Motorboat

Everyone forms a circle holding hands and walks around chanting, “Motorboat, motorboat goes so slow (twice), motorboat, motorboat step on the gas (speed up), motorboat, motorboat go so fast (twice), motorboat, motorboat run out of gas” and everyone sits back down.

Clapping Game

Say “Do this” or sing “Everybody do this, do this, do this, everybody do this just like me” with various clapping patterns for the children to copy.

Hurray Song

“Hurray for (child’s name), hurray for (child’s name), someone in the crowd is singing hurray for (child’s name). 1-2-3-4, who are we for? Child’s name.”

Simon Says

Regular version without tricking children; state actions preceded by statements about what children like or attributes they have (e.g., those who like pizza touch their nose, those with brown eyes jump up and down, etc.)

Musical Hula Hoops

Spread hula hoops around the floor in a large area. Play music while the children walk around the hoops. When the music stops, everyone jumps into the nearest hoop. Each time the music stops, one hoop is removed. When there is only one or two hoops left, everyone has an arm around each other to try and draw people in as close as possible.

We Are Special Chant

Everyone forms a circle holding hands. As they rise from sitting to standing, everyone chants “We are special”. The chanting goes from quiet to a shout when everyone is standing.

Row Your Boat

Everyone joins hands in a circle and rows as a group, slowly, then quickly.

One Potato

Circle game where a bean bag is passed around to the chant of “One potato, two potato.” When the chant gets to “more”, the child holding the bean bag gets a hug or high five from the child on each side of him/her.

Silly Bones

Circle game where everyone touches the same body part (e.g., an elbow) until it goes all the way around. Then another body part is “passed” around.

Pass the Spoon

Group passes the spoon around with a small ball on it, helping each other to finish as fast as they can.

Paper Punch/Basketball Throw

A piece of newspaper is stretched by two teachers in the centre of the circle. Each child gets to punch through a piece and then the pieces are scrunched up into balls. Once every child has punched through a paper, each child throws two of the paper balls through a basket made by the leader’s arms.

Call Out a Name and Exchange Places

Each child has a chance to call a peer’s name and they exchange places. Each child’s name can only be called once.