Heat Wave Tag: Your Water Bottle Saves You

A warm-up tag game where the taggers are «heat waves». To unfreeze a teammate, players must name signs of dehydration and ways to prevent it.

How to play

1. In a circle, the teacher shows six signs: thirst, dry mouth, headache, dizziness, unusual tiredness, and dark urine. Water bottles go together inside the hoops, «the fountain», at one side of the court (2 min).
2. Round 1: three taggers in pinnies. Tagged players freeze with a hand up. A teammate frees them with a high five and one sign of dehydration (3 min).
3. Fountain break: everyone takes a few sips from their own bottle, no chugging (1 min).
4. Round 2 with four new taggers: now the rescue line is a way to prevent it: drink before you are very thirsty, small sips, find shade, wear a cap (3 min).
5. Walking cool-off: each student tells a neighbor when they drink on a PE day (1 min).

Rules

• Tag gently on the shoulders or back, never push.
• You cannot repeat the sign your rescuer just said.
• Nobody drinks from someone else's bottle.
• The fountain area is safe: no tagging there.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: plays the «fountain» in the hoop and can free anyone who comes within arm's reach.
• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: frozen players cross their arms in an X so it is easy to see, and the signs are written on a poster.
• Students with asthma: keep the inhaler next to the bottle and may alternate jogging and walking.

Learning goals

• Raise heart rate and body temperature in a fun way.
• Recognize the signs of dehydration.
• Build the habit of sipping water during activity.

Equipment for a class of 25

• pinnies: 4
• hula hoops: 2
• water bottles: 30

Teacher tip

Remind students the day before to bring a bottle and keep paper cups for anyone who forgets. Do not have them drink a lot at once: the message is small amounts, often.

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