1. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Secret Squirrel Age Group: 6-10 Number of friends: no more than 8 Equipment: a small object e.g a pebble, marble or a stone How to play The players stand in a line with their hands cupped in front of them. The chosen player goes along the line and secretly drops the stone into one players hands. Pick a base somewhere in the playground. On the call Go the player with the stone has to get to the base without being tagged. If this player or squirrel is successful he/she is allowed to pass the stone. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Name Ball Age Group: Number of friends: no more than 8 Equipment: a ball How to play Stand in a circle with one child in the centre The child in the middle throws the ball in the air and calls out the name of one of the other players That child must try to catch the ball before it bounces more than once If they manage to catch the ball before one bounce, they go into the middle, if they dont catch it the person in the middle has another turn

2. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Please Mr Crocodile Age Group: Number of friends: no more than 10 Equipment: none How to play One child is Mr. Crocodile and he/she stands with his/her back turned to the others, about 5 metres from them The rest of the children call out: Mr. Crocodile then replies with something like: If a child was wearing something red they could take a step forward The first child to reach Mr. Crocodile swaps places with him Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Please Mr. Crocodile can we cross your Golden River? Only if your wearing something red or Only if you have brown hair. Moving Statues Age Group: Number of friends: 8-12 Equipment: None How to play Choose one player to stand at the front, with their back to the others The other children space out behind them The player at the front counts to 10 quietly to themselves. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, 8,9,10! children can move around, jump, dance etc When the player has counted to 10 they turn round quickly The players should stop moving and stand still when the counter turns round Anyone caught moving stands out for one game and joins in in the next game Swap counters after 2 goes

3. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Pirates Treasure Age Group: Number of friends: 8 Equipment: Treasure (bean bag) on an island (hoop) How to play Stand in a circle with one child in the middle as the pirate Children can run into the circle to try and capture the treasure Any child who can get the treasure and run back to their place, becomes the new pirate If the pirate tags anyone before they get back to their place, they are out Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Age Group: Number of friends: 6 - 10 Equipment: None How Honey do you like me? Honey, I like you but I just cant smile! to play Players stand in a circle with one player in the middle The middle person must choose someone in the circle and ask: The child being questioned must answer: If he/she smiles or laughs when saying this, they then swap places with the child in the middle The person in the middle is not allowed to touch or tickle the other players, but they can make silly faces!

4. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Queenie Age Group: Number of friends: 8-12 Equipment: A small ball How to play Everyone stands in a line. Choose one friend to be Queenie Queenie stands with his/her back to everyone She/he then throws the ball over her/his head. The other players all try to catch it When someone has it, the players all put their hands behind their backs Queenie turns round and has to guess who has the ball. They could ask the group to do actions like turning round, hands in the air If they guess correctly they have another turn as Queenie, if they are wrong they swap with the person who had the ball Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Farmers in his Den Age Group: 4-8 Number of friends: 10-12 Equipment: None How to play Friends stand in a circle, joining hands and walking round. One child is in the middle as the farmer. The children walk round singing the following song: The person in the middle then chooses someone to be the wife. They then sing: The wife wants a child. So the wife chooses someone to be the child. The farmers in his den Then: The child wants a nurse. The farmers in his den Then: The nurse wants a dog. Eee aye- oh ma daddy oh Then: The dog wants a bone. The farmers in his den Then: We all pat the bone.

5. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Piggy in the Middle Age Group: 5-12 Number of friends: 3 Equipment: a ball I want to catch the ball! How to play Choose 1 child to be the piggy in the middle. They stand between the other 2 children. The children throw the ball to each other and the child in the middle tries to catch it. When they catch the ball, they swap over with the child who threw it If you have been playing for a while and the child in the middle doesnt catch the ball, swap over anyway. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Catch Dont Catch Age Group: 6-12 Number of friends: 8 Equipment: a ball How to play The children stand in a circle with their arms folded. The child in the middle will throw the ball to someone in the circle. They will either shout Catch or Dont Catch If they say: CATCH The player should not catch the ball and cant move their arms. If they say: DONT CATCH The player should catch the ball. If a player does the wrong thing or misses the ball, they are out for one turn.

6. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Hopscotch Age Group: 5-12 Number of friends: 4 or 5 Equipment: hopscotch markings and beanbag or stone How to play First player stands at the beginning of the pattern, to toss their marker onto square 1 Once they have tossed it, they hop over square 1 to square 2 and then continue hopping up to square 8, turn round and hop back again. Pause in square 2 to pick up marker, hop in square 1 and out The same child continues by tossing the marker into square 2 then hopping into square 1, over square 2 and up to square 8 and back, pausing to pick up marker A player must always hop over any square where a marker has been tossed A player is out if: The marker lands in the wrong square. The hopper steps on a line. The hopper looses balance and puts a second hand or foot down The hopper goes into a square where a marker is. The hopper puts 2 feet down in a single box The next player then starts Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Piggy in the Ring Age Group: 5-10 Number of friends: about 8 Equipment: a ball How to play Everyone stand in a circle, choose one friend to be piggy in the ring. The children throw the ball to each other and the child in the middle tries to catch it. When they catch the ball, they swap over with the child who threw it If you have been playing for a while and the child in the middle doesnt catch the ball, swap over anyway.

7. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Animal, Vegetable, Flower Age Group: 6-10 Number of friends: about 8 Equipment: none How to play Everyone stands in a circle, choose one person to stand in the middle. The person in the middle throws the ball to a friend and calls out either, ANIMAL, VEGETABLE or FLOWER. They then count up to 10 quickly. The friend must catch the ball and also name something from the chosen subject, before the thrower reaches 10. If they manage it they then go into the middle, but if they dont the thrower stays in for another turn. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Puss in the Corner Age Group: 5-12 Number of friends: 5 Equipment: none How to play 4 friends make a square, one at each corner. The 5th friend is in the middle PUSS and wants a corner too. The children in the corners have to change places. They can call out or signal to the person they want to change with. As they change, the person in the middle tries to run to an empty corner. The new person without a corner becomes PUSS and stands in the middle. If PUSS is having trouble getting a corner, they can call out All change. Then all 5 children scramble for the 4 corners.

8. Donkey Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Age Group: 6-12 Number of friends: about 8 Equipment: a ball How to play All children stand in a circle and throw the ball to anyone in the circle. When a player misses the ball, he/she becomes D. The next time he/she becomes DO. This goes on until they have all the letters that spell out DONKEY. When this happens they can start from the beginning again. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Skipping Rhyme Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Age Group: Any age that can skip Number of friends: 2 turning and 3 taking turns to jump in Equipment: skipping rope Teddy Teddy Teddy Teddy Teddy Teddy bear, bear, bear, bear, bear, bear, teddy teddy teddy teddy teddy teddy bear bear bear bear bear bear touch the ground. turn around. jump upstairs. say your prayers. blow out the light. say goodnight!

9. Skipping Rhymes Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Chocolate Cake Old Mrs Mason Age Group: Any age that can skip Number of friends: 2 turning and 3 taking turns to jump in Equipment: skipping rope Chocolate cake when you bake How many minutes will it take? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Turn the rope faster and faster until the skipper trips. Old Mrs Mason broke her basin On the way to London station. How much did it cost? 1p, 2p, 3p, 4p, 5p, 6p Turn the rope faster and faster until the skipper trips. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Skipping Rhyme Coffee and Tea Age Group: Any age that can skip Number of friends: 2 turning and 3 taking turns to jump in Equipment: skipping rope I like coffee, I like tea, I like (name of the next person in line) to come in with me. Then the 2 children jump together, the second person saying the rhyme. When the rhyme is done, the first person runs out, and the new person comes in and jumps with the second person.

10. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Skipping Rhyme Ice Cream Soda Age Group: Any age that can skip Number of friends: 2 turning and 3 taking turns to jump in Equipment: skipping rope Ice cream soda, cherry on the top, whos your boyfriend/girlfriend I forgot? A, B, C, D, E, F, G,H (and so on until the person stops jumping) He/she then has to think of a name of someone they know that begins with that letter. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Skipping Rhyme All in Together Kids Age Group: Any age that can skip Number of friends: 2 turning and 3 taking turns to jump in Equipment: skipping rope All in together kids, Its fine weather kids When is your birthday? Please jump in (speed up rope) January, February, March, April, May. December All out together kids, Its fine weather kids When is your birthday? Please jump out (speed up rope) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,11, 12, 13

11. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Skipping Game Queen Bee Age Group: Any age that can skip Number of friends: 2 turning and 3 taking turns to jump in Equipment: skipping rope Choose one child to be the Queen Bee he/she is the leader. The other children have to follow the Queen Bee and do exactly as they do. The Queen Bee can leave and enter the skipping rope and do as many actions as they wish. Remember to swap over and take turns with turning the rope and being Queen Bee. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Skipping Rhyme Red Hot Pepper Age Group: Any age that can skip Number of friends: individual ropes or with friends Equipment: skipping rope Red hot pepper in the pot Gotta get over what the leaders got 10, 20, 30, 40(speed rope up until jumper misses) Keep track of the scores, and then see who has the highest, once everyone has had a turn.

