Secret Immunity: Tag With Hidden Cards

A tag game in which some players secretly hold an immunity card or a rescue card, and nobody knows who. It keeps everyone in the game and makes students watch and reason while they run.

How to play

1. Deal cards face down: face cards = immune (can't be frozen), aces = rescuer, everything else = regular player. Everyone checks their card and pockets it (2 min).
2. Round 1 with five chasers in pinnies: anyone tagged freezes with legs apart; if they have a face card, they show it and keep playing (4 min).
3. Rescuers free frozen players by crawling through their legs or giving a high five, but they reveal themselves by doing it (3 min).
4. Round 2: new deal and new chasers; chasers may talk to each other to work out who's immune (5 min).
5. Round 3: if a chaser points at someone and says "You're immune" and is right, that player becomes a regular player (4 min).
6. Wrap-up: what clues gave people away? (2 min).

Rules

• Tag with a hand on the shoulder or back; frozen players stand, never lie on the ground.
• Cards stay hidden until you're tagged, and nobody lies when showing one.
• Nobody stays frozen longer than 30 seconds; after that they free themselves.
• Chasers rotate every round.

Variations

Adaptations

• Visual impairment: a card with a raised mark (a sticker), a smaller area and chasers who call out as they come.
• Limited mobility: frees anyone who reaches their hoop, or chases with a pool noodle.
• Students who find bluffing hard: can be card keeper and help the teacher deal.

Learning goals

• Keep intensity high in a game without elimination.
• Watch opponents and deduce hidden information.
• Play fair with secret information.

Equipment for a class of 25

• playing cards: 30
• pinnies: 6
• cones: 8

Teacher tip

Use an old deck of cards; if you don't have one, cardstock cards with a symbol work. Common mistake: showing your card to a friend; warn that if cards get revealed, you'll deal again.

More activities like this

More main activities for Middle School