This game provides first graders with addition practice and exercise. On index cards, write out basic addition problems, divide the index cards into two piles and place each of the piles on the ledge of your chalkboard or on a table at the front of your classroom. Divide your class into two teams, and have the teams form single file lines. On your mark, the first student on each team runs to the board, grabs an index card and tries to solve the addition problem; if a player can't solve the problem on the card, he places the card at the bottom of the pile, takes another card and does so until he can correctly solve a problem. Upon solving the problem, players remove the cards from the pile, run back to their team and tag the next player. The first team to remove all of the cards from their pile wins the game.
Though this game doesn't promote an academic skill, it offers first graders entertainment and exercise. Run pieces of masking tape along the floor of your school gymnasium or classroom to indicate the start and finish line --- make the lines about 15 feet apart. Divide your class into pairs and have each pair stand on the starting line. Instruct the pairs to link arms and stand on one foot. On your mark, students hop their way across the room and the first pair to make it to the finish line wins.
This physical game promotes hand-eye coordination and serves as a means of phonics practice. On index cards, write out letters of the alphabet, chunk words, digraphs, diphthongs or any other phonetic skill you wish to reinforce. Lay the index cards on the ground and provide students with bean bags. One student at a time tosses his bean bag onto a card and must state a word that relates to what is written on the card. For example, if a student's bean bag lands on a card that has the digraph "ch" written on it, he may say the word "chocolate."
You'll need a large parachute and an open space to play this game that promotes physical fitness. Lay a parachute on the ground and place a ball in the center of it. Divide your class into two teams and have them teams sit on opposite sides of the parachute. On your mark, students pick up the parachute and move it around, trying to get the ball to fall off onto the opposing team's side.