Infinity Tag Game

Curriculum Alignment

This lesson aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh for Year 2 students under the Health and Physical Education learning area, specifically focusing on:

• Movement Concepts and Motor Skills: Demonstrate a range of movement skills and understand how their body moves in different physical contexts.
• Relationships with Other People: Cooperate with others to take turns and share equipment during physical activities.
• Personal and Social Management: Develop self-awareness and social skills to participate confidently and safely in group activities.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this 20-minute lesson, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate safe spatial awareness when playing Infinity Tag.
2. Use fundamental movement skills including running, dodging, and changing direction.
3. Understand and follow game rules, taking turns and collaborating with peers.
4. Show perseverance and fair play during the game.

Key Competencies Addressed

• Participating and Contributing: Students engage positively and co-operatively with others, willingly taking turns and showing empathy.
• Managing Self: Students regulate their actions, showing understanding of safety and effort in a physical game.
• Thinking: Students strategise how to avoid being tagged and how to tag others effectively.

Equipment Needed

• Open flat space suitable for running (e.g., school hall, outside field)
• Cones or markers to define the play area boundaries

Lesson Outline (20 Minutes)

1. Introduction and Warm-up (5 minutes)

• Welcome and explain Infinity Tag: A tag game where once tagged, students join hands with the tagger, extending the "chain" infinitely until all are tagged.

• Outline safety rules: Be aware of others around, avoid collisions, keep within boundaries, and listen carefully.

• Warm-up Activity:

• Light jogging around the boundary for 1 minute.

• Dynamic stretches focusing on legs and arms (e.g., high knees, arm circles).

• Practice dodging and quick direction changes by moving around cones set in a zigzag.

2. Demonstration and Explanation (3 minutes)

• Show a quick demo of Infinity Tag with 3-4 students:
• One tagger tries to tag others.
• Tagged student joins hands forming a chain.
• Continue until all are tagged or time limit reached.
• Emphasise:
• Tagging gently on the hand or shoulder.
• Maintaining the chain safely without pulling or causing falls.
• Helping each other to move as a team.

3. Game Play Session (10 minutes)

• Organise the class of 20 into one large group.
• Set clear boundary markers.
• Start with 1 tagger.
• Play rounds of about 3-4 minutes, allowing rest in between.
• Encourage students to think about strategies like dodging, and working as a team once in the chain.
• Rotate taggers so multiple students get a chance.

4. Cool Down and Reflection (2 minutes)

• Slow walking around the boundary.
• Gentle stretching.
• Brief group discussion:
• What was fun about the game?
• How did you feel when you were tagged and when you tagged others?
• How did you work together as a team?
• What did you learn about moving safely in a space with others?

Assessment and Feedback

• Observe students' ability to move safely and effectively during the game.
• Note their understanding and respect of game rules.
• Listen to reflection responses to gauge awareness of teamwork, safety, and enjoyment.
• Provide positive and specific feedback (e.g., "I noticed how carefully you moved around others", "Great team work while moving as a chain!").

This lesson not only develops physical skills like running and dodging but also fosters key social competencies aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh, ensuring development of holistic student capabilities in a fun and engaging environment.