Games are an essential part of a Crossroads club. After a long day in schools, kids need the chance to be physically active, and it actually helps them to refocus and learn better. Also, kids can benefit greatly from opportunities to learn teamwork and cooperation in a safe, structured environment. Most importantly, children connect best…Continue reading Games 101
Bunny Rabbit, Bunny Rabbit
Materials: none You need at least 5 people to play. You start with everyone in a circle. One person is the “bunny rabbit, bunny rabbit.” This person starts the game. Now, everyone in the circle chooses an animal, such as: “iguana, iguana,” “cat, cat,” or “shark, shark,” etc. Along with the animals, each person has…Continue reading Bunny Rabbit, Bunny Rabbit …Continue reading Bunny Rabbit, Bunny Rabbit
Fierce Lion
Object of Game: To avoid being tagged by a lion Equipment Needed: None How the Game Is Played: The object of the game is to avoid being tagged by the lions. The last student tagged will be the winner, and his or her team will earn points. The games leader designates a “lion’s den” (any…Continue reading Fierce Lion …Continue reading Fierce Lion
How Many Lions in the Den?
Materials: None How to play: Have the children run around the room in a circle (in a gym around the edges of the basketball court works well.) You will call out, “How Many Lions in the Den?” and then shout a number. For example “Three lions in the den!” Children must form groups of three….Continue reading How Many Lions in the Den? …Continue reading How Many Lions in the Den?
Hula Hoop Hurrah!
Objective: Be the first team to have all players pass through the hula hoop without breaking the chain. Materials: Hula hoops, one per team of 6-9 players How to Play: Divide children into equally sized teams of 6-9 each. Instruct the team to form a circle facing inward and holding hands. Give a hula hoop…Continue reading Hula Hoop Hurrah!
Keep it Up!
Objective: Keep your team’s balloon from touching the ground. Materials: Inflated balloons, one per group of 6-8 players How to play: Divide children into teams of 6-8 players. Each team should form a circle with players facing inward and holding hands. Give each team an inflated balloon and on the signal “go,” all teams must keep their balloon…Continue reading Keep it Up!
Icebreaker BINGO for kids
This is a fun first day of club activity to get kids talking to one another in a small group or large group setting. The activity template can be downloaded and adapted for your club or group, or used as is. Materials: Copies of the Icebreaker Bingo sheet, one per child Pens, pencils or other…Continue reading Icebreaker BINGO for kids
Everyone’s It!
Object of Game: To avoid being tagged Equipment Needed: None How the Game Is Played: This game is very much like regular tag except that, true to the name, everyone is IT. On the “go” signal, all players run around trying to tag everyone else and to avoid being tagged themselves. Once tagged, a player…Continue reading Everyone’s It! …Continue reading Everyone’s It!
Leading Games Effectively (Coaching Sheet)
**FOR TEAM LEADERS** For instructions on using coaching sheets, click here: How to Use Coaching Sheets. Coaching Sheet: Leading Games Effectively Use the following coaching sheet and leader’s notes to guide your team through a discussion on how to enhance the quality of your game time in club. Leading Games Effectively Leading Games Effectively (Leader’s…Continue reading Leading Games Effectively (Coaching Sheet) …Continue reading Leading Games Effectively (Coaching Sheet)
Glow Stick Relay
Materials: Glow sticks, one per team of 6-8 players How to Play: Divide students into relay teams of 6-8 players have them line up in their teams. Then, send half of the team to the opposite side of the gym or playing area, with all teams lined up equal distances apart. The first player from…Continue reading Glow Stick Relay …Continue reading Glow Stick Relay
Power Up!
Materials: A playground ball How to Play: Designate a number to each player and instruct them to remember their number. If you have more than 12 children, you can have more than one person per number. To begin, choose one person to hold the ball and stand in the center. Everyone should gather in a…Continue reading Power Up! …Continue reading Power Up!
P-O-W-E-R SHUFFLE RACE
Materials: One “Power Shuffle Card Set” per team of 8 One Power Shuffle Card Set = 5 index cards with the letters P-O-W-E-R spelled out one per card How to Play: Divide students into even teams of approximately 8 and have each team form a line. You will need one Power Shuffle Card set per…Continue reading P-O-W-E-R SHUFFLE RACE …Continue reading P-O-W-E-R SHUFFLE RACE
Egg Straw Transfer Relay
Materials: Approximately one plastic Easter egg per student (may be re-used from the Easter Egg Sort) Plastic straws, one per student A plastic or paper bowl, one per team of 6-8 players (can also be re-used from the Easter Egg Sort) How to Play: Divide students into relay teams of 6-8 players each. Place a…Continue reading Egg Straw Transfer Relay …Continue reading Egg Straw Transfer Relay
Easter Egg Sort
Materials: Approximately 50 plastic Easter eggs, in a variety of colors A bowl, one per team of 6-8 players How to Play: Separate the eggs in half and mix up all the different colored halves. Spread them out on the floor or playing area. Divide students into teams of 6-8 students, and have them line…Continue reading Easter Egg Sort …Continue reading Easter Egg Sort
Savior Dodgeball
Objective: To be the team with the last remaining player (or most remaining players at the end of the playing time) Materials: Six foam dodgeballs How to Play: To play dodgeball, you will need a basketball court or an outdoor playing area with boundary markers for sidelines and a center line dividing the two teams….Continue reading Savior Dodgeball …Continue reading Savior Dodgeball
Alligator Race
Objective: Be the first team to reach the finish line Materials: None How to Play: Divide students into teams of 5-10 players and have each team stand in a line. All the players should place their hands on the shoulders of the player in front of them, and then crouch down to form an “alligator.”…Continue reading Alligator Race …Continue reading Alligator Race
Jump In, Jump Out
Materials: None How to Play: Have students form a circle and hold hands facing the middle. Instruct students that they must follow the leader by saying what the leader says and doing what the leader says. Practice a few times using these four commands: Jump in, Jump Out, Jump Left or Jump right. Then, begin…Continue reading Jump In, Jump Out …Continue reading Jump In, Jump Out
Shepherd Tag
Objective: To avoid being tagged by the Shepherd or herd Materials: None How to Play: Choose one student to be the Shepherd and stand in the middle of the playing area. The rest of the students should line up on opposite sides of the playing area behind a designated boundary (about half the students on…Continue reading Shepherd Tag …Continue reading Shepherd Tag
Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament
Objective: To be the last player remaining by winning all challenges Materials: None How to Play: Teach students the basic instructions for Rock, Paper, Scissors. Every player must find a partner and on the count of three, they must choose the hand signal for Rock, Paper or Scissors. Rock – Make a fist Paper –…Continue reading Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament …Continue reading Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament
Color Relay
Object of Game: Be the first team to finish the relay. Equipment Needed: a colorful object to use as a relay wand (bandana, rainbow stick, etc.), one per team How the Game Is Played: Divide students into teams and line them up on one side of the room in their teams. Give each team their…Continue reading Color Relay …Continue reading Color Relay