Marble Tag

What You Need:

• 8 or more players
• 5-10 small marbles
• Large flat area

What You Do:

1. Divide the children into two teams. Have the teams move to opposite ends of the play area.
2. Have one team turn around while you distribute the marbles amongst the other team. Don't distribute the marbles evenly; some children will have a marble while others do not.
3. Instruct the children on the marble team to make both hands into fists, even if they aren't carrying a marble. For the marble team, the object of the game is to reach the other side of the playing field without getting tagged by the other team.
4. Instruct the children who aren't carrying marbles that they have a special job—to act as decoys. Their job is to get the other team to chase them so more marbles reach the other side safely.
5. Once the marble team has their instructions, explain the rules to the other team. For the team without the marbles, the object of the game is to tag as many players on the marble team as possible before they reach the other side.
6. Once both teams understand the rules, begin the game. Any marble team players who are tagged must stop running and open their hands to reveal whether or not they are carrying a marble.
7. After all players on the marble team have either been tagged or reached the other side, award the marble team one point for each marble that made it to the end.
8. Before beginning the second round, have the children switch teams so the chasing team has a chance to carry the marbles and vice versa.
9. Play as many rounds as the children like, making sure to switch the teams each time and keep score. At the end of the game, add up each team's points to see who wins!