FIRE and ICE Tag: K-8 (Throwing, Catching) Warm-Up PE Game
PE Teachers – Get ready to turn your gym into an action-packed adventure with Fire and Ice Tag, a fast-paced K-8 throwing and catching warm-up PE game that your students will absolutely love!
Fire and Ice Tag
In this exciting elementary PE game, players work together to rescue frozen teammates with fireballs while practicing throwing, catching, teamwork, communication, and movement skills.
Snag your own FIRE and ICE TAG Complete Lesson Plan Here!
Hi there, it’s so great to meet you! I’m Mrs. T. (or you can call me Jen) – a Michigan mom, wife, new grandma (aka “Jemma”) K-12 PE teacher, blogger (Love 2 Teach and Learn) and author of 59 CRAZY FUN Elementary PE Games that ROCK!
I love teaching PE class because I get to spend time telling silly SPORTS JOKES and exercising, while laughing with my students.
I’m also on a serious mission to MAKE SCHOOL FUN AGAIN and I believe physical education class is the ABSOLUTE BEST WAY to do just that!
READY! SET! LET’S MAKE SCHOOL FUN AGAIN!
Since the main PE focus skills for this game are throwing and catching, it’s important to communicate those skills to your students before playing the game.
Equipment Needed
For this game you will need the following:
- 2-4 BLUE POOL NOODLES
- 2-3 RED BALLS (Different Sizes if you want)
- KIDS READY TO HAVE A TOTAL BLAST
FIRE and ICE TAG – Game Setup
FIRST, choose 2-4 students to start as “ICE TAGGERS” and give them each a blue pool noodle (icicle) to tag with.
THEN, choose 2-3 students to be the “FIREBALL RESCUERS” and give them each a red ball.
NEXT, send “Ice Taggers” and “Fireball Rescuers” to the middle, ready to start the game.
FINALLY, have the rest of the class line up around the perimeter of the gym or playing area.
FIRE and ICE TAG Directions
When the music starts, or the game begins, a regular game of tag is played with the “Ice Taggers” chasing after and trying to tag other students with the pool noodle shoulders and below.
If a student gets tagged by an ice tagger he/she becomes frozen and must freeze like an icicle with their hands high in the air.
The students with the red balls CAN NOT be tagged by the Ice Taggers. They are the “Fireball Rescuers” and they are looking for students who have been tagged and are now frozen icicles.
- Fireball Rescuers can underhand or overhand throw (you decide) the red “Fireball” to them and when they catch it they can quickly get back into the tag game. They are now a “Fireball Rescuer” who is looking for other students that they can quickly “SAVE”, “MELT” or “UNFREEZE” and get back into the game.
*Play for about 60-90 seconds, then switch “Ice Taggers.” Play as many rounds needed to give everybody a chance to be a tagger.
WATCH How to Play FIRE and ICE TAG
Game Teaching Tips
📌TIP #1: Honestly, this game can easily be played and enjoyed by all grades K-12. With K-1 however, I usually play the first few times by having the “Fireball Rescuers” just hand the ball off to the “frozen students.”
Then, I add in the throwing and catching part once I’ve taught that to my students.
📌TIP #2: I like to vary the size of the “Fireballs” based on grade/skill level.
Additionally, I play this game differently as I progress through the school year teaching new skills as I go – focusing on catching and underhand throwing first, then overhand throwing, and finally varying the distance of the throwing/catching.
📌TIP #3: This is a truly awesome game for assessing your students’ throwing and catching skills. Be sure to display the Throwing and Catching I CAN Statements with cue words for your students when playing.
THE FINAL WHISTLE
FIRE and ICE TAG is such an incredible whole-class Warm Up PE activity that keeps everyone throwing, catching, and most importantly, having a total blast.
And if you loved this awesome “throwing and catching” skill game, be sure to check out my HOT POTATO TAG physical education game.
So, why not blast some “clean” and upbeat PE music and bring the excitement of FIRE and ICE Tag to your gymnasium TODAY!
Don’t Forget! You can grab your very own PDF of this awesome PE Game RIGHT HERE!
Mrs. T’s K-5 PE GAMES “Always Growing” BUNDLE
And if you want the absolute BIGGEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK, Fire and Ice Tag is also included in my “ALWAYS GROWING” K-5 FULL YEAR PE Game and Resource BUNDLE too!
You can snag my Physical Education HUGE GROWING BUNDLE Right Here!
Hey – Thanks so much for stopping by today to check out Fire and Ice Tag.
I really appreciate it and I hope that you have a TRULY BLESSED And BEAUTIFUL Day filled with plenty of FUN and FITNESS!
Be sure to check out my other unique and fun PE Gym Resources and Games in my Love 2 Teach and Learn TPT store RIGHT HERE!
And Remember – IF YOU HAD FUN, YOU WON!
