Playground Games for Fifth Graders

Three-Corner Tag

• Select one player out of the group to be "it." Divide the rest of the players into teams of three. Have each team position themselves like a triangle, with each player holding onto the right wrist of one teammate and the left wrist of the other. Place a sticky note on only one of the teammates per group. Anyone with a sticky note becomes a target. It is the job of the teams to guard their group's target from "it," while keeping their triangle formations. "It" has to count to 30 while the teams all head as far away from him on the playground as possible. "It" has to chase after the teams, tagging only the targets of each team to eliminate the groups. The last team standing wins the game.

Giant Squid

• One player, the Squid, stands in the middle of a square area, while the rest of the players stand to one side of the square. When the Squid shouts, "Swim, fish, swim" the players all race past the Squid to the opposite side of the square. Meanwhile, the Squid has to try and hit as many players as possible with a bouncy ball. When a player gets hit, he becomes a Squid minion and has to sit down in the middle and tag players as they go by. After several rounds, the last player standing wins the game.

Lion's Cub

• Pick one player to sit on the ground about 10 feet away from the group, facing away from them. Place a stuffed animal in between the group and the player. One by one, players sneak over to the stuffed animal, attempting to steal it. If the player hears someone coming, he growls like a lion. If someone is there, he switches places with her. If not, he continues to play the lion. Continue playing for several rounds.

SPUD

• Form a tight circle around a player in the middle. She throws a ball into the air, prompting everyone to run away. As soon as she catches it and says "Spud," everyone has to freeze. The player then takes three large steps in any direction and throws the ball at someone. The players cannot move their feet but can dodge the ball nonetheless. If a player gets hit, he receives an "S." If the thrower did not hit anyone, she receives an "S" and continues in the middle. Once a player gets an S, P, U and D, he gets taken out of the game and the rounds continue until only one player is left.