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PE Games For Middle School: Indoor And Outdoor Ideas And Resources

March 15, 2024 // by Eileen Zajac

As students get older, their interests definitely change. Along with that, keeping them engaged throughout an entire PE gym class seems to become more and more difficult. When it comes to finding engaging games for your middle school students, it mostly comes down to knowing them and knowing where they’re at developmentally. This list of 27 PE games will help to give you an outlook on what your students like and where they should be.

Whether it be a team game, an individual game, or an entire class game, students should be prepared and ready to have a fun PE class. Knowing why you’re playing a particular game or teaching a specific lesson is vital to students’ success. It’s also vital to their interest. Don’t fall behind when it comes to a successful gym class, be sure to give your students all of the support they need to have something to look forward to.

1. Consecutive Hits

Turning physical activities into a fun game is often one of the main goals of middle school PE teachers. This simple game will be a fit for all skills and will also be perfect for indoor and outdoor lesson plans.

Learn More: HPE Zack Baker

2. Reaction Challenge

This excellent game will help your middle schoolers work not only on building their hand-eye coordination but also on their reaction time. Along with that, it’s an engaging amount of competition while also putting students with different skill levels together.

Learn More: Sarah Casey PE

This is both an indoor and outdoor game that’s simple and hardly requires any equipment. It’s also great for any grade level. Physical education games like this one can be used to challenge students to improve both overall agility and cardio.

4. Ultimate Frisbee

There’s no doubt that sticking to traditional games is always an easy win with most of the kids in your PE class. Ultimate frisbee is the perfect game for that. Working not only on your student’s fitness level but also helping to build teamwork skills essential to the middle school curriculum.

Learn More: YouTube

5. Give A Choice

Providing your kiddos with a choice in their own lesson plans could potentially make kiddos love PE class. Undoubtedly, some students lose interest as they get older and more in tune with their bodies. Providing options for cooperative games and maybe even a common game for them will lead to more prosperous classes.

Learn More: Phys ED 4 Life

6. Skittle Scoops

This creative game will fall under some of your most engaging games throughout the year. The more competitive students will surely be able to show their skills, and other students at a more basic level will get to go at their own pace. It’s sort of a win-win for everyone.

Learn More: CMS Phys ED

7. X Factor Fitness

This activity is for students with high confidence levels who are very dedicated to their school gym class. If students aren’t that into it, you might be some less active players. Having creative plans with an activity for everyone is essential here.

8. Quick Aerobics

This aerobic activity is an amazing indoor game. Finding activities for middle school students in the cold winter months can be challenging. So use this active game to raise their cardio and get some of their energy out.

Learn More: Mrs. Taylor Fitness

Kan Jam is a game that most middle school students will be familiar with. It’s a fantastic coordination game that will be fun for students of all skill levels. Be sure to monitor to keep a fair game between competitive students.

10. Treasure Island

Make some class teams and watch students try to win out Treasure Island! This is perfect for the age where students don’t like being touched or super close to each other. Giving active time throughout the day is vital for students’ success. If you have the playing space then this game is a perfect option.

11. Monkey Pong

If you have a Ping Pong table and are not utilizing it by playing Monkey Pong, then you’re doing it wrong! This game doesn’t have complicated rules, and it’s all about cooperative teamwork. Making it the ideal game for middle school.

Learn More: Coach Easley

12. Dice Fitness

Dice fitness gives your kiddos an amazing variation for any series of stretches or exercises. This can fall under your equipment-free games and lesson plans. Perfect for those indoor PE classes.

Learn More: Phys Ed 4 Life

13. Badminton Tournament

The cool thing about badminton is that it can be played without a net! Simply the use of cones will suffice for an entire tournament. Making for a great playing space that’s easy and gives kiddos a chance to cooperate in competitive sports.

Learn More: X Advantage PE Eagles Rise

14. Classic Volleyball

Volleyball is a great lesson to be taught to kiddos throughout middle school. This game will help your students to participate in competitive games while also giving them a chance to learn the rules and regulations of quite the game.

