Game of the Week - Turtle Tag

I want to get better at sharing some of my students favorite games and also just getting some posts out here more consistently. So, starting today, I will post a game of the week every Wednesday. I hoping for two things - one - for any reader to find enjoyment in some of the games posted and implement their games into their curriculum or just simply teach their own kids a game at the park. Second, I am selfishly hoping that posting a game of the week will expand my teaching and make me a better teacher. So ENJOY!!

Turtle Tag

This game is played with boundaries that can be a circle, rectangle or square. The size of the space depends on the number of kids. There are 2 to 6 taggers chosen to hold foam noodles. The rest of the students are free to move according the teacher's directions (skipping, galloping, shuffling, running, walking or to move freely). The students must stay inside the boundaries, but the goal is to use their dodging and evading skills to avoid getting tagged by one of the trappers (Taggers). Once tagged, the student must roll over on their shell (Back) with their hands and feet up. Any other turtle who is free may help roll over their trapped (Tagged) friends by either doing an exercise (5 jumping jacks, 5 push ups...) or by pedaling the trapped turtles legs 5 times (pedaling - grab the students feet and push and pull the feet). The teacher can decide what the criteria is for freeing trapped turtles. The game is played for 2-3 minutes and then new taggers, movements, freeing criteria and boundaries are chosen.

Equipment needed

2-6 noodles

2-6 jersey if desired

4 cones to designate the game area