Planning a field day for an end-of-the-year celebration? A mid-year pick-me-up? For the graduating upperclassman of your middle school? Regardless of your reason, field day should be chock-full of energy, laughter, and outrageous fun! The following 20 variety of games will leave the students dying to do it again and again and make your field day the highlight of the school year.
1. The Tipsy Waiter
Fill cups of water, put them on a tray, and add a few quick spins to create a hilarious relay race where kids will have to compete to fill up a bucket a the finish line first without spilling it all on the way there. If they fall over they have to start the whole process again!
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2. Water Balloon Pinatas
No matter how old, we seem to never grow out of the love for pinatas. Step up the fun with this water balloon game to see which team can bust all of their pinatas first! Have backup water balloons on standby to make sure the game continues seamlessly throughout the day.
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3. Football Toss
Middle schoolers will love this challenging game for its competition factor. Trying to toss a football through such a small target is definitely a true test of skill and can be especially fun for those competitive students in the school. Be forewarned, the jocks will have an advantage!
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4. Backyard Slingshot
Although this takes a little construction and pre-planning, be sure to add this game to your field events! Use assorted balls or soccer balls to challenge students to knock over a variety of targets using this fun slingshot. This is one they will certainly not forget and it will definitely become a favorite at your annual event.
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5. Dress Up Relay
This creative game will leave your middle schoolers howling with laughter as they race from station to station adding clothes to their bodies as they work to get dressed the fastest and make it to the finish line. Dress-up relay is one of many competitive games that will not only entertain your tweens but create lasting memories and interesting outfits.
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6. Soaking Wet Sweatpants Relay
When it comes to water games, the Soaking Wet Sweatpants Relay is a silly activity that is not only a fun relay race but a perfect addition to any friendly competition. Be sure to have extra buckets of water and get ready to laugh your wet pants off as kids pull on and off soaking wet pants to compete with other teams.
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7. Olympic Torch Opener
Any big event needs an awesome opener and an Olympic torch is an object of significance everyone will remember! Let your teams create their very own torches to kick off field day in this competition-free activity to help build team spirit. Download the activity and let those kids get to work making a unique torch to represent their teams.
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8. Cheesepuff Showdown
Create an edible and friendly competition between students with the Cheesepuff Showdown! Make it a little safer for school by having kids put on a shower cap over their hair and layer the shaving cream on the cap instead of on the face. This game might take a bit of skill as kids aim to stick the puffs to their teammate’s heads, but it is a game that certainly will not be forgotten.
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9. Beach Ball Relay
This is a popular and classic field day game of skill and cooperation where teams race down the field with a beach ball wedged between them. They have to be careful not to drop it or they will have to start over! Be sure to have 2-3 large beach balls for each team to keep the fun going.
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10. Sponge Relay
This is the perfect field day event and classic water game for a hot day! Wet sponges and buckets of water make this cooperative game a favorite among tweens! Make sure kids bring an extra change of clothes so that they don’t have to sit around in wet clothes all day.
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11. Team Ski Activity
When it comes to collaborative games, the team ski is where it’s at. This is definitely a team-building activity because it requires students to cooperate 100% to make it to the finish line. Fence posts, some rope, and a finish line are all it takes to get this game up and running.
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12. Tug of War
Tug of War is a classic that you have to add to the activity rotation schedule. Kids seem to always take this game so seriously, making it a favorite as they challenge their team’s strength. Make it more interesting by adding a kiddie pool of jello, water, or other ooey-gooey substance for kids to fall into the moment they get tugged too far!
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13. Water Obstacle Course
While this particular example of an obstacle course is for littles, you can take some of the same concepts and amp them up for middle school to create the ultimate water obstacle course. Slip and slides, pool noodles, water balloons, and kiddie pools are all great foundations to create a good time.
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14. River Crossing
Use poly spots, carpet squares, or anything similar for this entertaining team-building activity perfect for field day! Leave no players behind and race to finish first with your teammates in this silly game where the floor is lava (or a river).
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15. Mummy Wrap
Watch teams compete against one another in this team game where kids can use a roll of toilet paper, or party crepe paper to be the first to completely wrap their teammate up like a mummy. Be sure to time each team to make it fair. Although it’s one of the more simple activities on the list, it takes the cake as a favorite!
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16. Towel Flip
When creating your field day, you need a bunch of different station activities. Turn this challenge into a classic field day activity by requiring multiple people on a team to complete this challenge. All you need are beach towels, willing participants, and a whole lot of problem-solving!
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17. Wheelbarrow Race
This classic team game is one of the less complex games but always brings a lot of excitement and competition! Kids can work with partners on their teams to relay around a certain track and back again. The first ones to the finish line win bragging rights!
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18. The Toe Grab
Participants will be challenged in this complicated game as they work to pick up marbles with their toes! Fill a kiddie pool with marbles or water beads, have kids remove their shoes, and see how many each team can grab and put in a bucket in an allotted amount of time.
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19. Cone Ball Relay
Similar to the egg carry, where you have to balance an egg on a spoon around the track, this cone race ups the challenge level with tennis balls and cones as kids race to compete against other teams to bring their tennis ball safely back atop a cone without dropping it.
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20. Three-Legged Race
This classic game will help to make a well-rounded field day for students. In some stations, they’ll get wet. In others, they’ll be laughing. As an indoor activity or outdoor activity, students will be able to participate no matter the weather. Warn kids first: cooperation is KEY!
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