Fill the Stocking – (Accuracy Game)
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Purchase various supplies at the dollar or discount store, such as oversized
stockings, plastic candy cane decorations and small decorative boxes.
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In teams, students attempt to toss various "presents" into a stocking held by
another teammate.
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Existing physical education tools may be used as stocking stuffers, including
bean bags and small foam balls.
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Each student in the group is given five attempts to toss the item and have it be
caught by the other student, after which it is then the next person's turn.
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The team that accurately tosses and catches the most items is the winning group
Santa’s helper relay
What you will need
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One cardboard box per pair
(tissue box size)
Christmas wrapping paper
Tape
Ribbon
To set up
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Set up the boxes, wrapping paper, tape and ribbon on a table 15m from the
relay start line
How to play
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Divide students into pairs and then into even relay teams
Each pair must race to wrap the box and tie a bow with the ribbon. There is a
catch - each player must hold one hand behind his or her back, an
impediment that makes it necessary for partners to communicate and work
together. Once the box is wrapped the pair run back to their team and tag the
next pair to start.
The first relay team to finish wins.
Santa sack steal
Note: this game is similar to ‘rob the nest’
What you will need
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A variety of Christmas tree decorations e.g. 7 silver balls, 3 red balls, 4
Santa’s, 3 angels and 6 reindeer.
To set up
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Mark a playing field square 15m x 15m.
Place a hoop with all the decorations in the middle
of the square playing field.
Divide students into four teams and allocate each
team a home base at one corner of the square.
Allocate each team a hoop and a Santa sack.
How to play
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The aim of the activity is for each team to obtain a set of decorations as
determined by the teacher e.g. 2 silver balls, 1 red ball, 1 Santa, 1 angel and
2 reindeer.
On the teacher’s signal, the first person from each team runs (or other
locomotor movement) to the middle hoop to steal a decoration to bring back to
their hoop. When the first team member returns to home base they tag the
next player to go.
Only one player from each team can be playing at any given time.
You can only take one decoration at a time.
Teams can either steal from the middle hoop or other team hoops.
Teams cannot stop other teams from stealing from their hoop.
When a team has collected all specified items, they place them in the Santa
bag.
The first team will all specified items in the Santa bag is declared the winner.
Santa’s sleighs
What you will need
• 7 small gym mats
• 14 chairs
• 7 sacks
• 7 Santa hats (students can bring these)
• CD player and Christmas music
To set up
• Set out the gym mats around the gym or outside in a 30m x 30m square
• Place 2 chairs, a sack and a hat on each mat. The mats are sleighs
How to play
• Divide students into 7 teams of 4.
• When the music starts students walk or run (or other locomotor movement)
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around the square. When the music stops each team has to find a sleigh
(mat). Two team members sit on a chair, third team member puts the Santa
hat on, and the fourth picks up the Santa sack. The last team to set up their
sleigh properly is eliminated.
There is a catch – teams cannot go back to a sleigh they have already been
to in a previous round.
Students eliminated can help judge the competition.
The last team remaining after all other teams are eliminated is the winner.
Grinch Stole Christmas
FMS Focus: locomotor skills- chasing and fleeing
Suggested Level: Year 4-5
Equipment Needed: Cones to mark off two semi-circular areas and a large
rectangular playing area with marked boundaries.
How to Play
Mark off two semi-circular areas with 6-8 cones on either side-line about 2/3 of the
way down the playing area. It is best if these semi-circular areas are not directly
across from each other, but more at an angle. (These two caves are called “The
North Pole” and “The Grinch Cave”)
Divide your class into groups with about 5-8 students in each group. Give each
group a different holiday name (e.g., reindeer names, candy canes, elves, snowmen,
etc.) Have all students’ line up at one end of the playing area. Pick one person to be
the "Grinch" and two to be "Santa and Mrs. Claus". The "Clauses" go to the "North
Pole" and the "Grinch" goes to his "cave" (the coned-off semi-circles).
