A true classic, most older students will immediately recognize Simon says. It's a game of imitation, and you can get all your students hopping, laughing and having a good time. Line everyone up into rows and then stand at the front. Say "Simon says" and then issue a command such as "cough" or "jump on one leg." Students must follow this command or they're taken out of the game. If, however, you give a command without first saying "Simon says," then students must not follow it. Those that do follow it are taken out of the game. The last player standing wins. If you feel comfortable, give that student the right to conduct the next round of Simon Says.
Farm animals teaches children to coordinate their movements through sound rather than sight. Tell them to close their eyes and then go to each, whispering the name of an animal in his ear. Repeat the same animal with at least two students. Once everyone has an animal, tell the students to start. With their eyes still closed, they must find the other students assigned their animal. They are not allowed to speak, but they can make animal sounds such as moos, nays and clucks. The first group to find all of its members wins. For added fun, tell the students that they must also move like the animal assigned to them.
In the raft game, children must work together to outrace their competition. In the process, they must also do some basic problem solving. Divide the students into groups of three to five and then line them up against one wall of the gym. Assign each group two gym mats. They must then travel from one side of the gym to the other without touching the floor. The most efficient way to do this is by gathering the group on a single mat, placing the other mat in front of them and then moving onto the second mat. Do not tell the students this, however. Let them figure it out on their own. If a group touches the floor, then send them back to the starting line.
For more aggressive students, smush can be an enjoyable outlet. Divide the class into two groups and then line them up next to each other. Assign the first students of each group the number one, the second students, the number two and so on all the way to the end. Then gather the students into a circle, placing two Nerf balls in the middle. Call out a number. The students associated with that number enter the middle of the circle and grab the balls. Whoever successfully hits the other player wins, scoring a point for his team. The first team to score 10 or 15 points wins.