Physical Education Games for a Field Day

Bowling Games

• Set up 10 plastic bowling pins on a hard surface and mark a standing line about 20 feet from the pins. You can adjust the standing line closer or farther from the pins depending on the ages of the students. Give each student two plastic or foam balls to roll at the pins. If you don't have bowling pins, you can use empty 2-liter bottles. Another variation to this game is to play it backward. Place the pins in front of a wall and have the students bounce the balls off the wall into the pins to try to knock them down.

Balance Games

• Place a long, skinny board on the ground that students can use as a balance beam. Place a beanbag on each student's head while he walks the balance beam. Tell the students to try to walk the beam at least five times without letting the beanbag fall off their head. For another balance game, have the students stand on one leg. Time the students to see which players can stand on one leg the longest. If their hands or other leg touches the ground at any time, their time is up.

Water Games

• Create a relay race using a 2-liter bottle for each team, a bucket of water and several sponges. Divide the players into teams and have them race to fill up their 2-liter bottles using the sponges. The first team to fill up the bottle with water wins the game. Another fun water game is tug-o-war. Place a small plastic swimming pool with water in the middle of two teams with a rope. The teams must try to pull each other into the water. The team who goes into the water first, loses.

Hula-Hoop Games

• Hang hula hoops from a tree or pole so they are hanging in the air. The students can stand at a line and try to throw flying discs through the hoops to earn points. They can also use footballs to throw through the hoops. For another variation, lay the hula hoops on the ground and have the students toss beanbags into the hoops to earn points. For a harder game, have them try to land flying discs inside the hoops.