Name of Game: Across Canada
# of Participants: 15 or more
Age Suitability: 10 +
Equipment: Pylons
Type of Game: Active
Description: Place pylons around gym/field, in order of provinces/capitals of Canada. Tell the group that they are Santa Claus and they are running late on Christmas Eve. Santa has to get across Canada as fast as possible to get presents delivered on time. By calling out cities or provinces, the group must run to the pylon representing that city/province. The last person to the pylon is out. The last person left is the fastest Santa.
Objectives: Use Geography knowledge, fun, very active.
Suggestions: With younger kids label the names of the cities on the pylons. Can be used as a normal game, this is not a traditional Christmas game.
Safety measures: Kids can trip when running in a pack, tell group to watch their feet and respect other peoples space.
Problems: Some people may not remember any Canadian geography and thus will not have an interest in the game.
Name of Game: Don't be discouraged
# of Participants: 6 +
Age Suitability: 5+
Equipment: Wrapped presents
Type of Game: Co-operative
Description: Divide class into groups, or just have one group with a small class. Give each group a wrapped present and have them open the present. Tell the class that each person can only use one finger to open the present. The first group to completely unwrap their presents wins.
Objectives: Develop teamwork/communication.
Suggestions: Wrap the presents more than once and use a lot of tape to make the task harder.
Safety measures: Watch for paper cuts.
Problems: Can be a very quick game, with students just tearing paper off with their finger nails.
Name of Game: Giddy up Santa
# of Participants: 10+
Age Suitability: 8+
Equipment: Pylons, blankets.
Type of Game: Relay
Description: First person in the team of five or more is Santa. The second is a reindeer. Sitting on the blanket the reindeer is pulled across the gym by Santa, around a pylon, and back. The reindeer becomes Santa and the third person becomes the reindeer. The first team to finish wins.
Objectives: Fun/teamwork
Suggestions: Pair kids in groups with people they can easily pull across the gym.
Safety Measures: Make sure kids are fully on blanket to avoid floor burn.
Problems: Some kids may not be physically capable of pulling another kid around the gym on the blanket.
Meet your Merry Match
# of Participants: 15 +
Age Suitability: 10 +
Equipment: Paper, tape
Type of Game: Ice Breaker
Description: Christmas related people/things are printed on a piece of paper and placed on everyone's back. Using yes or no questions, you must ask other people questions to determine
who or what you are.
Objectives: Get people to meet and talk to each other.
Suggestions: Doesn't have to be a Christmas theme, can use other themes such as athletes, musicians or actors.
Safety Measures: N/A
Problems: Make sure the group is familiar with the themes you use or game may not be successful.