Learn More: Luhi PE

15. Tic Tac Toe

Using a bunch of hula hoops to make giant tic tac toe boards might just be the best idea you’ve had as a PE teacher. Not only will students know and understand this game, but they’ll also love the competition. Due to the added cardio aspect, this will be more complex than the game they’re used to.

Have your kids participate in some yoga during their PE class. Using a basic yoga post for beginners to more complex yoga pose as students get more experienced. This will help them to build up basic skills of peace and tranquility .

Learn More: St. Martin’s MD

Undoubtedly, all students should be equipped to perform CPR if there’s an emergency. Where else to teach it than in your middle school PE class? Bring someone and get all of your kiddos certified and trained in CPR!

Learn More: CMS Phys Ed

18. Fencing With Noodles

Safe and competitive fencing techniques are taught in middle school PE classes. This activity is excellent for upper middle schoolers that are able to safely participate in competitive class activities.

Learn More: Cantley Phys Ed

19. Team Building

Building with buckets is a great way to get your students to be creative and work together. Whether you’re having them mirror your creation or letting them build their own, it doesn’t matter! This is both fun and active when using the big buckets.

Learn More: St. Andrew UT

20. Score Scramble

This game is all about foot-eye coordination (if you will). Watch as students work together to get the ball into the net. Students will save their balls in their goal. This will help to ensure that students are getting enough active involvement.

Learn More: Jason Shegda

21. Flasketball

This game has similar rules to ultimate frisbee but it’s really quite the integration of a variety of sports. The first, of course, is basketball. Next comes the use of footballs and the rules of ultimate frisbee. The object of the game is to score the football into the basketball hoop.

Learn More: Phys Ed Games

Spud is one of those classic games that students will constantly be asking to play for future decades! This game is both super simple, and all students can play. The only requirement is knowing how to count (or just remembering, for that matter) and also being able to run.

Learn More: Phys ED Games

23. Last Man Standing

Middle school kids will not only have fun with this game, but they’ll also be highly challenged. They will be forced to practice quite the intense cardio workout throughout the game.

24. Battleship

Activities like this will help students work together and build lasting memories. It’s so much fun for all students involved. You’ll see how quickly students attach to this game and continuously ask to play.

Learn More: Joelle Newman

25. Handball

Handball is an engaging game in which kids of all skill levels can be competitive. The alternative is something called chair ball . Chair ball is when students stand on the chair with a basket and try to catch the ball rather than shoot in a basket.

Learn More: AHSD25 South

26. Virtual PE Class

Yes, we are in an age where virtual PE classes are no surprise. Of course, at this point, the pandemic is improving, and teachers worldwide have learned to adapt. BUT that doesn’t mean we’ll never run into virtual classes again. It doesn’t hurt to have some lesson plans set on the back burner these days.

Learn More: Mr. Cerrillo PE

27. The Hunger Games

In middle school, students are ready to read or watch the movie The Hunger Games. See who volunteers as tribute in this fun and exciting PE game.

Learn More: School Videos

10 Surefire games for PE – Easy to play, loads of fun!

The best games for me are the ones with limited equipment and little setup. A quick setup means quick takedown which means faster transitions. Also, with less equipment, there is usually less explanation and rules. Ultimately, this is what’s best for students, more movement and less time sitting. Especially for my younger students, this holds true. Here are ten of my favorite games with limited equipment. My hope is that you can grab a few ideas from below and add them to your physical education repertoire.

Pin-Up Relay

This partner challenge includes a fine balance of fitness and teamwork. I partner the students up and then send them to one end of the gymnasium with a bowling pin. On the other end of the floor, I place one spot in a straight line for each set of partners. On the signal to go, partners sprint across the gym to their spot. With their hands on each other’s shoulders, they attempt to stand the pin on the spot using only their feet. When successful, they grab the pin, sprint back to the other side to grab a laminated strip of paper, which represents a point. Students repeat the process, trying to score as many points as possible in three minutes.

