The Best Tag Games! | Physical Education

We have narrowed down some of the best and most enjoyable tag games to use in your classroom and in any P.E lesson across all ages! These Tag games are simple, require low resources and can be dont in a variety of playing spaces, ensuring that you can whip these games out when ever needed! Maybe you need a warmup, or a minor game, quick fitness activity or a break- these can be used for any situation and can be done easily and most importantly will be enjoyed by your students!

If you want to read more about how to use tag games effectively and why they are so beneficial, check out our in-depth article on the topic! ‘Why I Love Tag Games’

Witches and Wizards! | Early Years P.E Tag Game

If you’re looking for a simple, engaging, and imaginative game for early years students, this activity is a perfect fit! With minimal resources required, it allows students to use their creativity in a fun, tag-based game with a magical theme. Whether you’re planning for ‘Book Week’ or any other themed event, this game can easily be modified to suit your lesson needs.

In this game, students are divided into teams of wizards and witches, using cones as magical wands to tag opponents. The twist? After tagging, students play a quick round of rock-paper-scissors to see if their spell works! It’s an excellent way to get kids moving, laughing, and problem-solving, with the flexibility to adjust for any group size or time constraints.

This game encourages both physical activity and imaginative play, making it an ideal warm-up or main event. Plus, the rules are easy to follow, meaning you can focus more on fun and less on preparation! Give it a try, and you’ll see how much students enjoy it.

Link: Witches and Wizards

Dragons and Polar Bears! | Tag Game for all ages

This article introduces a versatile and engaging tag game suitable for all ages and skill levels, making it an excellent choice for educators looking for a quick, fun activity. The game is easy to set up, making it perfect for when you’re short on time or need an effective warm-up. It can also serve as a brain break, giving students a chance to move and recharge during long learning sessions.

In this game, students are divided into two groups: “Polar Bears” and “Dragons.” Polar Bears attempt to freeze other students by tagging them, while Dragons can unfreeze their classmates. The simple rules and adaptable format make it easy to adjust for different class sizes or difficulty levels.

If you’re looking for a quick and fun way to get your class moving, whether indoors or outside, this game is a great solution. It keeps students active, encourages teamwork, and adds a fun, imaginative twist to your lesson plan.

Link: Polar Bears and Dragons

Lions Tails! | Tag Game Physical Education

Looking for a go-to game that’s both fun and educational for all ages? This high-energy, tail-snatching game will keep your students engaged while developing key skills like situational awareness and fundamental movement. Perfect for indoor or outdoor play, it requires minimal resources but delivers maximum excitement.

Not only does this game get students moving—running, dodging, and lunging—it also teaches them valuable lessons in teamwork, fair play, and strategic thinking. Each player is tasked with protecting their own tail while snatching as many as they can from others, making for a thrilling experience that challenges both their physical and mental agility.

This game’s flexibility is what makes it truly special. You can easily modify it to suit different age groups or lesson plans, whether you’re looking for a simple warm-up, a competitive challenge, or a collaborative activity. With its focus on physical literacy, cooperation, and decision-making, this game is a must-have in your teaching arsenal. Students won’t just have fun—they’ll be learning essential life skills without even realising it!

**Link: **Lion Tails

Anaconda Tag | Build Team Chemistry!

Looking for a game that blends fun, physical activity, and valuable life lessons? Anaconda Tag is a unique and engaging way to build teamwork and cooperation among students. Requiring minimal resources, this game gets your students moving while teaching them the importance of collaboration and team chemistry—skills essential in both sports and everyday life.

In Anaconda Tag, one student starts as the “baby snake” and tries to tag others. As the snake grows, teamwork becomes crucial, as only the head and tail of the snake can tag. If the chain breaks, the team loses, providing a perfect opportunity to discuss what happens when teams don’t collaborate effectively.

