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As middle schoolers step into their Physical Education (PE) classes, they often arrive ready to release pent-up energy and alleviate stress. While some gym sessions focus on skill assessments and structured activities (like Mile Mondays), others provide a platform for students to leverage their skills in collaborative and fun games.
Let’s celebrate the joy of movement with a curated selection of PE games designed specifically for middle schoolers. These activities are adaptable for sunny days outdoors or rainy days inside the gym. Whether your storage area is stocked with sports equipment or you’re on the lookout for no-equipment games, these engaging PE resources will ensure that students look forward to class — and so will you!
Exciting PE Ball Games for Middle Schoolers
Transitioning from elementary to middle school PE means that students are ready for games that challenge their creativity, teamwork, and physical skills. Here’s a list of ball-related activities that can be played with various types of balls, whether indoors or outdoors.
- Concentration Ball: Inspired by the classic game, students name items from a chosen category (like fruits or animals) while bouncing a ball in a circle. If a player fails to name a unique item, they are out!
- Clap Catch: Partners toss a ball to each other, with the requirement that the receiver claps before catching it. For soccer balls, substitute a clap with a hop!
- Crab Soccer: Students crab-walk while playing soccer, combining a fun walking style with the challenge of keeping the ball in play!
- Catch Tag: This variant of Freeze Tag has students freeze when tagged, and they can be unfrozen by a teammate tossing them a ball.
- Basketball Shot Put: Challenge students to see how far they can throw a basketball using a shot put technique, adding a twist to the traditional basketball skill.
- Human Bowling: Arrange students like bowling pins and have a designated player roll a ball to knock them down. Each student hit counts as a fallen pin!
- Free the Prisoners: In this game, the inner circle is captured, with the middle circle acting as guards. The outer circle, or soldiers, toss balls to the prisoners to free them while avoiding being caught by the guards!
- Quadrant Volleyball: Set up a four-team volleyball game using cones instead of a net, allowing teams to serve the ball to each other for an unpredictable and fun match!
Go-To Junior High PE Games for Regular and Substitute Days
Looking for easy-to-implement games for any situation? These no-prep games are perfect for days when you have a substitute or when the weather isn’t cooperating.
Go To Games for Elementary Junior High Physical Education PE Sub Plans No Prep
By Mountain Movers PE
Grades: PreK-12th
This resource provides a variety of junior high PE games that can be adjusted to fit various skill levels, focusing on spatial awareness and teamwork. Each lesson includes a description and learning outcomes to help measure student success.
Engaging Running Games for Middle School
Even though middle schoolers may grumble about running, cardiovascular activity is essential. Make running more appealing with competitive and fun PE games!
- Blob Tag: As the “It” player tags peers, they form a blob by holding hands, attempting to tag the remaining untagged players.
- Switch: Played on a foursquare court, this game requires players to switch places strategically while avoiding the player in the middle!
- Musical Sprints: Students run while the music plays and must freeze when it stops, competing to be the first to reach the finish line.
- Skip Races: Students can race each other while skipping instead of running, or use different movements like galloping or crab walking.
- Sharks and Minnows: One student plays the shark while the rest are minnows, trying to run past the shark without getting tagged.
- Land or Water: Designate areas as “land” and “water.” Students must quickly run to the correct area when called.
- Band-Aid Tag: When tagged, students place a hand on the spot they were touched. They can be tagged again, but once tagged three times, they are out.
- Fill the Bucket Relay: Using small items, students race in teams to transfer contents from one bucket to another, one item at a time.
Find Activities to Get Their Hearts Pumping
Incorporating cardiovascular health into your PE curriculum can greatly benefit your students. Use these fitness-focused games to ensure middle schoolers are active while having fun!
101 Fun PE Games for Elementary and Middle School
By PE Power Pack
Grades: K-8th
With a diverse assortment of obstacle courses, football games, throwing contests, and icebreakers, you can easily plan a significant portion of your PE curriculum! These games allow students to practice skills, collaborate, and enjoy the active component of their day.
Creative Games with Cones and Hula Hoops
If you have a set of hula hoops and cones at your disposal, it’s time to put them to use! Here are some fun PE games for middle schoolers that utilize these classic supplies.
