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Giants, Wizards, Elves Outdoor Game Instructions

large group of kids playing an outdoor game giants wizards and elves.

Have you ever played Giants, Wizards, and Elves? It’s a fun outdoor game that also doubles as a homeschool p.e. game for elementary students all the way up to adults. It’s perfect for anybody looking to add to their homeschool p.e. curriculum (i.e. at home PE activities) or anybody who just wants to plan a fun game to enjoy with their friends or family.

Large Group Outdoor Game

Giants, Wizards, and Elves is one of our favorite large group games. We are a family of 9 and we regularly hold game nights and invite friends over to play, and unfortunately, there is a lack of large group games available for people of varying age groups to play. It seems like most games that are accomodating for a very large group are focused on one particular age group.

Well, not this game. Giants, Wizards, and Elves is a good game for kids from age 4 all the way up to 74. And there is no limit to the number of players.

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How to Play Giants, Wizards, Elves

Giants, Wizards, Elves is a super fun group game that is outdoor-friendly.  It’s kind of a glorified version of Rock, Paper, Scissors and makes a great icebreaker game the encourages team building.  Just make sure you have enough room because this party game will make you wishing you had taken your party outside.

In Giants, Wizards, Elves, players split into two teams.  Each team goes to opposite sides of your playing area (room, yard, driveway, etc).

For a round, each team will huddle together to decide if they are going to be giants, wizards, or elves.

Once each team has chosen what they are going to be, both teams approach the middle of the playing area ‘arena’.  When each opposing team is at the centerline, somebody counts to 3 and then each team acts out the character that has been chosen.

Kids playing the outdoor group game giants wizards elves

If your team chose giant, each player on the giant team raises their arms high above their heads and stomps and growls at the other team.  The louder the growling noise, the better!  Hand motions must be big and ferocious, and this works even better if players are standing on their tippy-toes.  Have some fun with this!  Try and scare the opposing team.

If your team chose wizard, each player creeps and cackles while wiggling their fingers as if they are casting spells/performing magic.  Hand motions might include Mario-esque zaps or Harry Potter-esque want movements.  Pretend to cast a magic spell on the opposing team, complete with magical noises.

Elves crouch as low as they can and make high-pitched elf noise giggles and squeaks.  You might even consider using your hands to exaggerate the size of your ears, just like an elf’s ear.

Once it is obvious what each team has chosen to be, the winning teams and losing teams are determined.    

Kids playing the outdoor group game giants wizards elves

Giants win over elves (because giants can step on elves and squash them).

Wizards win over giants (because giants are susceptible to wizard magic).

Elves win over wizards (because elves are ankle-biters and get the wizards from down below).

In a game of Giants Wizards and Elves, the winner tries to catch as many members of the losing team as possible and force them to join their side, whereas the loser tries to escape and get back to the safety zone. Players that are captured must join the winning team.

The game goes on like this until eventually, all players end up on the same team.  

This is a fun and active game that really gets kids (and adults) moving.  It really is just a large group game of rock, paper, scissors.  I remember the first time we told our kids we were going to play this game!  They had the best time and didn’t want to stop!  They ended up teaching all their friends how to play a few days later.  

Now Giants Wizards and Elves is a frequented team building activity at our house.  We love it.  If your kids are older, this would even work as a good youth group game with neighboring or local church kids.  

Related Posts:

Homeschool P.E. Ideas
4th of July STEM Activities
Get Out Pass Family Memberships

large group of kids playing an outdoor game giants wizards and elves.

Instructions for Outdoor Game Giants, Wizards, Elves

Charlene Hess

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