Wacky Waiter
May we serve you some (very) fast food?
What You Need: A large plastic dinner plate and a Ping-Pong ball for each team.
To Play: The first runner on each team places the Ping-Pong ball on top of the plastic dinner plate. Holding the plate waiter-style (one hand underneath the tray; younger racers can use two hands), the players carries it to the turnaround point and back to tag the next teammate, who does the same. If a player drops the ball, she picks it up, puts it back on the plate, and resumes. The first team to finish wins.
Sneaker Scramble
Got Velcro? It’s a “shoe-in” for this relay.
What You Need: A box or laundry basket for each team and a playing area for shoeless running.
To Play: The first player on each team runs to his team’s box, takes off his shoes, puts them in the box, and runs back to tag the next teammate, who does the same. When the entire team is shoeless, the players take turns running to the box, putting their own shoes back on, and running back. The first team to finish, with all footwear on, wins.
Bubble Brigade
Try not to burst anyone’s bubble in this sudsy race.
What You Need: Bubble solution and a wand for each player.
To Play: Each team lines up, shoulder-to-shoulder. The first person on each team blows a bubble and catches it on her wand. She then passes it to the next player, who passes it to the next, and so on. If the bubble pops, the person passing it must blow another bubble and then pass it on. The first team to get a bubble to the end of its line. wins.
Grab Bag
The action-packed relay is full of surprises.
What You Need: Two brown paper bags, slips of paper, and a pencil.
The Setup: On the slips, write instructions: “Hop to the tree and back,” “Run to the slide, go down, and run back,” Do 25 jumping jacks.” Make two of each instruction (so that the teams will have identical sets). Put one in each bag. Each bag should have one slip per player.
To Play: The first player on each team pulls a slip from the bag, performs the action, and tags the next player, who does the same. The first team to finish all the actions wins.
Matchbox Indy 500
Start your engines! In this race, you’ll use plenty of lung power to get to the checkered flag.
What You Need: A flat surface, a small toy car for each team, and a party blower for each student.
To Play: Set each team’s at the starting line. The first player on each tam repeatedly blows into his/her party blower to push the car to a turnaround point and back. He then tags the next player, who does the same. The first team to finish wins.
Way Too Big
What You Need: Adult-sized clothing — t-shirts, shorts, hats, sneakers — a full set for each team.
To Play: Break into two teams. Have a full set of clothing at the starting point for each team. Each child must put on the entire outfit, run to the turnaround point and back. Take off the set of clothing and give it to the next student, who does the same. The first team to finish wins.
Speed Stacking Relay
What You Need: two sets of speed stacking cups
To Play: Break into two teams. Put a set of cups at the turnaround point for each team. Each person runs down, completes a stack and then a downstack. Run back to their next teammate, tag hands, then then do the same. The first team to finish wins.
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