Inexpensive games for 8th grade party (entire school)

[v.t.]

Our school has a huge all day party for our 8th grade students. This year we have decided to help update the computer lab instead of spending the money on bounce houses, etc. So, I am looking for silly games we can do instead. Everything will be inside in the gym. We will have a 3 on 3 basketball tourney and a huge volleyball game. I need ideas for other activities, we will have a sign up sheet, so the kids can pick what they would like to do.

Thanks!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

3-legged or sack races
Minute to Win-it style games

 

[bjscheel]

NBC.com/minutetowinit will have instructions for dozens of games. I've used them several times at church and camp functions. The kids have done them at school too.

 

[luv2sewtjr]

Do you have access to other rooms? Where I worked, we also offered some noncompetitive options. Chess, wii or xbox, board games and such.

 

[chrissy92972]

dodgeball tournament, mini talent show, dance, I agree with seperate area for Wii type games and Art projects,

Chrissy

 

[MommaBerd]

At our church camp, we recently did this (long, I know):

Six stations were set up and numbered, but were not in sequential order. They were placed as far apart as possible. Each station had a game, for example a bean-bag toss into a bucket, bouncing ping-ping balls into cups, and a "multi-legged" race. (We had at least three sets of the same game at each station.)

Then we broke into teams of 5-6 (you could do as few as 4). Each team was given a die. The instructions were that we had to roll the die, and once we rolled the same number twice in succession, we went to that number station. (Alternatively, you could give them two dice and have them roll doubles.) you were not to do the same station twice. For the "multi-legged" race, they had large rubber bands, and the whole team had to be banded together!

You could have a passport-like sheet and a volunteer at each station to sign off when the station was completed. Of course first team to finish is the winner.

It was a LOT of fun, and since there were so many different factors, the "strongest" team wasn't at any advantage. You could even have one station that is "academic" or requires problem solving.

Hope this helps!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

What about goofy relay race type things? We used to do that for school spirit games in middle school. You can combine a lot of the minute to win it type games into a big race. The only one I can remember (because there was a big cheating scandal over it lol) from my school days it 2 people having to carry a basketball (or soccer ball) but you could only use your hips. I also think some of those silly bridal or baby shower type games could be fun too with the right alterations shall we say. Those could be played with smaller groups. Something like the fill a large-ish container with rice and mix in paperclips (which if you're at a school you should have millions of these available) and whoever can find the most in say a minute wins. You could probably do bingo pretty easily too. Print out a bunch of blank boards and have someone fill in the numbers (or let the kids do it themselves but that can be time consuming), then all you need is markers or crayons for marking the numbers, or if you wanted to be able to reuse the boards some beans or something for markers and one of those "play at home" bingo games (which I've seen at thrift stores for like a dollar) so you can pull the numbers.

 

[reginasue]

My boys are in middle school and I know they like to do quick, competitive games at school. They have a fun night after school once a month.

3v3 basketball, tug of war, dodgeball, basketball knockout, volleyball, and dance dance revolution are popular physical activities. They also set up a table game area with chess, connect 4, stacking cups and other quick games.

Occasionally, they will do a cake walk or bingo but they seem to get bored with these types of games. Any activity that can put students versus teachers seems to be popular here. I would also plan on lots of social time or a dance hour if it is allowed as that's what the kids want to do.

 

[3BoysRDisneyFreaks]

NBC.com/minutetowinit will have instructions for dozens of games. I've used them several times at church and camp functions. The kids have done them at school too.

Minute to win it has awesome ideas.

 

[soccerchick]

Put some music on and let them dance.

I second (third, fourth, fifth) the Minute to win it and relay games many others have mentioned.

Does the school have hula hoops?

Get a charismatic adult to run a mass Simon Says. Ay my old school we had a teacher do this and the final "test" was a headstand.

Is there a community service activity they could do? Write letters to servicemen and women? Make cards for a senior care home? Make/pack emergency bags for women and children's shelters? Do something for the elementary school? Clean up the grounds?

 

[3boymthr]

Does it have to be inside? A water balloon fight is very inexpensive and kids love them.

Another inexpensive balloon game that can be done inside is the balloon stomp. Blow up small balloons (We've done this for about 100 people - if your numbers are similar - for that many balloons you may want to see if one of the parents has a compressor). Attach about 3 or 4 feet of ribbon to each balloon. Tie one balloon to each kid's ankle. The kids then stomp the balloons trying to break the balloon of the other kids. When your balloon is broken you are out. Last one with an unbroken balloon wins. You do have to break the game into rounds where you stop the game to move the kids closer together and to make sure that those with broken balloons are actually out of the field of play. When we've done this it takes about 20 minutes for a game with four 5 minute rounds. Our total cost to do this for 100 people is only about $15 - less if we didn't care what color ribbon we used and used left overs instead of buying a whole roll. ETA - water balloon sized balloons can often be had at Targets dollar stop in packages of 50 or 100.

 

[v.t.]

WOW! Thanks for all the great ideas! We are having a dance, Wii, board games, etc. But I am in charge of the "olympics" so I appreciate all the suggestions. I am getting closer to filling the 2 hours!