Leadership Inspirations Activities

Sharks And Minnows

Try not to get tagged


10 minutes

Team Stage

Any Stage

Type Of Activity

Game, Energizer


Large Open Space



A variation of tag meant to be an energizer or fun activity for breaks.



  • Lay out the boundaries of the play area with rope or landmarks.
  • Pick one student to be “It” and have them stand in the middle of the gym/play area.
  • All other participants stand on one side of the gym/play area.


  • The person who is it calls everyone to go with, “Swim fishes, swim”.
  • All the participants must then make it across to the other side of the play area without being tagged.
  • If they are tagged, they must stand where they were tagged and without moving their feet attempt to tag others.
  • The 1st person who is “It” is the only one who can ever move.
  • All those not tagged wait for the person who is “It “to tell them to go again.
  • The game is over when everyone has been tagged.
  • Safety: Be sure to encourage people to be safe while running and tagging.


  • You can add one or more people who are “medics” who can free frozen people by tagging them.
  • You can also have more than one person be “It”.


  • What was the goal of this activity?
  • Did your group do well? What could have improved?
  • How did your group make decisions? Was it effective or ineffective?
  • How did your group manage conflict that arose?
So What?

Group Dynamics

  • What are the traits that make someone successful on this team? What are the traits that make someone unsuccessful on this team?
  • What motivates our group?
  • How does our group dynamic affect the way we get work done?
Now What?
  • What does this activity tell you about the strengths of your group? The areas for improvement?
  • What’s one commitment each person can make?
  • What are three lessons the group has learned that they can continue to work on?
  • How can we implement these lessons in our school/organization?
  • What can you do differently moving forward?