12. Head Catch Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Age Group: Number of friends: 8-12 friends Equipment: Ball How to play Children line up and one player goes in front of the line with the ball and becomes it. It starts at the beginning of the line and shouts Head or Catch while throwing the ball. The first child in the line has to do the opposite to what is called out. So if it shouts Catch the child has to head the ball back. If they miss the ball or do the wrong thing, they miss a turn. Swap it over when everyone has had one turn to head or catch Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds I sent a letter Age Group: Number of friends: 8-12 friends Equipment: None I sent a letter to my love and on the way I dropped it. Someone must have picked it up and put it in their pocket. It wasnt you. It wasnt you. It wasnt you. It was you! How to play Friends should stand in a circle. One friend is chosen to start. They skip around the outside of the circle singing: The child skipping round taps someone on the shoulder. The person who was tapped, chases them round the circle until the skipper returns to the empty space. If they are caught before they get there, the chaser has a turn, but if the skipper makes it back safely they have another turn

13. Poison Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Age Group: Number of friends: 8-12 friends Equipment: None I went to a shop and How to play bought a bottle of juice (or any other liquid) The chaser begins by stretching out their arms. Each player gently takes hold of a finger and stretches away from the chaser, ready to run The chaser says: Poison The players remain holding onto the chasers fingers. If the chaser says: Players need to run away from the chaser, who will be trying to catch one of them. Once a player has been caught, he/she becomes the chaser. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Stuck in the Mud Age Group: Number of friends: 8-12 friends Equipment: None How to play One or two people are it The other children try to avoid getting caught But if they are caught, by being touched on the arm, they must stand still with their arms outstretched. A player can rejoin the game if someone else runs underneath their outstretched arms Remember to swap over chasers

14. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Cat and Mouse Age Group: Number of friends: Max 10 Equipment: None How to play Friends should stand in circle Two children are chosen, one to be the cat and the other to be the mouse The idea of the game is for the cat to catch the mouse, inside the circle. The mouse can run between 2 children, but they then join hands and the cat cant pass through, he has to find a different way through. When the mouse is caught, a new cat and mouse are chosen. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Chase the Ball Age Group: Number of friends: 8-12 friends Equipment: Soft ball (about size 4) How to play Everyone stands in a circle, choose one person to stand outside the circle. The friends in the circle pass or throw the ball to the next child around the circle. The ball starts next to the empty space. The player on the outside has to run around the circle and reach their starting place before the ball does If they manage this they stay on the outside and have another turn, if the ball gets back first the player on the outside chooses someone to take their place.

15. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Circle Stride Ball Age Group: Number of friends: 8-12 friends Equipment: Soft ball (about size 4) How to play Players should stand in a circle, feet apart. (Feet to touch neighbours feet) The player inside the circle with the ball tries to throw the ball out of the circle between the players legs Players try to stop it by using their hands If the ball goes through, then that person goes in the centre Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds All Change Age Group: Number of friends: 6-12 friends Equipment: Hoops (1 less than the number of kids playing) How to play All children are scattered about the playing area inside the hoops. (One child inside one hoop) The child without the hoop stands in the middle of the area When an adult shouts change, all the children in the hoops have to run to another hoop But the child in the middle is trying to run to an empty hoop The child without a hoop after the change, then goes in the middle

16. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Shadow Tag Age Group: Number of friends: 8 Equipment: None (only works on a sunny day) How to play Children work with a partner One child is the walker and one child is the tagger The walker looks round and finds their shadow On the signal GO the tagger tries to jump on the walkers shadows When they manage to jump on it they shout caught and they swap roles Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Everyones Tag Age Group: Number of friends: 8 Equipment: None How to play One child is chosen as IT, the rest run away On the signal GO, IT begins chasing the other children When a child is caught, they also become it IT The game continues until everyone is caught

