Fast, funny, and full of action—Minute To Win It! Active Games & Fun is all about quick challenges and big laughs! Each week, students will take on exciting one-minute games that test balance, coordination, speed, and creativity. From cup stacking races to relay challenges and silly obstacle courses, participants will work individually and in teams to complete tasks before the clock runs out. Along the way, they’ll build teamwork, sportsmanship, and confidence while staying active and having a blast. Perfect for kids who love to move, laugh, and take on new challenges, this program turns every class into a high-energy adventure.
Instructors should take the time to get to know their students and tailor lessons to match the group’s energy, interests, and abilities. Feel free to mix and match activities from the options below or create your own to keep sessions engaging and dynamic. Always prioritize participant safety while ensuring activities are both enjoyable and accessible for everyone.
If you have any concerns or questions when planning for this program, please discuss with your Senior Instructor or email Liz or Randy to confirm.
See the Minute To Win It Packing List here.
Suggested Weekly Format (50 minutes)
| Segment | Time | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Circle | 5 min | Greet students, review safety rules (“Be kind, take turns, cheer for friends”). Introduce today’s theme or first challenge. |
| Warm-Up Game | 5–10 min | Quick focus and movement game (e.g., Follow the Leader, Simon Says, or a group dance). |
| Main Challenges | 25–30 min | 3–4 “Minute To Win It”–style games. Encourage teamwork, laughter, and trying again! |
| Team Challenge | 5–10 min | Whole-group or partner challenge that brings everyone together. |
| Wrap-Up Circle | 5 min | Celebrate effort, share favourites, and give a team cheer. |
Game Library with Simple How-Tos
🎯 Balance & Stack Challenges
- Cup Tower
Stack cups into a pyramid, then take them down before time runs out!
Setup: 6–10 plastic cups per player.
Team Twist: Build one big pyramid together. - Cookie Face
Place a cookie (or pom-pom) on your forehead and try to move it into your mouth using only your face muscles — no hands!
Setup: 1 small cookie or pom-pom per player.
Tip: Great for laughter breaks! - Stack Attack
Stack 10 cups into one tall tower using only one hand.
Setup: 10 cups per player.
Variation: Try stacking with the opposite hand. - Build It Tall
Use blocks or cups to build the tallest tower you can before the timer ends.
Setup: Table surface and materials to stack.
Team Twist: Partners build one shared tower. - Plate Spin
Balance a paper plate on your head and walk to a line and back without letting it fall!
Setup: 1 paper plate per player.
Variation: Add a small pom-pom on top for extra challenge. - Tower Together
Everyone works together to build one super-tall tower in one minute.
Setup: Large pile of cups or blocks.
Goal: See how high it gets before it wobbles!
💨 Blow, Toss & Roll Challenges
- Balloon Keep-Up
Keep your balloon in the air for one minute — no hands!
Setup: 1 balloon per player or group.
Team Twist: Count how many hits the team can do before it drops. - Pom-Pom Blow
Use a straw to blow a pom-pom across a table into a cup.
Setup: Pom-poms, straws, and cups at each station.
Variation: Add a small ramp (book or ruler) to make it funnier. - Ping Pong Toss
Bounce a ping pong ball on the table and try to land it in a cup.
Setup: Cups spaced on a table; each player gets a few tries.
Safety Tip: Use plastic cups to avoid spills or breaks. - Spoon Toss
Use a spoon like a catapult to launch a cotton ball into a bowl.
Setup: Bowls and cotton balls on tables.
Team Twist: Partners take turns launching and catching. - Snowball Race
Blow a cotton ball (“snowball”) along a tape track to the finish line.
Setup: Masking tape track on floor or table.
Variation: Use straws or just blowing power! - Cup Catch
Toss a pom-pom in the air and try to catch it in your cup!
Setup: 1 cup and 1 pom-pom per player.
Team Twist: Partners toss and catch for each other.
🖐 Grab, Scoop & Transfer Challenges
- Chopstick Shuffle
Use chopsticks or tweezers to move pom-poms from one bowl to another — one at a time!
Setup: 2 bowls and a few pom-poms per player.
Variation: Try using fingers only for JKs. - Spoon Relay
Carry a pom-pom or egg on a spoon across the room and back without dropping it.
Setup: 1 spoon and small object per player.
Team Twist: Tag the next person to go when you return. - Penny Stack
Stack 10 coins using only one hand before the timer runs out.
Setup: 10 coins per player.
Tip: Use large buttons or counters for younger JKs. - Paper Plate Slide
Fan a cup or small toy across a table using a paper plate to make wind!
Setup: Cup or toy and one paper plate per player.
Variation: Try to get your cup to the edge without falling off. - Tweezer Transport
Use tongs or paperclips to pick up small objects and move them into a cup.
Setup: Bowl of pom-poms, tongs/paperclips, and a cup.
Team Twist: See how many your whole table can move together. - Beanbag Balance
Balance a beanbag on your head and walk to the wall and back.
Setup: 1 beanbag per player.
Variation: Add a second bag for SKs!
🎈 Team & Cooperative Challenges
- Pass the Balloon
Pass a balloon around the circle without using your hands — use elbows, heads, or knees!
Setup: 1–2 balloons per group.
