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Pot of Gold

Here is a no relay relay type game that is perfect for St. Patrick's Day. The game is fast paced and requires quick thinking and strategy. There are more games of this type in my book: Fun, Fitness, and Skills - The Powerful Original Games Approach. Powerful Original Games

The Game - Grades 2 and up -

  • Place a pot of gold in the center of the play area. If you have a basketball court use the center circle. You can use pennies or you can cut up pieces of yellow construction paper for the gold. You should have a total of about 40 pieces of gold.
  • Divide the class into at least four teams. Give each team a hoop to place the gold in. If you have four teams, each team begins the game in one corner of the play area. If you have more than four teams, make a large circle around the center and space the teams approximately the same distance away from the gold.
  • The object of the game is to be the team with the most amount of gold or the least amount gold at the end of a given time period. Play each round for three to five minutes. On the stop signal, see which team has the most number of coins and which team has the least number of coins. Each of these teams receives one point. Play additional rounds.
  • On the "go" signal (use some Irish music if available), the first two players from each team run to the center to retrieve a piece of gold. Each player may only take one coin at a time. Those players may bring the coins back to their own hoop or choose to place the coins in another team's hoop. As each player returns to his/her team, another player runs out. If there are coins in his/her team's hoop, she or he may choose to take a coin from their own hoop or go and get a coin from the center or some other team's hoop. You may not stop anyone from taking or giving a coin.
  • After the time is up, see which team has the most and least number of coins.

Variations:

  1. Vary the amount of coins in play.
  2. Players manipulate a piece of equipment while moving. For example, dribble a basketball, tap a volleyball, toss a tennis ball.
  3. Vary the locmomotor skill.
  4. Play this game any time of the year and use other objects in the center.