- Hula Hoop Tic-Tac-Toe: Create a Tic-Tac-Toe grid using chalk or tape. Students toss hula hoops to claim spots and aim for three in a row.
- Steal the Bacon: Two lines of numbered students will race to grab the “bacon” (a hula hoop or cone) when their number is called!
- Hula Hoop Horseshoes: Set up cones and have students throw hula hoops at them, counting how many hoops successfully encircle the cones within a time limit.
- Hula Tag: In this tag game, students can unfreeze their peers by having them step through a hula hoop, adding a competitive twist!
- Pool Noodle Archery: Ditch the traditional bows and arrows and use pool noodles to toss through targets held up by students with hula hoops. The player with the most successful throws wins!
- Tunnel Escape: Form a moving obstacle course where runners must crawl or hop through a tunnel of hula hoops held by their classmates.
- Flip the Cone: Students use their cone-flipping skills to see who can successfully turn the most cones upright within a set time.
- Blind Maze: Set up a cone maze and have teams guide blindfolded classmates through it using verbal instructions.
Foster Team Spirit with Cooperative PE Games
PE isn’t just about competition; it’s also about teamwork! Encourage collaboration and camaraderie with these engaging activities.
Cooperative Games for P.E. and the Classroom
By Health Education Today – Health and PE Resources
Grades: 5th-12th
These games provide a platform for students to bond, develop physical skills, and learn how to work together, merging fun with physical education.
Exciting Equipment-Free PE Games for Middle School
Switch things up with engaging games that require no equipment. From body-weight exercises to yoga contests, these activities can be just as thrilling as traditional games!
- Fitness Bingo: Create Bingo cards filled with exercises learned in class. Students mark off exercises as they complete them when called out.
- Balance Birds: Have students practice balancing on a line or beam, increasing the difficulty as they add poses like lifting their foot or squatting.
- Stay-up Circles: In small groups, students must find a way to maintain a designated pose longer than other groups while holding hands.
- Target Jump: A target in the center of a circle encourages students to practice their long jumps, with each player going one at a time for safety.
- Yoga Corners: Name each corner of the gym a different yoga pose. When called, students must run to the corner and hold the pose until the next call.
- Hold It: Challenge teams to see who can hold a specific yoga position the longest, sending volunteers up to compete for their group.
- Somersault Relay Races: Ideal for gymnastics units, this activity encourages students to practice their techniques while racing against others.
- Plank Leapfrog: Teams form a line in plank position, with the last person leapfrogging over others to take their place at the end of the line. The fastest team wins!
Experience the Burn with Fitness Games for Middle School
Fostering strong bodies and minds is essential! Engage students in bodyweight fitness activities that promote health and wellness through creative games.
PE Fitness Games BUNDLE | 4 activities | Distance Learning | Virtual PE
By Coach Gore-PE
Grades: PreK-12th
These fitness games allow students to practice essential physical skills in inventive ways while mastering techniques like lunges and burpees in the process.
21 No Equipment PE Games for Elementary, Middle and High School
By Maverick Minds Education
Grades: 1st-10th
These straightforward, no-prep games include fun activities like octopus tag and plank challenges, helping students enhance their physical skills while meeting national PE standards.
Timeless Middle School PE Games
While skill-building and creative activities are essential, don’t forget about the classic games that have entertained generations of students. Here are some all-time favorites:
- Capture the Flag
- Freeze Tag
- Horse (basketball)
- Relay races
- Three-legged races
- Leap frog
- Kickball
- Dodgeball
Introduce Middle Schoolers to Sports Foundations
Whether teaching basketball, soccer, or another sport, focus on meeting students at their skill level. Provide foundational lessons that help beginners grasp the basics while allowing experts to refine their abilities.
Physical Education Floor Hockey Unit and Lesson Plans | Grades 6 – 12
By Teaching Pak
Grades: 7th-10th
This resource includes nine lesson plans and over 50 learning activities that cover the fundamentals of floor hockey, offering modified games and drills to keep students engaged.
Promote Fun and Healthy Lifestyles with TPT
When students are having fun, they often don’t realize they’re also learning! Explore additional middle school PE resources to prepare for unexpected weather, substitute days, or just a day when classic games might be the best option for everyone. For more advanced learners, check out high school PE games that will keep students engaged and active!
