Animal Escape

Skill: Dodge, Run
Time Required: 10
Activity Type: Physical, Transition
Group Size: Large Group, Medium Group
Age Group: 6 - 9yrs, 9 - 12yrs
Play area: Gymnasium (large indoor space), Outdoor - Field
Safety Considerations: Remove any safety hazards and obstacles from the play area.
Remind participants to be aware of their surroundings and to keep their head up.
Equipment: No equipment necessary.
Pylons and/or rope to lay out boundaries (optional).
Objective:
Participants to run from one side to the other without getting tagged.
Other Skills:
Agility
Set up:
Boundaries are one end of the gym to the other end of the gym.
If playing outside or a space with no lines, place pylons or a rope approximately 20-25 feet away from each other.
Assign one participant to be the Animal Catcher and have them stand in the middle.
Step by Step:
1. All the participants, except for the animal catcher, individually and silently come up with an animal they want to be.
2. The animal catcher will say a characteristic about animals such as: "I’m going to catch you if you have wings" and then all participants who are an animal with wings, have to try to run from one side to the other without getting tagged by the animal catcher.
3. If the animal catcher tags them, then they stand where they were tagged and become sticky [animal].If there were a bird, then they are now a sticky bird. They can’t move their feet but they can wave their arms and try to tag the other animals.
4. When all the participants whose animal had wings gets to the other side or is caught, the other participant run to the other side (but cannot be tagged).
5. The animal catcher says another characteristic (4 legs, climbs trees, house pet, tail, paws, swim etc.)
6. Continue until all participants are sticky animals.
Variations:
Have more than one animal catcher to start.
Have participants only select zoo animals.
Have participants select an article of clothing, food, season, month etc.

Adaptations (General):
Encourage everybody to participate but remember that those with certain disabilities may lack comparable agility, speed and stamina. Emphasize safety and involve them in the game to the extent that is possible.
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.