The following are some games to play with the whole class to stimulate the children’s imagination  and to get them working physically.

Same as

The children walk around the hall together and the leader says “Find children who have the same…as you”. The children have to get into groups of whatever the leader has said. For example, groups of same colour socks, groups of same colour eyes, or groups of same colour hair, groups of children who have a brother, who like jelly. This game requires that the children work together and is a good way of getting them communicating with each other. The game highlights similarity and difference which you can then discuss with your class.

Follow my Leader

Everyone stands in a long line behind each other. The person at the front is the leader and the rest of the group have to copy exactly what the leader does as he/she moves around the room. After a while the leader can clap his/her hands and the next person in the line becomes the leader who moves in a different way and everyone has to copy him/her instead.

Group and Create

Ask the group to move around the room in all directions, avoiding contact.  Call out a number, the children get into groups of that number.  Once in their groups call out a letter or number and tell them to make the shape of it using only their bodies. After each shape has been made they begin moving around the room again and another number is called.  The grouping can work with one person in a group up to the whole class.

Once they’ve got to grips with the game it’s possible to add in more abstract words or themes for them to create in their group. Eg. Friendship, love, loneliness,  garden,  giant etc. the idea of the game is that they create the number, letter or word as quickly as possible by co-operating with each other.

Hug tag

A simple tag game with one or two people on. People are safe if they hugged by someone else. Hugs can only last three seconds. It is possible to grab a partner if you need help or hold out your arms to offer sanctuary to someone in danger of being caught.

Why don’t you send us examples of what you’ve created? You can e-mail us here.