STEP Activities Database

Capture the Flag

nathalie — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:08:39 +0000

Equipment: Two flags or object

The field is divided into two parts by a well-defined line or a rope. At the center end of each side place of the flag. A prison is marked off by a 4 foot square in one corner. The players are in two teams, each scattered over its own side. The object of the game is to steal the opponent’s flag without being caught. As soon as the player crosses the center line he may be caught and put in prison. A player may be released from prison if one of their teammates can touch their hand. Then they can go back to their own side without being tagged. The team that gets the opponent’s flag back to their flag without being caught wins. Game may be played with multiple flags.

Catching the Dragon’s Tail

nathalie — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:31:30 +0000

A dragon is formed by grouping the players in a long line each with their hands 0n the shoulders of the one in front of them. The first in line is the dragon’s head. The last in line is the dragon’s tail, eager to lash left and right in order to escape the head. Until the signal GO is given, the dragon must be a straight line. Someone in the group counts “One, two,three, go!” On the signal GO the head runs around toward the tail and tries to catch it. The whole body must move with the head to remain unbroken. If the head succeeds in touching the tail, they may continue to be the head. If the body breaks before he catches the tail the head becomes the tail and the next in line is the head and so on until each has a chance to be the head and the tail.

Tail Tag

Blanket Stand

nathalie — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:55:07 +0000

Equipment: Blanket

Start out by having the group guess how many times the blanket can be folded and still have everyone in the group on the blanket. Spread out the blanket and have the whole group get on it so that no one is off of the blanket. If the group completes the stand, have them get off and fold the blanket in half. Repeat the above process for as long as possible. As the blanket gets smaller allow time for the group to discuss ideas on how to work together to go smaller.

Big Wind Blows

nathalie — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:32:01 +0000

Also Know As:

Have you ever…

The group forms a large circle sitting or standing at arm’s length apart. One person is chosen to be the “wind”, and stands in the center of the circle. The game begins when the person in the middle says “The Big Wind Blows…” at this point they must specifically state what the winds blows, a statement which must be true about themselves. For example: If the person who is the wind says, “The Big Wind Blows everyone who has blue eyes.” All of the kids who have blue eyes including the wind must run through the circle to a position that is now empty on the other side. Once all the spots have been taken one person will be left over, they are now the wind and the game continues.

Barnyard

nathalie — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:07:20 +0000

Each participant is given the name of an animal. Three people will have the same name. No one is allowed to talk or tell another which animal they are. At the signal each participant starts making the noise that they think the animal that they have been given makes. The first animal family that correctly finds each other and sit down together is the winner. You can also allow the participants to mimic the actions of their animal as well. This activity is a good way to divide participants into teams.

Balloon Battle

nathalie — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:15:26 +0000

Materials: Balloons, String

Divide the group into two teams. Inflate a balloon (all the same size) and attach a string for each team member. Have each player tie a balloon to their ankle so that everyone has the same length of balloon trailing on the ground. Then have players keep their arms behind their back and allow no pushing, shoving or running.

The contest is then to have the teams try to burst the others balloon first. The team with the last balloon wins. As your balloon is burst you withdraw from the game. Identify the teams by the color of the balloon.

Sardines

nathalie — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:31:19 +0000

How to Play:

One player hides while the rest of the players count to 100. Then they set out to find the hidden player. When one of the players finds the hidden player he/she secretly joins them, hiding from the rest of the group. This continues until all the players are hidden like a little pack of sardines. When the last player discovers the spot the game is over.

Wombat Ball

Human Chair

ChilliPepper — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:09:35 +0000

Gather everyone in a cirlce. Initially each person should have a chair. All chairs should be equidistant from eachother. It also makes it easier if all the chairs are the same. Once everyone is in the circle and sitting on their chair instruct them to turn their body 90 degreees to the left. Everyone should be facing the same direction and the backing of the chair should be on their left side. Once everyone is situated in this position every person should lean back and place their head on the lap of the person behind them. After this, everyone should put their left arm over the right shoulder of the person in front of them and their right arm should just be extended to the person behind them over their own right shoulder.

Once all of this is done, everyone should have a hand to hold. After all of this has occurred, and everyone is holding hands, the person leading the activity should start gently pulling chairs out from underneath the people taking part in the activity. If all goes right, at the end, all of the chairs will be gone, and the students will all be sitting in a circle without chairs.

This activity builds trust between the people in the group, gets everyone comfortable with each other nut mainly it is for fun.

Helium Pole

Gherk — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:59:18 +0000

Ideal Group Size: 10+

Materials: Tent Pole or anything other long, light stick

Time: 10 to 15 Minutes

Procedure: Everyone is instructed to put their two pointer fingers on the “helium pole”. They have to be between someone else’s pointer finger. The object of the game is to get the “pole” to the ground by just using your pointer fingers. When the instructor says go, there will be two people on each side of the”pole” and they will let go of it. The game ends when they get the pole to the ground.

Reverse Tug of War

Touch My Can

Gherk — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:27:02 +0000

Ideal Group Size: 10+

Materials: An Empty Soda Can

Time: 10 Minutes

Procedure: Arrange students in a circle. The instructor will then go to the middle of the circle and explain that everyone must touch the can. Next, tell them to touch the can, but they can’t have physical contact with anyone else. Once they complete that, you can offer a “challenge” option. Tell them that they have to touch the can without physical contact, and with their eyes closed. This might take a couple of tries but they’ll eventually get it. Once that’s accomplished, the game is finally done.