Rock, Bridge, Tree Tag

children holding hands

A tag game to incorporate teamwork and thinking skills! Modify to use a range of locomotor skills. No equipment, good for large groups.

rock bridge tree tag set up image
Set up

Designate a large playing area, where children can run and move freely. The educator nominates several taggers (depending on your group size). If a child is tagged, they become either a;

  • Rock: the child crouches, curling up into a ball
  • Bridge: the child balances on all fours, just on their hands and toes (like the downward dog yoga position)
  • or a Tree: the child stands on their tip toes with their arms up in a circle
How to play
Step 1:
  • Children run around the space, trying to avoid getting caught by the taggers
  • The first time a child is caught, they must turn into a rock (see Set Up)
    • To free a rock, another child must step or leap over the rock
Step 2:
  • If a child is tagged a second time, they turn into a bridge (see Set Up)
    • To free a bridge, another child must crawl under or over the bridge
Step 3:
  • If a child is tagged a third time, they turn into a tree
    • To free a tree, 3 children must form a circle around the tree, holding hands, and move around in a circle singing “Save the tree, save the tree, save the tree!”
  • Continue through this cycle (i.e a tree then becomes a rock if tagged a fourth time)
  • Continue playing for a designated time, and alternate taggers as necessary!
Variations
Make it easier
  • The educator is the only tagger
  • Allow the children to choose whether they become a rock, bridge or tree after being tagged
Make it harder
  • Children must stay within the bounded area, or become a rock/bridge/tree
  • Trees must balance on one leg
  • Add multiple taggers
Activity information
Age: Kindergarten / Pre-school, Foundation, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6
Participants: 5 +
Equipment: Cones (optional)
Duration: 10 minutes
Skill focus
Explore these skills for teaching tips
Balancing Running Jumping Dodging Hopping Skipping Galloping
Skill teaching

Demonstrate the various poses children must balance in, and use the following general balancing cues as a guide;

  1. Head up
  2. Eyes forward looking at something ahead of them e.g. a tree
Activity summary
Physical literacy tips
  • Ask the children to create new objects to become, e.g., a waterfall (child runs on the spot, waving their arms around)
  • The educator calls out different locomotor skills for the children to move around the space