Sleepy Bears and Buzzing Bees Chase Game
Grade K · Gym/PE · 35 minutes · Indoor
Objective
Develop running, dodging, and spatial awareness skills through active chase play
Equipment
- None
Setup
Choose 3-4 students to be the 'sleepy bears' who will chase the other students. The remaining students are 'buzzing bees' who must fly around the gymnasium without getting caught.
How to Play
- Sleepy bears start in the center of the gym and must walk slowly with heavy footsteps saying 'grrrr' as they chase.
- Buzzing bees run around making buzzing sounds and flapping their arms like wings.
- When a bear tags a bee, the bee must lie down and pretend to sleep for 10 seconds.
- After 10 seconds of sleeping, bees can buzz back up and rejoin the game.
- Bears cannot run – they must move like slow, sleepy bears the whole time.
- Switch bears every 2-3 minutes so everyone gets a turn.
- If bees get too silly, they must do 5 jumping jacks before continuing to buzz around.
Variations
- Add 'flower power zones' using corners where bees are safe for 5 seconds
- Bears can only catch bees who aren't making buzzing sounds
- Sleeping bees need two other bees to buzz around them to wake up early
Safety Notes
Remind bears to keep their walking pace slow and controlled. Watch for students running into walls when being chased.
Cool Down
Have all students lie down like sleeping bears and take three deep breaths, then slowly stretch their arms up like growing flowers.
Differentiation
Support: Allow less mobile students to be 'guard bees' who can wake up sleeping bees by buzzing near them instead of running constantly
Extension: Challenge athletic students by having them hop on one foot while being chased or do animal movements like bear crawls when they're bears