I recently found this game that is really fun for kids (to be honest, I found it fun, too).
Tic Tac Toe Relay
Equipment Needed:
[h=2]
How to Play Tic Tac Toe Relay: [/h] The game will be played 3 versus 3. Each student will have 1 placement marker (scarf). On go, the first person from each team will run down to the tic tac toe board and place their marker in one of the hula hoops. After they place the marker, they will race back to their line to high five the next student in line. The next student will then place their marker in an open hoop. The goal is to have your team get 3 in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally). If all 3 markers have been played and there is no tic tac toe, the next student in line will run down and move one of their own team markers into an open hula hoop. The next team in line will stand behind the hula hoops and judge the game. After the game is over, the winning team will stay and play again. The judging team will come on to challenge, and the next 3 in line will judge the next game. The game will continue to cycle through. You can have multiple games going at a time!
The reason I love this relay game is because every student can do this and be successful while receiving the benefits of physical activity. The kids get very competitive but in an excited manner. The game always starts out fast as the kids just try to foot race to be the first to get 3 in a row. Then they figure out that if their team is a little slower, they learn to block the other team to keep the game alive. It’s great because you don’t have to be the fastest or most athletic team to win, and everyone has a chance if they use their minds to help!
Similarly,
[h=5]
Frisbee Tic-Tac-Toe[/h]
Materials:
- At least 8 frisbees. You can buy 2 colors of frisbees at the dollar store (4 of each), or just use the frisbees that you already own and mark them in some way so that they match. (Maybe duck tape X’s and O’s?)
- 1 heavy shower curtain or tarp (*You might be able to skip this. See below.)
- Colored duck tape or masking tape
Set up:
Using duck or masking tape, create a tic-tac-toe grid on a sturdy shower curtain or tarp. We used a dollar store shower curtain, and it was a little too flimsy. We had to use rocks to hold down the edges. (*You can create the tic-tac-toe board right on the ground and skip the tarp altogether.)
If you are using a tent tarp with those handy little grommet holes along the edges, you can even stake it down to keep your board nice and smooth (and to keep it from blowing away!)
How to Play:
The object of the game is the same as regular tic-tac-toe. The first team to get three of their own frisbees in a row on the board wins the game.
- Divide the players into teams. (You can play one-on-one or with teams.) Each team gets a single color (or style) of frisbee.
- Teams take turns throwing a single frisbee toward the board (hoping to actually land in the square they aimed for).
- The game is over when one team has landed three of their frisbees in a row onto the board (up-and-down, across, or diagonally).
Variations
- For younger players, allow the kids to get the frisbee onto the board any way they can. (Toss, roll, etc.)
- Use a giant tarp to create a huge board for a large group.
If frisbees from different teams land in the same square, you have a two choices:
- Continue play and allow either team to claim that square with three in a row.
- The new frisbee knocks the old frisbee out of play.
I hope you and your family have a great time with this game!
I might be back with more suggestions, since I never really grew out of playing any kind of lawn games and I love them to pieces!