17. Action Alphabet Examples of action words: a = alligator, around, airplane b = bounce, bend, bear walk c = cat, catch, crawl, crab d = dance, duck, dribble e = elephant, excited f = freeze, fall, frown, frog g = giggle, gallop, giant steps h = hop, hiccup, happy i = ice skating j = jump, juggle, jog k = kick, kneel l = leap, laugh m = march, mop Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds n = nod, o = octopus, on, off, over p = point, paint, pose q = quiver, quiet r = run, rake, roll s = skip, sit, sweep, smile, stretch, shake hands, sleep t = tiptoe, throw, tripod, tuck, tickle u = under, underwater, uphill v = vacuum w = walk, wiggle, wink, wash, wave x = xmas? Y = yawn, yell z = zigzag, zip Action Alphabet Age Group: Number of friends: 8 Equipment: Alphabet cards (optional) How to play Pick a letter from the alphabet and tell the children Choose an action word or animal beginning with that letter Let the children act it out Can they make up their own action beginning with that sound

18. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Topsy Turvy Age Group: Number of friends: 8 (2 teams of 4) Equipment: 8 Cones How to play Split the children into 2 teams of 4 One team are called the topsies and the other team are called the turvies Set the cones up, with half the cones standing up and the other half lying down An adult shouts go, the topsies run into the area and try to stand the cones up and the turvies run into the area and try to knock them down Let this continue for about a minute then shout stop If there are more cones standing the topsies win but if there are more knocked over the turvies win Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Stumpy Age Group: Number of friends: About 8 Equipment: None How to play One child is STUMPY and crouches down on the ground with their eyes closed The other children walk up, touch STUMPY and say Oh this is just the stump of an old tree They keep on doing this, but when STUMPY jumps up they must run away as fast as they can If STUMPY catches one child, they then become STUMPY and the game start again

19. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Ham and Cheese Age Group: Number of friends: About 12-20 Equipment: None How to play Each child must secretly decide to be either ham or cheese Each child then walks around the playing area When an adult shouts STOP, the children stop walking and shout whether they are ham or cheese If they hear the opposite filling, they join hands and become a cheese and ham sandwich The sandwich now has to decide if they are going to be ham or cheese and walk round the playing area When stop is shouted the sandwich has to shout their filling and try to find the opposite again to make an even thicker sandwich 1. The adult can stop the game whenever they wish. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Elbow Tig Age Group: Number of friends: About 10 Equipment: None How to play Divide children into pairs and have them link one arm together They then put the other hand on their hip so that the elbow is sticking out to the side Choose one player to be IT. On GO IT tries to hook their elbow with someone elses loose elbow If they manage, the other partner must let go and they become IT

20. Hug Tig Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Age Group: 3-8 Number of friends: About 10 Equipment: None How to play One child is IT and is trying to chase and tig the other children. If tigged, the child must stand still with their arms out and can only rejoin the game if someone gives them a hug. Remember to change over who is it. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds First Attempt at Skipping Age Group: Number of friends: Small group Equipment: None How to play Hold the rope by the handles, one in each hand Hold the rope out in front of your body. Step over the rope Bend your elbows up close to your ears. Move the arms forward and swing the rope over your head. Let the rope hit the floor. Jump over the rope, taking off and landing on two feet. Some children will not be ready to jump over the rope and should be instructed to simply step over the rope. Jumping can come later. Remind the children that the rope should strike the floor in front of the child before the child attempts to jump.

21. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Body Parts Age Group: Number of friends: As many as you want Equipment: None How to play Everybody finds a partner As you call out different body parts, the children connect with their partner. E.g toe to toe, elbow to elbow, knee to knee Once they have the hang of that try calling different body parts. E.g finger to shoulder, elbow to back Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Body Match Up Age Group: Number of friends: As many as you want Equipment: Drum or bells How to play Beat a drum or ring a bell. As you say You walk and you talk and you stop After you stop you call out a body part, Hands! the children then find a friend and match up their hands You can then change the actionYou run and you run and you stop! Once youve stopped choose a different body part

22. Actiive Pllaygrounds Act ve P aygrounds Copycats Age Group: Number of friends: As many as you want Equipment: None How to play The leader sings the rhyme Copycat, copycat Thats what I am, Copycat, copycat Do what I do, if you can Use a variety of sounds and motions, involving lots of different body parts. Keep repeating using different body parts and movements