ROOMBA CLEAN-UP

Roomba Clean-up is a variation of Hungry Hippos gone wild. Scatter various equipment throughout the gym. I use a variety of balls. This represents the mess the Roomba vacuum cleaners need to clean up. Each Roomba consists of a set of partners, a scooter board, and a laundry basket or bucket and a hula hoop to place collected balls in. One student sits with crossed legs on the scooter, holding a laundry basket upside-down. The other student is the Roomba’s motor. On the signal to go, the motor pushes the Roomba throughout the gym in an attempt to collect three balls. Once three balls are in the “vacuum bag,” the Roomba returns to their hula hoop to empty the bag. At this time, the two players switch roles and repeat.

Dice Doubles vs. Cone Flip

I use this as an instant activity for my 3rd-5th grade classes. Half the class receives two dice each and the other half each receives a cone. Players with the dice find a player with a cone to challenge.

To face-off, each player MUST complete 10 Jumping jacks and a HANDSHAKE to begin (Every round begins this way).
Which will happen first, roll doubles or a successful cone flip?
Players trade equipment after each round and find someone else to challenge.

Will You Be my “PAL”- entine?

Although this game can be played at any time of the year, I use it as a Valentine’s Day game. It begins with a discussion on what it means to be a pal or a friend. A good pal will always be there for you in a time of need.

Cupid and his/her helper are on the loose and want to turn you into a chocolate heart. If tagged by Cupid or the helper, players turn into a solid chocolate heart by freezing with their arms over their heads in the shape of a heart. The spell is broken when another student with a ring asks, “Will you be my “PAL” – entine? Of course, the only answer is yes. The “proposer” places the ring on the other player’s arm and the game continues. The player who had the ring now has to avoid Cupid while the player with the ring seeks a solid chocolate heart to rescue. I play this game with 1st grade -5th grade with equal success. The smiles and laughter are incredible!

Hit or Miss Striking

Sometimes the simplest games are the best games. Hit or Miss is definitely one of those games. My students play this game to help reinforce striking fundamentals. Simply place a pin equidistant from each partner. Students take turns striking a ball at the pin. I encourage them to step to the target for accuracy. Also, make sure students trap the ball each time with their paddle rather than striking the ball back and forth like a tennis rally.

Streets, Allies, and Lamp Posts

This is a game that’s been around forever and is not one of my originals. However, I decided to include it because of its whole class cooperative component and the fact that it can be played in a limited space.

Begin the game by creating several lines. For example, for a class of 25, make five lines of five. Or for a larger class of 40, make eight lines of five. Before playing the actual game, students practice three formations; streets, allies, and lamp posts. Students face forward with their arms holding each other’s wrist. These are the streets. On the signal, “allies”, students quickly turn to the left, holding the wrists of the people who were in front and in back of them. Students create lamp posts by either lifting their arms above their heads of by placing their arms to their sides. Practice, theses formations repeatedly by calling them out until the students can quickly change from streets to allies to lamp posts without hesitation.

Next, select a cat and a mouse. The cat chases the mouse throughout the streets, allies and lamp posts. When the cat catches the mouse, select two other students to chase each other. With my older students, I introduce a dog. The dog chases the cat who chases the mouse who chases the dog.

RING BEARER

Partners try to clear the poly spots from the floor while tossing and catching with a deck ring. If a ball is caught while standing on a spot, the spot is taken back to the home hoop. Partners alternate tossing and catching. Balls can be tossed from anywhere on the perimeter, not just from the home hoop. For my younger grades, I allow the ball to bounce once for a successful catch.

Jump Rope Tag

Jump Rope Tag is my go-to warm-up games during my jump rope unit. It’s simple, fun, and exhausting. I select two taggers per 20 students. If tagged, students go to one of two jump rope stations on either end of the floor to complete 10 jumps to shake the spell. Jump ropes can also be made into the shape of a heart on the floor to jump in and out of 10 times! I play one minute rounds, changing taggers each time.

Toss 12 TURBO!

