Star Wars Tag is always a huge hit with students in PE! It is a Standards-based Chasing and Fleeing game that is perfect for Elementary level students, but it can easily be adapted for Kindergarten programs and older students.
The teacher marks out a large playing area to serve as the star system. Students begin in a scattered formation inside it. Pinnies, hula hoops, and foamies are set aside at the edge of the area so that new roles can be handed out as each build is added.
Rebels move freely through the star system without being frozen by the Empire. Stormtroopers and Darth Vader work to freeze them, while Luke, Leia, Yoda, and The Mandalorian work to set them free.
Tags must keep their hoops on the ground and only kick a hoop if it is flat on the ground.
Runners should avoid stepping on hoops to prevent sliding.
Builds allow you to increase the game's complexity, one layer at a time.
Students get into a scattered formation in the playing area. All students begin the game as Rebels.
On the teacher's signal, the Rebels explore this star system by running around while avoiding contact with other Rebels.
Set the boundaries here and establish that the whole class starts on the same side. Every build after this one adds a role rather than changing the rules, so the habits students form now carry all the way through.
Upon hearing about all of the Rebel activity in this star system, the Empire decides to send in a squadron of Stormtroopers to deal with the problem.
Select two or three students to be Stormtroopers. Stormtroopers wear white uniforms (pinnies) and are given yellow blasters (hula hoops).
Stormtroopers attempt to tag Rebels by kicking their blaster so that it slides along the ground and makes contact with a Rebel's feet.
If a Rebel is tagged, they become frozen in place, or rather, in carbonite.
After getting word that the Rebel fleet is under attack, the Rebel Alliance sends in two of their greatest leaders: Luke Skywalker and General Leia Organa.
Select two students to be Luke and Leia. Give each of them a lightsaber (foamie).
Luke and Leia attempt to free frozen Rebels by tapping them with their lightsabers.
Being Rebels themselves, Luke and Leia must avoid being tagged by the Stormtroopers. If tagged, they become frozen. However, Leia may unfreeze Luke and vice versa.
Hearing that Luke and Leia have joined the battle, the Empire sends in their most feared leader: Darth Vader.
Select one student to be Darth Vader. Vader wears a black pinnie and is given a red blaster (hula hoop).
Just like the Stormtroopers, Vader attempts to tag Rebels with his blaster. However, a Rebel tagged with the red blaster must collect a white pinnie and a yellow blaster and rejoin the game as a Stormtrooper. There will therefore be more and more Stormtroopers in the game.
If Luke or Leia are tagged by Vader, they must drop their lightsaber and rejoin the game as a Stormtrooper. Any Rebel may take on the Luke or Leia role by picking up the dropped lightsaber.
Having felt a great disturbance in the Force, Master Yoda decides to join the battle.
Select one student to play the role of Yoda. Yoda wears a green pinnie and is given a green blaster.
Yoda plays the same role as Darth Vader, except that Yoda targets Stormtroopers. A Stormtrooper tagged by Yoda's blaster must put away their uniform and blaster and rejoin the game as a Rebel.
Being masters of the Force, Yoda and Vader are immune to all blaster attacks, including each other's.
Yoda is the release valve. Without this build the game tips permanently toward the Empire, so add it before the Rebel numbers get too thin.
In Build Six, a new hero joins the game.
The Mandalorian has committed to the Rebel cause and will help free frozen Rebels. To do this, The Mandalorian is given a Beskar spear (a full-length pool noodle), which is used just as the Jedi's lightsabers are: to tag frozen Rebels and free them.
The Mandalorian also has some additional protection. They are given four pieces of Beskar armour (flag football flags). If they are hit by a blaster, whether a Stormtrooper's or Darth Vader's, the blaster has no effect but Mando drops one piece of armour.
Once no armour remains, The Mandalorian continues to play their role but, just like Luke and Leia, can now be tagged by the Stormtroopers' or Darth Vader's blasters.
Print the game sheet, leave it on your desk, and your sub has everything they need: the diagrams, the builds in order, what to say, and what to watch for. This one is $4. #PhysEdU Plus members get all 39, free forever, for $49 a year.
Games that build on the same tactics.
