The physical education curriculum refers to some playground and indoor games which may be used. These games are described below.
Cat and mouse
Groups of six to eight children form circles. Each group selects a cat and a mouse. On a given signal, the mouse runs around the circle, weaving in and out between the children. The ‘cat’ follows the path taken by the mouse, trying to catch the mouse in a given time, signalled by the teacher. The game is restarted with different children taking turns to be the cat or mouse.
Keep the basket full
A basket filled with beanbags is placed in the centre of the play space. The children are spaced around the play area facing the teacher. On a signal, the teacher tries to empty the basket by throwing the beanbags out as the children try to refill it. Each group of children is given about one minute to fill the basket, and each child is allowed to return only one bag at a time. The winning group is the one that has the most beanbags in the basket at the end of the given time.
Fox and geese
Children form groups of four: Mother Goose, Father Goose and Baby Goose; the fourth member is the fox. Mother Goose, Father Goose and Baby Goose join hands, with Baby Goose between Father and Mother. The fox is outside the ring and attempts to catch the baby. By twisting, turning or dodging, the parents must protect the baby.
Frozen bean bag
Each child walks, jogs or runs around the play space with a beanbag balanced on his/her head. If the bean bag falls off, the child kneels on the ground and waits for a friend to replace it. It can only be replaced by a friend who has to pick it up while continuing to balance his/her own beanbag.
Hot ball
Each group of six to eight children forms a circle. A ball is passed around the circle as quickly as possible and the children imagine the ball is ‘hot’ and so must pass it on very quickly. The winning group is the one that passes the ball past the leader the greatest number of times in a given period.
Stuck in the mud*
The children are spaced around the play area with five or six ‘catchers’ (identified by wearing coloured braids or bibs) spaced among them. On a signal, the catchers attempt to tag individual children. Any child who is ‘tagged’ can only be released when another child travels between his/ her legs.
*An indoor surface is best for this game.
Hunt the beanbag
Children form groups of six to eight. Every player in one group collects a beanbag, except the player chosen to be the tagger. Children find a free space and move in the general space. The tagger tries to tag a player who has a beanbag. To avoid being caught, players run and dodge the tagger or throw the beanbag to another player. A player who is caught with a beanbag becomes the new tagger.
Prison ball
Two teams of ten to fifteen children face each other as in Fig. 5. Each team begins with four small balls. On a signal the balls are thrown across the centre line, aiming to hit any child in the opposing team below the knees. If a child is hit he/she must run to the ‘prison’ behind the opposing team. He/she can only be released by gaining possession of a ball which runs through the opposing team and crosses the end line. Once the prisoner gains possession and is released, he/she can rejoin his/her own team and continue playing. Additional balls can be introduced to speed up the play.
Tunnel ball
Groups of six to eight children form lines, one behind the other, with the leader in front. They make a tunnel using their legs. The child at the front of the line (the leader) rolls a ball back through the tunnel until the last child receives the ball. When the last child receives the ball, he/she runs to thefront with the ball while the rest of the group move back one space. The ball is passed back along the tunnel as before until all the children in the group have had a chance to roll the ball. The winning team is the first one to have its leader back in front. This game can be played by passing the ball overhead, or overhead and between legs alternately.
Wheel relay
Form into four groups and line up behind the bases in a wheel formation (see Fig. 6). Each team leader has a baton. Player 1 runs around the circle in a clockwise direction outside the other three teams and then joins in at the end of the team line. The baton is passed down the line to player 2, who runs around the course. Repeat until all players have had a turn. The relay is finished when player 1 arrives back at the head of the line and holds up the baton.
