Simon (or Sarah) Says
Don't get tricked by sneaky Simon/Sarah! A classic activity for any number of children in any environment - indoors or outdoors that can be used to develop all of the fundamental movement skills - no equipment required.
Set up
You can play this anywhere, in the living room, outside, at the playground or with friends.
How to play
Step 1:
- Children spread out in the space while the leader calls instructions by saying "Sarah Says..."
- Examples of instructions include;
- Run to a tree and back
- Balance on one leg
- High knees
- Be as small/big as possible
- Animal walks (bear, crab, kangaroo, elephant, frog, tiger)
- Balance a beanbag on your head
- Balance on one leg and one hand
- Run backwards
- Run on the spot
- Hop around in a circle
- Do 5 frog jumps
- Make a bridge
- The children must complete the action or movement
Step 2:
- If the instruction does not start with ‘Sarah Says’, children should not do the movement
- If they do, they have been tricked and must do a penalty, for example 4 spin jumps
Step 3:
- Continue calling out instructions
Variations
Make it easier
- Keep the instructions simple
Make it harder
- Stack instructions, for example, "Simon Says touch your toes, then turn around"
- Use basketballs or other objects to incorporate different movement skills
- Go faster!
Activity information
Age: 2-3 years, 3-5 years, Kindergarten, Pre-Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3
Participants: 1
+
Duration: 5 minutes
Skill focus
Explore these skills for teaching tips
Skill teaching
Demonstrate any trickier movements you might instruct the children to do, such as "be a tree!" Focusing on the skill of balance, use the teaching cues of;
- Head up
- Aeroplane arms
- Eyes forward looking at something ahead of them e.g. wall
Activity summary
Physical literacy tips
- Let a child have a turn at being Simon/Sarah
- Keep the instructions accessible for all children
