms width apart. Then read off random exercises from your list until someone gets bingo! Better yet, play for second and third place too so that more people have a chance to win! Then have everyone erase their sheets and play again!
Roller Skating
For this instant activity, all you need is skates and protective equipment like helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards. Skating is a simple skill. All you do is skate around a designated surface which is typically a smooth surface like a rink or a paved area. You can set up an obstacle course or add in a game while skating. My favorite add-on is a group game of musical chairs on skates. To play you will designate six different spots on the rink for skaters to group into. Play music while skaters are skating, and when the music stops skaters must pick and stop on one of the six designated spots. The “referee” will roll a giant die and the number it lands on will eliminate the skaters in that spot. Repeat until one skater is left, then start over!Incorporating quick setup games into your physical education lesson plans can make a significant difference in keeping students engaged and active. These 9 games are perfect for a fun field day or regular physical education classes. Each fun game offers a straightforward and enjoyable way to meet physical fitness guidelines, making for simple classroom management and ensuring that students participate in moderate-intensity activities regularly. By integrating these activities into your PE planning, you'll create a dynamic and healthy playing area that encourages everyone to stay active and have fun.
