Here are some fun games to play outside during recess.

Choose one person to be the caller, and pick an object to be the "bacon." It can be a pencil, a plastic bottle, or any other item. Split into two groups, and give each person a secret number. At least two people should be given every number. Put the "bacon" on the ground in the middle of the playing area.

The caller yells out a number. The people who have that number try to steal the "bacon." The first person to grab it has to get it back to their team's starting place before being tagged by the others with that number. If the thief makes it back, he or she gets a point for the team. If the thief gets tagged, no point is awarded. The team with the most points when the game is finished wins.

Choose one person to be the caller, and teach everyone the meaning of these calls:

• Roll Call: Players run to the right end of the field and stand with arms straight down at their sides.
• Inspection: Players run to the left end of the field and salute.
• In the Galley: Players run to the middle line and stand with arms straight out to their sides.
• Shipwreck: Players must pair up and sit on the floor with feet touching. Players hold hands and rock back and forth like they are rowing.
• Man Overboard: Players pair up. One player gets down on all fours. The other player gently places a knee on the back of the first player as if it's the side of a boat, and puts one hand above his or her eyes and pretends to look over the side of the boat.
• Hit the Deck: Players fall to the ground in push-up position.
• Hurricane: Players must get their whole bodies off the ground.

The caller shouts a call, and players must do whatever the call tells them to do. This game is most fun when the caller shouts one command after another without waiting until everyone completes the first call.

Have each person find a partner. Partners must stand around a large circle and hold hands. Choose one person to be "it," and one person to be chased. The person who is "it" chases the other person around and through the circle of partners. The person who is being chased can grab hold of someone else's hand. When this happens, that person's partner is now being chased. If a person is tagged, the chased person becomes "it" and the old "it" has to run.

Choose one player to be the Shark. All other players are Fish. The Shark goes to one end of the playing field and turns his back to the Fish. The Fish go to the other end of the field. The Shark says, "Fish, fish, _________ in my ocean," filling in the blank with any action command — swim, walk, run, jump, hop, skip, duck walk, snake walk and so on.

When the Shark thinks the Fish are close enough, he or she yells "Shark Attack." The Fish try to run back to the starting line while the Shark tries to catch as many Fish as possible. If a Fish is tagged, he or she becomes another Shark. All Sharks must turn their backs on the Fish.

The original Shark keeps control of the game. As Head Shark, only he or she can give the action commands or yell "Shark Attack." The game continues until only one Fish is left. That Fish is now the new Shark and the game starts again.