60 Unique Phys Ed Games Your Students Will Love

1. Tic-Tac-Toe Relay

Elementary PE games that not only get students moving but also get them thinking are our favorites. Grab some Hula-Hoops and a few scarves or beanbags, then get ready to watch the fun!

Try it: Tic-Tac-Toe Relay

2. 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.

Try it: Blob Tag

3. Cross the River

This fun game has multiple levels that students have to work through, including “get to the island,” “cross the river,” and “you lost a rock.”

Try it: Cross the River

4. 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.

Try it: Head, Shoulders, Knees & Cones

5. 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.

Try it: Spider Ball Game

6. Crab Soccer

We love elementary PE games that require students to act like animals—and we think they will too. This is similar to regular soccer, but students will need to play on all fours while maintaining a crab-like position.

Try it: Crab Soccer

7. Halloween Tag

This is the perfect PE game to play in October. It’s similar to tag, but there are witches, wizards, and blobs with no bones!

Try it: Halloween Tag

8. 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.

Try it: Monster Ball

9. Striker Ball

Striker ball is an enjoyable game that will keep your students entertained while working on reaction time and strategic planning. We love that there is limited setup required before playing.

Try it: Striker Ball

10. Parachute Tug-of-War

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. First, have students stand on opposite sides of the parachute, then let them compete to see which side comes out on top.

Try it: Parachute Tug-of-War

11. 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.

Try it: Fleas Off the Parachute

12. Crazy Ball

The setup for this fun game is similar to kickball, with three bases and a home base. Crazy Ball really is crazy as it combines elements of football, Frisbee, and kickball!

Try it: Crazy Ball

13. 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 through.

Try it: Bridge Tag

14. Star Wars Tag

Elementary PE games that allow kids to be their favorite movie characters are just way too much fun! The only equipment you need is two different-colored pool noodles for lightsabers.

Try it: Star Wars Tag

15. 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.

16. Fitness Bingo

Check out these fun activities your kids will love as warm-ups or standalone activities in any fitness unit.

Try it: Fitness Bingo

17. Four Corners

This classic game engages students physically while also working on color recognition for younger students. Have your students stand on a corner, then close their eyes and call out a color. Students standing on that color earn a point.

Try it: Four Corners

18. Movement Dice

This is a perfect warm-up that requires only a die and a sheet with corresponding exercises.

Try it: Roll the Dice Movement Break

19. 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.

Try it: Rock, Paper, Scissors Tag

20. 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 will be divided into teams before proceeding through a funhouse that includes cornhole, running laps, and stacking cups.

Try it: Cardio Cornhole

21. Connect 4 Relay

This relay takes the game Connect 4 to a whole new level. Players must connect four dots either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

22. Zookeeper Tag

A fun tag game that involves your students’ favorite stuffies!

23. Racket Whack-It

To begin, students stand with rackets in hand. The teacher or a group of students launch balls and they must either dodge the balls or swat them away.

Try it: Racket Whack-It

32. 3-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. Check out the video for the rest of the rules.

33. 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!

34. 10-Second Tag

This game is perfect to play at the beginning of the year since it helps with learning names and allows the teacher to get to know the first student in line.

35. The Border

This game is so fun and requires no equipment whatsoever. Divide the gym into two sides, then allow kids to choose which side they want to be on.

36. Freedom Catch

This is a simple throwing, catching, and tag game that will certainly be a hit with your PE 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.

37. Oscar’s Trashcan

As far as PE games for kindergartners go, this one is a guaranteed winner because it is based on the show Sesame Street. Two teams will compete to fill their opponent’s trash can while emptying their own. Then, the team with the least amount of trash in their trash can at the end wins!

38. 4-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.

39. 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, while consistently knocking out new opponents.

40. Jumping and Landing Stations

Kids love stations and they definitely love jumping, so why not combine those things into one super-fun gym class? They’ll have a blast challenging themselves with all the different obstacles presented in this video.

41. Ninja Warrior 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!

42. 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.

43. Indoor Putting Green

If you’ve got the budget for these unique putting green sets, you can introduce the game of golf to kids as young as kindergarten.

44. Scooter Activities

We all have fond memories of using scooters in gym class, don’t we? Try one (or all) of these five fun scooter games with your students and they will too.

45. Pick It Up

This is the perfect PE game to play if you are stuck in a small space with a large group. Teams win by making all of their beanbag shots and then collecting all of their dots and stacking them into a nice, neat pile.

46. Dodgeball Variations

Check out these three games to play instead of dodgeball. All of the excitement without the risk!

47. Tossin’ Towers

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.

48. PE Warm-Up Games

Five awesome games to build teamwork and motor skills. From Zone Tag to Line Elimination to Speed Chasers—your students will love these activities!

49. Bozo Challenge

This is a fun, challenging activity to help students build their underhand throwing skills.

50. Hula Hut Challenge

Build your students’ collaboration and teamwork skills as they progress through seven levels of building a hut out of Hula-Hoops.

51. River Crossing

This game is great for encouraging teamwork. The object of the game is to get across the “river” without getting swept away.

52. Sharks and Minnows

The classic game kids know and love. So much fun, they won’t even realize they’re exercising!

53. Outdoor Games

Some of the most beloved game are the playground games we grew up with. From Capture the Flag and Four Square to hopscotch and more.

Try it: Playground Games

54. Knock the Towers

Teach your young students beginning racquet skills with this fun game. They will work on controlled, accurate hitting over the net as they try to hit various targets.

Try it: Knock the Towers

55. Crab Soccer

Great for building core strength and agility, the object of this game is to work as a team to move the giant ball down the field into your opponent’s goal.

56. 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).

Try it: Noodle Hockey

57. 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.

Try it: Protect the Castle

58. Home Free Bad Guy Blob Tag

This one has a goofy name, but it is so much fun and keeps your students active and engaged.

59. 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.

60. Steal It Kickball

Have kids play this super-fun variation on the classic game of kickball.