Giants, Wizards & Elves 

 James Neill

+ Active, all-engaging game -- fun way to get a group physically and mentally alert. 

+ Handy precursor to activities on teamwork and cooperation.

+ Requires large space.


+
A creative team variation of "Rock, Paper Scissors"
.

Teach everyone the following three characters:

Giant - Tip-toes, raise hands above head, curl fingers, growling sounds

Wizard - Crouch slightly, wave and point a magic wand, shouting "kazaam!"

Elf - On haunches, hands cupped for big ears, shrill screeching noises.


Give people plenty of practice by calling out the characters and having them instantly become that character - offer lots of positive encouragement for dramatic effort.
 

 Form two teams - each team convenes to decide on a character.

Teams then line up facing each other (use a rope on the ground to separate teams).  Have  ~ 4 feet between teams. 

 Facilitator dramatically announces "1....2.....3.....", then teams adopt their poses,  revealing their identity

Immediately, the winning characters (team) must chase the losing team and try to capture (tag) as many as possible.

+ Giant wins by 'squishing' an Elf.

+ Elf wins by 'outwitting' a Wizard.

+ Wizard wins by 'zapping' a Giant.

+ Identical characters are a draw.

The losing characters try to reach a "safe zone" (e.g., over another rope) about 30-60 feet away without being captured.

Teams then reconvene and decide on their next character.

Continue until one team entirely consumes the other.