Anybody who follows me knows that traditional Toss 12 is one of my favorite games. Toss 12 Turbo is just a faster, more aerobic version of the same game. Partners work together to try to be the first team to score 12 points. Here’s how:

1 point- ball in hoop/ cylinder still standing
2 points – cylinder falls/ ball stops outside the hoop
3 points – cylinder falls AND the ball stops inside the hoop
Must score EXACTLY 12 to win the round.

Beachball in a Basket

I love the cooperative component of this game as well as its versatility.

How to play:

Spread out the laundry baskets, each with a beachball.
Send 3-4 students to each basket.
Students attempt to strike the beachball five times before guiding it into the basket.
Each student must touch the ball at least once before it can be guided into the basket.

Depending on your group, you can instruct your students to use anything but their arms and hands.

EQUIPMENT SEEN IN THIS POST

There you have it! My 10 Random yet SUREFIRE games for PE. Give a few of them a try and let me know what you think!

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Published by jcahill

I have been teaching physical education for 27 years. I began my career teaching in Washington, DC before moving to Atlanta, Georgia to teach at Trinity School. I have a passion for keeping kids healthy and moving during each PE lesson, and throughout their lives. I’m a firm believer that recess is a right and NOT a privilege. Please check out and join my Facebook group called Keeping Kids in Motion. I am happily married and have three beautiful children who are constantly KEEPING ME IN MOTION! View all posts by jcahill

One thought on “ 10 Surefire games for PE – Easy to play, loads of fun! ”

Amazing ideas!!!! Thanks for always sharing and especially for caring about lifetime fitness for our kids.

10 Best Indoor PE Games for Middle School Students

By Catherine Morris

Managing stress, anxiety and mood swings is important for anyone—but it’s crucial for middle school students. These are the years when kids’ lives change significantly in so many ways: They’re entering puberty, and their social landscapes are shifting. Responsibilities at home are mounting, while school is getting harder and team sports more demanding.

This is why movement and play are still so important for middle-school students. Tweens and brand-new teenagers are still kids, after all! They need a fun outlet for their abundant energy. Regular, vigorous physical activity is also one of the proven best ways to regulate emotions, build confidence and succeed in academics.

With that in mind, Marathon Kids has compiled 10 of the best indoor PE games for middle-school students. These are great options for getting your middle-school students moving when it’s too wet, hot or freezing out to head outdoors. Don’t forget, Marathon Kids counts 20 minutes of heart-pounding exercise as equivalent to one mile! And every sweaty activity session helps kids build their endurance and PE skills while boosting their moods and confidence levels.

Indoor Free-Play Stations

Even when middle-schoolers are playing, they need to feel like they’re in charge. It’s part of riding that line between childhood and growing up. Giving them some free choice is a great way to affirm their inner young adult—and making the choices fun affirms the little kid who also still dwells within.

A great way to accomplish this balance? Set up free-play stations around the gym, or wherever you’re meeting with students. Have them cycle through activities of their choice. These can include activities that develop their persistence as well as their spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination, such as hula-hooping or underhand throwing with bean bags; plyometrics activities, such as jumping rope, jumping-jacks or long jumps; strength-training activities, such as pushups or planks; or cardio endurance builders, such as burpees, high-knees or running in place.

Fitness Bingo

Make up Bingo-style sheets for your students with exercises listed in the squares, along with number of repetitions or length of time for each exercise. These might include 10 pushups, burpees or jumping-jacks; 20 seconds of mountain-climbers, jumping rope or running in place; and so on. Give each student a Fitness Bingo sheet and a marker to mark off which activities they complete as the teacher calls them out. The first person to call out “Fitness Bingo!” when they’ve marked off all their squares gets to be the leader who calls out exercises for the next round. This activity is great for middle-schoolers since it taps into their competitive sides while still being self-directed and tons of fun.