This game is adaptable, making it a great choice for a warm-up, brain break, or even the main focus of a lesson. Whether you’re working with younger students or older ones, Anaconda Tag is an excellent way to introduce concepts like leadership, cooperation, and trust in a fun and dynamic way. It’s a perfect tool for showing that teamwork really does make the dream work

Link: Anaconda Tag

Sharks In The Water! | Tag Game

This high-energy shark-themed game is perfect for all ages, from Reception to Year 10, offering a fun and dynamic way to teach decision-making, teamwork, and handling pressure during physical activity. With minimal resources needed—just hula-hoops and a playing space—it’s a versatile game that can be used as a warm-up for older students or as an engaging activity for younger ones. As students avoid being tagged by “sharks” while moving across the “ocean,” they learn to make quick decisions and work together under pressure, helping prepare them for more structured sports and games.

What makes this game a staple in my programs is its flexibility and the excitement it generates. The rules are simple, but the game offers plenty of room for modification to fit different age groups and lesson goals. Whether you add music to ramp up the intensity or tweak the rules for added challenge, this game is sure to energize your students while promoting essential physical and mental skills.

Link: Shark Tag

Pop Corn Tag | Simple Tag Game

If you’re searching for a simple yet engaging warm-up game that requires no resources, look no further! This basic tag game is designed to encourage participation from every student and can easily be adapted for various skill levels. Perfect for introducing younger students to the world of tag games or serving as a fun warm-up for older students, this activity promotes cooperative play while keeping everyone active and engaged.

In this game, students run freely in a designated area, trying to tag their peers while avoiding being tagged themselves. When a student is tagged, they play rock-paper-scissors with their tagger, and the loser must sit down as “popcorn.” To return to the game, they need a high-five from a fellow player, fostering teamwork and camaraderie. The game can be easily modified to suit your class’s needs, whether by removing the rock-paper-scissors element or introducing new tagging rules, ensuring that everyone has fun while developing essential movement skills.

**Link: **Pop Corn Tag

Zombie Tag | Everyones Favourite Tag Game

If you struggle to engage your students in whole-class games, adding a story or theme can be a game-changer! This creative spin on classic tag games brings a fun Halloween twist that is sure to entice even the most reserved students to join in. With a mix of excitement and physical activity, this tag game not only promotes participation but also encourages creativity and imagination among your students.

In this lively game, students start as “humans” trying to avoid being tagged by their peers. When tagged, they enter a rock-paper-scissors duel, gradually transforming into a “zombie” with each loss, hopping around on one foot, then playing on their knees, and finally lying on their back if they lose three times. Students can earn back their “limbs” by tagging others and winning their duels, adding a layer of strategy to the game. This dynamic structure keeps everyone active, while the humorous theme fosters cooperation and teamwork. With simple modifications, you can tailor the game to suit your class’s needs, making it a perfect activity to bring excitement and engagement into your physical education sessions!

Link: Zombie Tag

What Does The Evidence Say About Tag Games?

Physical Development: Tag games improve students’ cardiovascular health, agility, and coordination. Research shows that high-intensity, unstructured activities like tag can increase physical fitness levels in children, promoting better body composition and cardiovascular health, which are crucial during their developmental years (Donnelly & Lambourne, 2011).
Social and Emotional Learning: Tag games foster social interaction, cooperation, and conflict resolution. Unstructured play, such as tag, allows children to practice important social skills like teamwork, communication, and negotiation, all of which contribute to emotional intelligence and conflict management (Pellegrini & Smith, 2005).
Cognitive Development: Tag requires players to make quick decisions, improving their cognitive functions such as attention and problem-solving. Studies suggest that active play supports the development of executive functions, which include working memory, cognitive flexibility, and self-control—skills that are directly linked to academic success (Diamond & Lee, 2011).

Helpful Resources:

Sources:

Donnelly, J. E., & Lambourne, K. (2011). Classroom-based physical activity, cognition, and academic achievement., Preventive Medicine
Pellegrini, A. D., & Smith, P. K. (2005). Physical activity play: The nature and function of a neglected aspect of play., Child Development, 76(6), 1141-1146.
Diamond, A., & Lee, K. (2011). Interventions shown to aid executive function development in children 4 to 12 years old., Science, 333(6045), 959-964.