Spiders and Flies

To increase students' ability to chase, flee, and dodge others

Cones to mark off a large boundaried area, pinnies or vests for 1/2 the class (optional).

Students are split into two groups, either the spiders or the flies. There should be more flies than spiders.

Describe the game and safety considerations to students, as well as the rhyme which students will say. When done, choose a few students to be the taggers, or Spiders. After putting on a pinnie, they stand in the middle of the playing area. The remaining students, (the "Flies" or runners), line up at the same end of the playing area. Make sure students are well spread out! The Spiders start by saying "We are the Spiders"; the Flies respond "We are the Flies". The Spiders return "We're gonna catch you"; the Flies say "Just you try".

At this, the flies move toward the opposite end of the playing area, trying not to get tagged by a spider. If they do, they quickly get a pinnie and then become a spider by taking a place in the middle of the area.

Once the flies have made it to the opposite end of the field, they stay there until given the signal to return to the opposite end of the field. When only a few flies remain, start a new game by picking new spiders.

Give students a rest by having them take a seat and reviewing strategies for fleeing from others (move quickly; make sharp moves); catching others (move quickly; watch others' middle to see where they're moving); and dodging (quick movements). Begin the activity again, having students keep these in mind.

Split up the students into smaller groups of spiders and flies to make it harder for either group member to be caught.