Active Group Games for 4th & 5th Graders

Ball Games

• Have the students stand in a circle and give them a soccer ball. Tell them to kick the ball back and forth to one another, keeping it inside the circle. After they warm up, take the soccer ball and give them a volleyball. Tell them to use clasped fists to bump the volleyball to each other as many times as they can. The count stops when the ball hits the ground. Divide the players into two teams and the team that can volley its ball the longest wins the game. For a single group, have the students try to beat their highest count each time.

Relay Races

• Create a backseat driver relay by dividing the students into two teams. Have each team stand in a single file line. Blindfold all players except the last player in each team line. Scatter cones all over the play area. When you say ̶0;Go,̶1; the last player in line must guide his blindfolded team across the course to the finish line. The players can hold onto each other̵7;s waists to make it easier. For more of a challenge, tell them not to touch the player in front of them. The first team across the finish line wins the race. For an easy relay race, have two teams compete to see which team can pass an inflated balloon down the line the fastest using only their heads.

Beanbag Games

• Ask the children to stand in a circle and give each child a beanbag. Tell them to balance the beanbag on their heads. Have them walk in a circle, squat down or stand on one foot. If they drop their beanbag, they are out of the game. Another idea is beanbag bowling. Divide the players into two teams. Place 10 empty soda bottles on a hard surface to use as bowling pins. Players must slide the beanbags at the bottles to knock them down. The team that knocks down the most pins wins the game.

Sports Games

• Play sports games to keep your fourth and fifth graders active. Put a twist on a game of volleyball by using balloons instead of volleyballs. Make the game more challenging by adding a small amount of water to the balloon. The first team to score 15 points wins the game. The children can play a game of wacky baseball by using duct tape to fasten a large beach towel around a bat. They must use a beach ball instead of a baseball. The first team to score 10 runs wins the game.