Goal: Can the balloon make it all the way around? - Cup Line Domino
Set up a line of cups like dominoes — when time’s up, tip one and watch them fall!
Setup: Cups and flat floor or table space.
Team Twist: Everyone builds one section together. - Pom-Pom Parade
Everyone blows their pom-pom together across the floor to the finish line.
Setup: 1 pom-pom and straw per player.
Goal: Work together so they all cross the finish line! - Tower Together
Everyone adds one block or cup at a time to build the tallest tower possible.
Setup: Big pile of cups or blocks in the centre.
Variation: Only the next player can go once the tower stops wobbling. - Puzzle Build
Complete a simple foam or picture puzzle as a team before time runs out.
Setup: 1 puzzle per small group.
Tip: For JKs, start with just a few pieces. - Roll & Collect
Roll dice or balls and collect matching coloured items from the floor.
Setup: Coloured items in the middle; dice or coloured dots to match.
Goal: Fill your team’s basket before time’s up.
🧠 Silly Skill Builders
- Sticker Pick-Up
Pick up as many stickers from the floor as you can using only one hand!
Setup: Stickers or sticky notes spread out.
Variation: Use tongs or paperclips instead of hands. - Paper Clip Chain
Link paper clips together to make the longest chain in one minute.
Setup: Bowl of paper clips per player.
Team Twist: Join all your chains at the end to see how long it gets! - Silly Straw Race
Use suction with a straw to pick up bits of paper and move them into a bowl.
Setup: Small paper pieces, straws, and bowls.
Tip: Great seated focus game for transition time. - Sock Toss
Toss rolled-up socks into a basket from a short distance.
Setup: A few socks and a laundry basket.
Variation: Move farther back after each round. - Balloon Waddle
Hold a balloon between your knees and waddle to the finish line!
Setup: 1 balloon per player.
Team Twist: Make it a relay. - Mystery Box Grab
Reach into a covered box and guess what object you feel — no peeking!
Setup: Box with hand hole and safe mystery items (ball, spoon, toy car).
Variation: Take turns describing and guessing as a group. - Dice Dash
Roll a die and find that many objects to collect before time runs out.
Setup: Dice and small loose items.
Goal: Count and match quickly! - Paper Tower
Use only paper and tape to build the tallest freestanding tower you can.
Setup: Stack of paper, small tape roll.
Variation: Try using only one hand. - Cup Flip
Flip a cup off the table so it lands open-end down.
Setup: Plastic cup per player.
Tip: Demonstrate slowly; JKs can just tip the cup over. - Colour Sort Race
Sort mixed coloured objects into matching bowls as fast as you can.
Setup: Coloured bowls and mixed beads, blocks, or pompoms.
Variation: Sort by shape instead of colour. - Shape Hunt
Find items around the room that match a certain shape (circle, square, triangle).
Setup: Cards or teacher calls shapes aloud.
Team Twist: Groups find different shapes together. - Animal Moves
Draw a card or spin a wheel to reveal an animal, then act it out for 60 seconds!
Setup: Animal cards or teacher prompts.
Examples: Waddle like a penguin, hop like a frog, stretch like a cat.
🌟 Teaching Notes
- Use music or a big countdown for energy.
- Emphasise “trying and cheering” rather than who wins.
- Mix physical and calmer games to manage energy.
- Repeat favourites in later weeks with twists (new rules, team play, eyes closed, etc.).
- For JKs, extend time limits and focus on participation; for SKs, add mini-goals.
Minute To Win It Packing List:
🧺 Core Supplies
- Painter’s or masking tape (1 roll)
- Paper towel & vinegar spray (1 bottle)
- Plastic tablecloths (1–2)
- Small bins or baskets (4–6, for in-class sorting games)
- Stickers
- Paper & markers (for quick cards or shape prompts)
- Instructor provides: phone timer
🏗️ Game Materials
- Plastic cups (~60–80)
- Paper plates (~20)
- Building or domino blocks (1 set)
- Tape or small cones (few)
- Beanbags (10–12)
- Pom-poms (150+, mixed sizes and colours) — used across multiple games (Cookie Face, Pom-Pom Blow, Snowball Race, Colour Sort, etc.)
- Balloons (1–2 packs)
- Straws (20–30)
- Ping pong balls (20)
- Plastic spoons (20)
- Bowls or small cups (20 total)
- Dice (4–6)
- Dowels (10–12) — for “Chopstick Shuffle” and other transfer games
- Paperclips (50+) and/or tongs — substitute for clothespins; can also be used for Paper Clip Chain or small-item pickup
- Coins or large buttons (50+)
- Small toys, beads, or counters (assorted)
- Large puzzle (foam or cardboard, 1–2)
- Plain bowls (4) + coloured paper (4 colours) to line them
- Coloured objects (50+)
- Long string or yarn (1 roll)
- Mini beanbags or soft balls (10)
- Sticky notes or extra stickers (1 pack)
- Paper (20 sheets)
- Tape rolls (2–3)
- Rolled socks (6–8 pairs)
- “Mystery box” (shoebox with cloth cover) + ~10 safe mystery items
- Animal/shape cards (1 set)
- Music player or small speaker
🪄 Optional / Instructor-Requested
- Cookies for final session (instructors may request through office)
- Mini medals or stamps (optional rewards)