ternational Games for Elementary School Students
Chinese Wall
ChinaGrades K-5
Equipment: None. Optional Scrimmage Vests
Activity Description: Two guards are selected to be taggers. Guards stand inside the marked off wall area. The rest of the class begins on the baseline. When the guards yell “Go” students run across the wall to the opposite baseline. Any student that is tagged, joins the guards on the wall and becomes a tagger. (Taggers may put on optional scrimmage vest for an added visual aid.) Once all students have crossed, taggers face class and say “Go.” Game can be played until all students are tagged or for an allotted amount of time, switching guards every few minutes.
Variations: Select one line on the gym wall to use as a wall. Guards must remain with both feet on
the wall at all times. Instead of the entire class running on “Go,” Guards may say “Try and cross my wall if…(characteristic: i.e. shirt color, hair color, wearing jeans)
Greek Ball Game
GreeceGrades 3-5
Equipment: Playground Ball or Volleyball Trainer
Activity Description: Played summarily to Steal the Bacon, the class is divided into to equal teams and each student is given a number. Teacher calls out a number and both students race to the center to get the ball. Student that gets the ball attempts to throw it past the opposing teams line taking only one step. Designate a height that the ball must be thrown below (shoulder height or designated line on wall.) If student gets ball past opposing team, his/her team gets a point. If opposing team catches or blocks ball, that team gets a point. Play until all numbers have been called.
Variations: Many modifications can be made to this game to suit the needs of your class. One modification is allowing students to take two steps and a dribble before throwing. The student without the ball may play defense and try to steal the ball. If the ball is stolen that player’s team may receive a point. It may also be used as a lead up game for basketball or team handball. Call two numbers at a time. Students must complete a pass with their teammate before shooting.
Lizeth Diarte
MexicoGrades 4 and up
Equipment: Takraw Game Ball, Scrimmage Vests
Activity Description: Lizeth Diarte is played very similarly to Keep Away in the United States. Students will be divided into two equal teams each team wearing a different color scrimmage vest. The game will start with a jump ball. Team winning possession of the ball will immediately be on offense. Offensive team will try to complete as many passes as possible with the defense intercepting the ball. One team member is responsible for counting passes. Five successive passes equals 1 point. Defense must cleanly intercept ball, if
ball hits floor it is off of the team that last contacted the ball. Possession goes to other team. Game may be played for a certain period of time or until one team reaches a certain number of points.
Variations: Playing area can be modified depending on ability level of students. Typically, boundary lines of gym are used. Modifications of type of ball used may be made to accommodate ability level of students or students with special needs. Suggested ball modifications include medium sized gator balls. To increase difficulty of play, students may only use dominant hand to throw and catch.
Jamaquack
AustraliaK-5
Equipment: 3 Blindfolds
Activity Description: This activity is a cooperative game in which three students are chosen to put on blindfold and stand in the center of a circle formed by the rest of the class by holding hands. An opening is placed in the circle by having two students let go of each other’s hands and spreading out. The students with the blindfolds try to find the opening and get out of the circle. Once one student gets out of the circle he/she begins to quack like a duck to help the two other players find the opening.
Variations: Once one blindfolded student finds the opening the rest of the circle will begin to move. The student may take off his/her blindfold and try to keep up with the circle while “quacking” until the all of the students are out of the circle.
Bowling for People
Great Britain3-5
Equipment: 20 – 30 Beanbags, 2 Small Cones, 2 Foam Dice
Activity Description: Student will be divided into 2 equal teams and will go to opposite sides of gym. In the middle of the gym, beanbags will be spread across the floor. On each team’s side, there will be a small cone with a foam dice on top of the cone on the baseline. At the start of the game, students will run to middle of gym and collect beanbags. The object of the game is for students to SLIDE beanbags on floor to get students on other team out. If a student is hit with a beanbag the student comes off to the sideline. If a student knocks the foam dice off the cone by sliding a beanbag all students on that student’s team come back in the game. The game is played until all students on one team are out.
* It is important to stress to students that throwing beanbags is not permitted and the only way to get a player out is by keeping the beanbag on the floor. If a player is hit with a beanbag in the air, the player throwing the beanbag is out.
Variations: Instead of students trying to get other team out, small cones can be scattered through the playing field and 1 point can be awarded for knocking down a cone.
Guess Who
JamaicaK-5
Equipment: 1 Hula Hoop per team, Scarves, Small Cones, Cups, Various Balls
Activity Description: This activity is both a listening activity as well as a speed and agility game. The gym is set up with hula-hoops around the gym for each pair of players. There are various items (scarves, small cones, cups, balls) in the center of the gym. One player is the collector and their partner is responsible for memorizing the list of items. The teacher calls a list of items (2 to 5) and the collector tries to retrieve items and place in his/her hula-hoop. Players are allowed to borrow items from other hoops if the item is not left in the center of the gym. Students are only allowed to retrieve one item at a time. Once pairs have completed the list, both players from a circle around their hula hoop. Students switch roles each round.
