Reception Class Playground Games - Ideas Please?

[EiePie]

I'm a new MDS looking for some inspiration for playground games for 25 four and five year olds. We've had a bash at What's The Time Mr Wolfe and Duck, Duck Goose but, tbh, several of the children are not very co-ordinated and we've had a few crashes and falls in the excitement so something that doesn't involve chasing and random running about would be best. My son came up with Head, Shoulders, Knees And Toes - which will be good - and I'm going to get some chalk for Hopscotch. Some, but not most, are able to skip and French Skipping was a bit of a flop. Games need to be a bit physical and not overly complicated as I won't be able to understand them! Any other bright ideas please? Tia.

The Bean game, a bit like Simon says, where you shout out the names of different beans and they each have an action. Ie chilli bean - everyone shivers, runner bean, run on the spot.
Here's a good guide www.teachingideas.co.uk/pe/beans.htm

Could try cat and mouse (aka cops and robbers) but they may be a bit young.
Choose someone to be the cat (Catcher) and someone to be the mouse (evading capture).
Stand all other children into lines so with 23 children probably 6 lines of 4 (with one line missing a child). They stand so that they are touching finger to finger with their arms outstretched down the line. The mouse then gets sent into a line gets a couple of seconds head start and send the cat into catch them.
Sounds easy enough for the cat to catch the mouse, except that the adult then shouts out "Change" and the children in the lines rotate through 90degrees so that they are touching fingers without stretched arms in lines are now perpendicular to where they were before.
I,e from
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to
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so the cat and mouse can keep being split up.
The adult can then make sure that the smaller children who would usually get caught really easily in 'It' get a chance as they can call "Change" to keep the game going if the small child is about to get caught.

In and out the dusty bluebells? Oranges and Lemons?

Hokey Cokey?

Why do they need organised games?
Can they not direct their own play?

Simon says?

Red light / Green light?

TBH, running around madly is what they all really love. But if there is pressure never to skin a knee or get a bruise, I suppose you have to find less "active" activities.

Thank you everyone, some great ideas there. I shall give them a go. Yes, insancerre they can and do usually organise their own play but sometimes they ask me to play something with them. And also there are times when the boys, especially, are a little too manic in their belting round the playground (worse when it's really windy - I thought that was just horses!?) and it would be good to have an interesting game to offer them - if they'd like to join in - I wouldn't make them participate! They do frequently fall over Toomany because, as you said, they do love running around madly - and that's what they mostly do. Skinned knees and hands are inevitable but if I'm going to suggest a game, I'd like it to be something less likely to have them hurt themselves. Bless their socks!

My final idea. Organise races to tire out the especially frisky ones. Or do "time trials" with your wrist watch. These are great because you just stand there while they wear themselves out.

Also let them throw a ball back and forth (you need one ball for every 2 children.) Everytime they successfully catch the ball, they step back, if they fail, they step back in together. Which team can get the furthest out?

I am sure the really active ones concentrate better in lessons, if they have had a chance to burn off some energy.

Love the ball game idea Toomany, I'll definitely try that one! I totally agree about better concentration in class if they've had a chance to run off some energy, they need time for unstructured, imaginative play and running round screaming!. Trouble is the boys play 'Super Heroes' and it can get a bit...errrrr....feisty at times and things can turn serious - and that's when we have tears and tantrums - so I want something to divert their energy (if they want to) to calm the situation for a few minutes. It's what I would do with my own DSs at home (but they're older (and only two of them) so easier to find stuff for them to do). It works for them. Only takes a short time before they play happily together again. Just wanting to make sure everyone has a happy lunchtime.

You sound lovely EiePie. The kids are lucky to have someone willing to get involved and engage with them during play time.

Aww, thank you Toomany, how kind! I only started in September and I didn't realise how much fun they were all going to be! I get to smile and laugh every day, it's a great job. They are lovely.

I'd speak to the school on Monday jsp. Let them know what's been going on. Our reception children have a separate, enclosed area to play in (although they can go into the main playground if they want) so it's easier to spot when things start going awry and nip it in the bud. Ask your school to have a word with the MDSA's to make sure this doesn't continue. Keep on at the school, don't give up.

Sorry to hear the school aren't taking this seriously jsp. I can't offer much advice (our school has proved very efficient where bullying is concerned by it is a small, rural school so may be a bit easier?) but there is a bullying thread on here where people may have had a similar experience to you and be able to help. I hope you get it sorted really soon. Good luck.

Scarecrows in the field - essentially stuck in the mud, but the children stand with their arms stretched out when they've been 'tigged' and are released when another child goes under their arm. It's better for school trousers than crawling under legs.

Would they play Captain's Coming? Different actions depending on what you say:
Captain's coming - salute
Captain's wife - curtsey
Climb the rigging - mime climbing a ladder
Scrub the deck - mime scrubbing the floor
N/E/S/W - run to area of playground designated (eg one end would be north etc)
Man overboard - mime swimming
Mermaid - stick out a hip, put hand on hip, wave with other hand & shout "howdy, Sailor" (entirely for your own amusement, this one, tis very funny)
Seasick - mime being sick

You can add any other actions you dream up, too.