Lay out mats throughout the gym—blue like water, if possible!—and then set up a series of stable items on top of the mats. These are for students to stand on and move from one to the next without touching the mats. You might use balance beams, benches, chairs, pieces of plywood and so on. The mats represent shark-infested waters, and the items on top are the safe zone. Students divide into teams, and work together on how to move safely from one safe zone to the next without ever stepping onto the mats. Shark Zone helps middle-schoolers build teamwork along with balance and coordination. It’s also just good, silly fun on an indoor-PE day.

A little like tennis played with a Wiffle ball and large, wooden, ping-pong-style paddles, Pickleball is perfect for indoor play. It works with smaller classes or bigger ones. You can even get multiple games going at once, if you have a larger indoor space to accommodate them. Pickleball encourages teamwork and helps to develop students’ hand-eye coordination and strategy skills. There are lots of variations on the game that can be implemented to fit your particular class and indoor space.

Hula Hoop Tic-Tac-Toe

This game requires nine hula hoops and ten beanbags—five of one color, and five of another. Lay out the hula hoops on the floor in a three-by-three square, like a tic-tac-toe grid. Then divide students into two teams, and have them line up at a starting point some distance away from the hoops.

When the teacher says Go , Player One from the first team runs to the hula hoops and drops a beanbag into the hoop of their choice, and then runs to the back of their own line as quickly as possible. As soon as that player returns, Player One from the second team does the same thing, running to the hoops and dropping a beanbag into another hoop before returning.

These games move fast, and the goal is just like that of regular tic-tac-toe: Each team is attempting to block the other team from filling a line of hoops with their bean bags by dropping their own bags strategically. Teams will likely complete multiple games before every player has had a chance to go. Players who are waiting in line can keep their hearts pumping with jumping jacks, high-knees, or running or marching in place.

Cat and Mouse

Middle-school students may be growing up, but their love of chase games never wears thin. Cat and Mouse is similar to Flag Tag, except the flags are pieces of cloth or string tucked into students’ waistbands to represent tails. Depending on your class size, one to three students can be the cats that chase multiple mice; mice are “out” when the cats pull out their tails.

Red Light, Green Light

This classic, simple game is not just for younger kids! Middle-schoolers love it too, in part because it’s a throwback to earlier grades and stages. It’s also a great indoor PE game choice for building cardio endurance, strength and flexibility along with skills related to listening, observing and following instructions.

Don’t forget to switch up the movements that students use to move toward the finish line. They can choose their own movements or the teacher can call them out. Running, skipping and dancing all work, as do jumping-jacks, high-knees, lunges and even burpees. The possibilities are nearly endless!

It’s also fun to add in a “yellow light” twist: When the teacher calls out “Yellow light,” students must move as slowly as possible. Then, when the teacher calls out “Red light,” they must freeze in place and hold their form or position until “Green light” is called out once again. The slow movements followed by holding a particular position can help students focus on form while building muscle and endurance.

Wall ball is usually played outdoors against an exterior wall, but it can also be played inside on an indoor PE day. Middle-school students love wall ball because it’s a simple game that taps into their teamwork skills as well as their competitive natures. It’s also a versatile game that can be played with nearly any size of bouncy ball, from tennis balls to the larger playground balls found in almost any middle school gym.

When you have to get a group of potentially sullen middle-school students moving indoors, sometimes it’s best just to get back to basics. When using the outdoor track isn’t an option, walking or running the perimeter of the gym makes a great substitute. You can also have them use the hallways (quietly, of course, when class is in session!). Make it fun by splitting students into relay teams or having them plot their distances the old-fashioned way, on a data chart. A fun variation is having students line up; the student at the back of the line moves as quickly as possible to the front of the line, and then the next student at the back runs forward, and so on. Together, they make slow forward progress as a group by taking turns all the way to the finish line.

Yoga and Mindfulness

A yoga and stretching session is perfect for winding down a PE session and helping students get their heart rates back to normal. It’s also perfect for helping middle-school kids develop much-needed mindfulness, the benefits of which extend well beyond the gym. When kids have a few minutes during the school day to sit quietly and focus on their breathing, or on how certain stretches or poses make their bodies feel, they can develop mindfulness over time. This can improve their test scores and focus in class along with their mood and confidence levels.

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