To start the game the teacher calls out a holiday name (e.g., Candy Canes). All of
the children with that name move (you tell them what locomotor movement you want
them to use to the other end of the playing area and back home.)
If the "Grinch" tags them with his/her hand, they have to go to his "cave". While the
"Grinch" is out capturing people, the "Clauses" run over to the "Grinch cave" to
release them to safety. If the "Grinch" gets 10 or more people in his "cave" OR tags
either of the "Clauses", that stops the game and a new one can be started. If you
have gone a complete round calling out all of the holiday names, start a new game
choosing new people. Feel free to stop the game at any time as well and start a new
one.
Teaching Suggestions:
Have the students walk, hop, jump, etc. The "Grinch" gets an extra workout he/she
may need to be changed out sooner.
Don't let students taunt the Grinch.
Stop the game periodically to talk about how well the students are working together
or chasing and fleeing. Give them tips about how it can be done better.
Play the game in time limits. At the end of the time limit switch to new people.
Christmas Tree Tag (like Stuck in the Mud)
Before teaching children this game, ask them
to raise their hands if their family puts up a
Christmas tree in December. Explain how this
is a tradition for some families. If you want to
take it a step further, you could discuss the
history of Christmas trees (who invented the
idea, etc.)
Ask children what shape a Christmas tree is
(triangular). Can they stand up and make that
shape with their bodies? (Stand with feet apart,
arms above head with hands together). In this
game, they will pretend to be Christmas trees
and presents will go under their trees!
Equipment Needed
4 green/red yarn balls
Christmas music (optional)
How to Play
This is tag with NO SAFE ZONE. Players continue to move throughout the playing
area for 2-3 minutes, until teacher gives them a signal to stop. Rotate taggers every
round.
To begin the game, select 4 taggers to begin on the end line. Taggers carry the yarn
balls with them and use them for tagging players. Players begin in personal space.
When everyone yells “TREE TAG” the game begins.
If a player is tagged, they turn into a Christmas Tree (standing with feet apart and
arms up with hands together above head). For a player to be untagged, another
player has to pretend to be a present and go under the tree (crawl between their
legs)
Candy Cane Tag
As above but the taggers hold a red noodle.
To be freed when tagged, a child needs to run around the “candy cane’.
Extension: These two tag games can be played at once with four taggers using two
different objects.
Winter Wonderland Stations
FMS Focus: To reinforce previously learned FMS in a fun holiday station set up.
Year Level: 3-5
Equipment Needed: Scooters, cones, beanbags, hockey stick, pucks, ring toss,
titles of Christmas songs cut-out, "snowballs", bowling pins or other targets.
Description of Game
For the following stations it is best to have less than 6 students at a station. Please
set the stations up with maximum safety in mind including written rules at each
station. These need to be shown and explained as well by the teacher.
1. Fun at the Ice Rink:
Students use hockey sticks to strike pucks into a goal, between two cones, or into
another target (e.g., bowling pins). SKILLS: Striking with an implement.
2. Snowball Toss:
Students use white rolled up socks as snowballs to throw at a variety of targets that
are on the floor or on the wall (e.g., bowling pins, hoops, pictures, etc.). As long as it
is safe let students decide if they want to throw overhand or underhand.
SKILLS: Throwing under and overhand.
3. Christmas Song Scramble:
Students have a starting point and move (we suggest using locomotor skills other
than running) from that point to a hoop that contains words that make up the titles to
Christmas songs (e.g., Jingle Bells, Frosty the Snowman, etc.). They pick up one
word and run back to their starting spot. Students may only pick up one word at a
time and run to the sorting spot. You could also have them choose letters instead of
words. SKILLS: Aerobic activity
4. Ring in the New Year:
Students toss Deck Rings onto Ring Toss poles, or other targets you have set up.
SKILLS: Underhand throwing.
5. Santa’s on His Way:
Students use scooters to move through an obstacle course of cones to pick up “toys”
(e.g., bean bags, etc.), then back through the course to “deliver” them. SKILLS:
Muscular Strength