top of page
Poison
Description
A high-energy circle game where players try to avoid being pulled into a “poison” zone and becoming taggers.
Details
Mixed Age
Any number of players
Flexible Duration
Materials required
Tags
Collaboration, Problem Solving, High Energy, Focused, Self Regulation/ Impuse Control
Instructions:
1. Draw a small circle on the ground or mark an area as the “poison zone.”
2. All players form a ring around the poison zone and hold hands.
3. Players tug and pull to try to make others step or fall into the poison zone.
4. The first person to touch or step into the zone is declared “poisoned.”
5. Everyone then breaks the circle and runs to stand on a “safe” object (like a rock, mat, or bench).
6. The poisoned player tries to tag others before they reach a safe zone.
7. Anyone tagged becomes a new poisoner and joins in tagging the remaining players.
8. The game continues until only one untagged player remains or most players are poisoned.
Variations & tips:
1. Limit the number of “safe” objects to increase competition and urgency.
2. Add challenges like hopping on one foot while escaping the poisoners.
Related Activities
Street Storm
Mubarak Shaikh
Street Storm is a fast-paced outdoor group game where one player becomes the “Stormer” and controls the action by shouting commands like RUN, FREEZE, and MOVE. While players are frozen or exercising, the Stormer tags them.
7 - 10 years, 11 - 19 years
Any number of players
Flexible Duration
No materials
Rounders
A high-energy, traditional bat-and-ball game, often considered an ancestor of baseball.
Mixed Age
Any number of players
Flexible Duration
Materials required
Bridges
A strategic game where players build colored “bridges” across sections of a shape without reusing spaces.
Mixed Age
Any number of players
5 to 10 minutes
No materials
Nim
A matchstick game where players take turns removing sticks from a pyramid, aiming not to take the last one.
7 - 10 years, 11 - 19 years, Adults
Pairs
Less than 5 minutes
Materials required
Sim
A strategic pencil-and-paper game where players connect dots without forming a triangle in their color.
1 - 6 years, 7 - 10 years
Less Than 10
5 to 10 minutes
No materials
Mirror Charades
One player acts out a secret word, another copies them, and everyone else guesses what it is.
Mixed Age
Any number of players
10 to 30 minutes
No materials
Paper Connect Four
Players take turns dropping symbols into columns, trying to be the first to line up four in a row.
Mixed Age
Less Than 10
5 to 10 minutes
Materials required
Silent Ball
Players silently toss a ball around, and anyone who messes up is out.
1 - 6 years, 7 - 10 years
Any number of players
5 to 10 minutes
Materials required
Buzz
Players count in order and say “Buzz” on certain numbers; if they make a mistake, they’re out.
11 - 19 years, Adults, 7 - 10 years
More Than 10
Flexible Duration
No materials
7 Fingers
Players hold up fingers to match a target number, and anyone who doesn’t match sits down.
Mixed Age
Any number of players
5 to 10 minutes
No materials
Paper Wordle
Players race to guess a secret 5-letter word before their chances run out.
7 - 10 years, 11 - 19 years, Adults
Less Than 10
10 to 30 minutes
Materials required
Bananagrams
Players race to build a grid of connecting words with their tiles, drawing more as they go, until someone uses all their tiles and wins.
7 - 10 years, 11 - 19 years, Adults
Less Than 10
Flexible Duration
Materials required
Sack Race
Players hop in sacks from start to finish, and the first to cross the line without falling wins.
1 - 6 years, 7 - 10 years, 11 - 19 years
Any number of players
10 to 30 minutes
Materials required
Indoor Obstacle Course
Turn your home into an adventure zone where kids crawl, jump, and balance their way through exciting challenges!
Mixed Age
Individual
10 to 30 minutes
Materials required
Eraser Tag
A chase game where a player writes another’s name on the board, runs a set path, and the named player tries to erase it and tag them before they return safely.
7 - 10 years, 11 - 19 years
Less Than 10
10 to 30 minutes
Materials required
Bob Ball
Bob Ball is an exciting throw-and-dodge game where quick reflexes and sharp aim keep players in the game!
1 - 6 years, 7 - 10 years
Any number of players
10 to 30 minutes
Materials required
Secret Scrap
A classroom game where students clean normally while trying to unknowingly find the teacher’s “secret scrap,” with the finder declared the winner.
1 - 6 years, 7 - 10 years
Any number of players
Less than 5 minutes
No materials
Scrambled Eggs!
A classroom guessing game where one student leaves, another hides, and the returning student must identify who is missing.
Mixed Age
Any number of players
Flexible Duration
No materials
Line Up, Line Up!
Line Up, Line Up! is a silent teamwork game where students organize themselves using only gestures and clever signals.
Mixed Age
Any number of players
5 to 10 minutes
No materials
Minute to Win It
Minute to Win It is a super-speedy challenge game where players race against the clock to complete fun tasks!
Mixed Age
Any number of players
5 to 10 minutes
Materials required
Airplane Competition
Airplane Competition is a playful game where kids fold, aim, and launch paper planes to hit targets while learning!
1 - 6 years, 7 - 10 years
Any number of players
5 to 10 minutes
Materials required
All Aboard the Colour Train
A movement and color recognition game where children form a “train” by responding to called colors, lining up, and moving together to music.
1 - 6 years
Any number of players
Flexible Duration
Materials required
Animal Noises
A listening and observation game where children identify their animal from the board and respond by standing up and making the correct animal sound.
1 - 6 years
Any number of players
Flexible Duration
Materials required
Animal Race
An action and drama game where students race across the room acting like assigned animals, with the class voting on the best performance.
1 - 6 years, 7 - 10 years
Any number of players
Flexible Duration
Materials required
Behind Your Back
A guessing game where a player uses the groups verbal clues to identify a picture taped to their back.
7 - 10 years, 11 - 19 years, Adults
Any number of players
Flexible Duration
Materials required
Blindfold Course
Blindfold Course is a trust-building game where players guide a teammate safely through a fun obstacle course!
Mixed Age
Any number of players
10 to 30 minutes
Materials required
Blindfold Guessing
Blindfold Guessing is a hands-on game where players identify objects using only their sense of touch!
Mixed Age
Any number of players
5 to 10 minutes
Materials required
Directions
Directions is a guided drawing game where students follow verbal steps to find the right spot on a grid!
Mixed Age
Any number of players
5 to 10 minutes
Materials required
Pin the Tail on the Animal
Pin the Tail on the Animal is a silly blindfold game where students try to place a missing body part in the right spot!
1 - 6 years, 7 - 10 years
Any number of players
5 to 10 minutes
Materials required
Time Bomb
A circle game where students answer questions while passing a timer, with the person holding it when it rings being out.
7 - 10 years, 11 - 19 years
Any number of players
10 to 30 minutes
Materials required
What’s Missing?
A memory game where players study a set of items, one is removed, and they must identify what’s missing.
7 - 10 years, 11 - 19 years, Adults
Any number of players
10 to 30 minutes
Materials required
Take it further!
bottom of page