Pilolo: Ghana Seek and Race
A traditional game from Ghana where students search for hidden objects and race to a finish line once they find them to win the point. Students practice observation, reaction speed and fair play.
How to play
- Use cones to mark a 65 × 65 ft search area with a finish line on one side. Make 5 teams of 5, each with its own color of poly spot.
- The teacher hides for the first round: while everyone covers their eyes at the finish line and counts to 20, hide 2 spots of each color around the area (under benches, by trees, behind cones).
- On the call "Pilolo!" (which means "time to search"), everyone heads out to find spots of their color. You may not pick up another team's spots.
- Whoever finds a spot runs it back to the finish line and drops it in their team's hoop. When a team has both spots, the whole team returns to the finish line and sits down.
- The first team seated with its spots wins the round. Then a student from the winning team hides the spots with the teacher's help.
- Play 4 or 5 rounds of about 3 minutes, adding more spots per team in the last rounds.
Rules
- Only pick up your own color; if you see another team's spot, leave it where it is.
- Run with your head up to avoid collisions.
- No peeking while spots are being hidden.
- Safety: hide spots only at ground level, where the teacher can see, never up high or behind doors.
Variations
Easier
Leave spots partly visible and shrink the area to 40 × 40 ft.
Standard
Two spots per team in a 65 × 65 ft area.
Harder
Each spot has a letter underneath and the team must spell a word with its letters before sitting down.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: hide one of the team's spots near their starting area at table or bench height.
- Visual impairment: use objects that make sound or have strong color contrast, and a partner searches alongside.
- Shyness: the student can hide spots with the teacher before searching with their team.
Learning goals
- Observe your surroundings carefully to find objects.
- React and sprint quickly to a finish line.
- Learn a traditional game from Ghana and play it honestly.
Equipment for a class of 25
- poly spots: 20
- cones: 8
Teacher tip
In Ghana, kids play with small stones or sticks; poly spots are easier to see and safer. Tell students where the game comes from and find Ghana on a map before you start.
PatioLab has "Pilolo: Ghana Seek and Race" and 1299 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More main activities for Elementary
3v3 Mini-Volleyball with Set Passes
Small-sided 3v3 mini-volleyball on small courts, with a bonus for building the play with a set.
4v3 Soccer Counterattack Game
Four attackers try to score on a goal guarded by three defenders, who counterattack toward two small cone goals if they win the ball.
Accuracy Circuit with Cloth Targets
Accuracy stations with cloth targets on the floor and on the wall, where students toss bean bags and score points by ring.
Adapted Beach Handball
An adapted beach handball game with a soft ball: no dribbling, three steps with the ball, and double points for spectacular goals such as jump or spin shots.
Adapted Gaelic Football
A school version of Irish Gaelic football that blends hands and feet: players may run with the ball, hand-pass it with a fist, and kick for goal.
Adapted Speedball
Speedball is an American invasion game that blends soccer and team handball: a ball on the ground is played with the feet, and a ball lifted by the foot into the hands…