[susan53]

How about The Handkerchief Game - this is a version of a traditional Italian kids game that I've used successfully. You can use it to practise numbers, the alphabet, any lexical field (animals, toys, months, food etc etc) you like or even some structures (eg present continuous).

Divide the kids into two equal teams. Each child has a flashcard showing a number, animal, action or whatever it is you want to practise. The children stand in two parallel lines, some distance from each other, and each child has the same flashcard as the child opposite him or her. You stand in the middle holding out a handkerchief and at random call one of the words on the cards (A horse! Thirteen! She's running! or whatever). The two kids with the same card have to race to the centre and try and grab the handkerchief. The one who gets it scores a point for their team.

If you have a large class you can use four teams and have them stand around four sides of a square. If you have unequal numbers, one student can hold the handkerchief and call the word (which you cue by showing her/him a flashcard).

[SleepyLP]

susan53,

Thank you for the great idea! That sounds like a good game to try in the school gym. If I try it, I will definitly team up boys vs boys and girls vs girls. I can see the boys really getting into this game.

Sadly my lesson was rained out, so I didn't get to try any games. But now I'm ready for next time