Variations: Items and number of items are decided at teacher’s discretion. The activity works the best when there is one less item than number of teams for most items.
Takraw
Southeast AsiaGrades 4 and up
Equipment: Takraw Game Ball, Badminton Net
Activity Description: This game is played similarly to volleyball and is often referred to as Kick Volleyball. Teams of three players are placed on each side and a badminton-sized court and net. Players have three hits to get ball to other side of net and can use any part of their bodies except arms and hands. The serve consists of one player tossing the ball to a teammate who will kick it over. Rallying scoring is used. The complete rules for Takraw can be found at http://www.takrawusa.com/rules.html
Variations: To accommodate for students with varying ability levels or students with special needs the game may be played with a modified ball. Suggestions for playing with a modified ball include a large foam gator ball or a beach ball. The net may also be removed having students just try to play a game of Keep It Up using any part of their body except arms or hands.
Skully
USA, New YorkGrades 3 and up
Equipment: Skully Board on floor/cement, 1 Bottle Cap per player
Activity Description: This game street game that originated in the city of New York. To start the game, the first player stands on a line about 6 feet from the first box. The player flicks his/her bottle cap trying to get it in box 1. If the bottle goes in, the player continues to move progressively around the board trying to reach box 13. If the player misses, the next player has the chance to move his bottle cap around the board. Players may move progressively to the next box by striking another players bottle cap. The “skulls” are the boxes surrounding box 13. If a player lands on a “skull” he is in “skully” and cannot move until another player hits him/her out. If one player knocks another out of “skully” he receives a bonus of the number of spots the layer in “skully” has moved. Once a player reaches box 13, the player says “I am the killa dilla” and tries to knock all other players bottle caps off the board. Once all bottle caps are off the board, a winner is declared.
Variations: Some games do not play the “killa dilla” rule. Another variation is winning the game by moving back to box 1 in reverse order after reaching box 13. Weight can be added in the form of coins and/or wax to the bottle caps.
Down Down Down
AustraliaGrades 2-5
Equipment: 1 Tennis Ball
Activity Description: Students form a circle and begin throwing a tennis ball back and forth to each other. When one student drops the ball, the rest of the students say “Down on one knee” so the student is playing kneeling on one knee. The next time the same player drops the tennis ball I second time the students say, “Down on two knees.” The game progresses to 3 drops: “Down on one elbow,” 4 drops: “Down on two elbows,” 5 drops: “Down on chin.” After the sixth drop the student is out. Students must stay in the position
that that are in to both catch and throw the ball.
Variations: To accommodate for students with varying ability levels or students with special needs the game may be played with a modified ball. Suggestions for playing with a modified ball include a small foam gator ball or a beach ball.
Jumping the Beanbag
NigeriaGrades 3-5
Equipment: Rope, Sack of beanbags
Activity Description: The rope is tied around the sack of beanbags with enough rope to swing the sack around. The swinger swings the sack around on the ground with their hand or foot. The rest of the students form a circle around the swinger. Each student tries to jump over the sack as it comes around the circle. If a student does not complete the jump, he/she is out. Play continues until only one player is left.
Variations: The length of the rope and speed that the rope is swung can be varied based on ability levels. Students are able to get back in the game by holding a beanbag and jumping over the rope with it. Each time the player gets out they grab another beanbag.
Throwball
IndiaGrades 4 and up
Equipment: Throwball
Activity Description: Throwball is played very similarly to volleyball. Instead of volleying a ball back and forth over the net, a throwball is thrown and caught back and forth between teams. The ball must be caught with both hands without making a sound or movement within the hands. The ball is throw within 3 seconds of being caught and is thrown with only 1 hand from above the shoulder-line. Players may jump while throwing the ball. The hands only contact the ball and the ball may not be pasted. Two players may not simultaneously catch the ball. Serves are performed from the service box without crossing the end line. A serve may not touch the net. Players remain in a 2-3-2 formation during a serve. A game consists of 2 teams of 7 seven players playing 3 sets. First team to 25 points wins the set. The dimensions of the court are 40.03ft x 60.04ft with a neutral box of 4 feet 11.06in on either side of the center. The net height is 7.22ft.
Variations: To accommodate for students with varying ability levels or students with special needs the game may be played with a modified ball. Suggestions for playing with a modified ball include a large foam gator ball or a beach ball. Court size and net height may be adjusted depending on grade level.
Alto Ahi!
ArgentinaGrades 3-5
Equipment: Foam Gator Ball
Activity Description: One student takes possession of the ball. The rest of the students run away from the student with the ball. The student with the ball says: “Stop there (names another student).” The student named stops gets the ball and then says “Stop There.” All students stop. The student with the ball has 3 steps to get closer to a partner and throws him/her the ball. If the student is touched with the ball, that person has a spot and is the student who says, “stop there” and names a new student. If the student is not touched with the ball he/she is clean and the student who threw the ball receives a spot. If a student receives 3 spots, they are required to do a “prenda” which is a task. If the student does not perform “prenda” he is given 2 more “prendas.” If none of the “prendas” are performed all students become clean and the game restarts. If the “prenda” is performed the game goes on. There is no time limit and no overall winner.
Variations: Instead of performing a task as a “prenda” that acts as a punishment, students can perform tasks for being clean. Students can perform various exercises. This way exercise is not used as a punishment.
1,2,3 Dragon
ChinaGrades K-5
Equipment: None
Activity Description: Students form a line with each student holding the student in front of them shoulders. The first student in line is the head and the last student in line is the tail. The tail shouts “1,2,3 Dragon” and the head tries to catch the tail without the line breaking. If the dragon breaks, the dragon dies, and the head becomes the tail. If the head catches the tail, that student receives a point and moves to the tail. The student with the most points is declared the winner.
Variations: This game can be played using various locomotor skills. If the head is successful in catching the tail that student may stay as the head of the dragon and a new student becomes the tail.
Oba
ColumbiaGrades 2-5
Equipment: Rubber Ball
Activity Description: Players throw a ball up against a wall while performing different movements and singing a song about the game. Players handle the ball in different ways such as with one arm, on one leg, jumping, spinning, etc. There is no time limit or winner.
Variations: Players line up and the player must catch the ball off the wall from the person who is in front of them. If the player misses the ball, they receive a point. The player with the fewest points at the end of the game is the winner.
Big Snake
GhanaGrades 2-5
Equipment: Cones
Activity Description: Cones mark off an area that is the snake’s home. One student is the snake and tries to tag the other students. Once a student is tagged, he/she joins hands with the snake and tries to tag other players. The original snake chooses whom the body will go after. Only the head and the tail of the snake can tag other students. If the snake breaks, it must retreat home and regroup.
Variations: Students can use various locomotor skills.
African Handball
AfricaGrades 3-5
Equipment: Foam Ball
Activity Description: One team gets possession of the ball at the start of the game. The object of the game is to maintain possession of the ball as long as possible. Each time the team with possession completes a pass all team members except the one who made the catch claps their hands and stomps their feet. If the ball is intercepted, possession is goes to the other time.
Variations: Instead of timing possession, count completed passes for the game to be scored more easily. One student per team is responsible for counting passes for their own team.
Spearing the Disk
EthiopiaGrades 3-5
Equipment: 1 Hula Hoop & 1 Noodle per student
Activity Description: Students alternate between rolling their hula-hoop and throwing their noodle. Throwers receive one point for throwing their noodle through a rolling hula- hoop. The student with the most points at the end of the game is the winner.
Variations: Divide the class into 3 groups: throwers, rollers, and guards. The guards can deflect noodles from going through a hula-hoop. For each deflection the student will receive a point. Rotate positions so all students perform each role.
Bossaball
BelgiumGrades 4 & up
Equipment: Volleyball trainer, Cones
Activity Description: Bossaball is played similarly to volleyball and soccer on a trampoline and inflatable playing area. For physical education classes, cones can mark off the playing areas. Teams of 3-5 players rally the volleyball back and forth. A team has 8 hits to return the ball. Players can contact the ball with any body part but may not use their hands more than once in a row or their feet/head more than twice in a row. If the ball lands on the trampoline area the offensive team receives 3 points or 1 point for landing in an inflatable area. Games are played up to 25 points.
Variations: This may be played as a keep it up game with more players on a court using any body part to send the volleyball over to the other team.
Team Handball
EuropeGrades 4 & up
Equipment: Handball or medium-sized foam gator ball, Goals
Activity Description: The class is divided into 2 teams. The game played similarly to soccer and basketball. Players try to score a goal by throwing the handball into the other teams goal. Players may not enter the crease except of the goalie or an offensive player landing on a jump shot. Players have an unlimited number of dribbles and then three steps before having to pass or shoot the ball. Players may hold on to the ball for only three seconds or it results in a loss of possession.
Variations: Players line up and the player must catch the ball off the wall from the person who is in front of them. If the player misses the ball, they receive a point. The player with the fewest points at the end of the game is the winner.
