Looking for a Halloween-themed activity that keeps students active, engaged, and learning? Zombie Graveyard from SPARK Physical Education combines movement, strategy, and plenty of seasonal fun in a chasing and fleeing game that gets every student involved.
What is SPARK Physical Education?
SPARK Physical Education is a research-based program designed to help physical education teachers create active, engaging, and inclusive learning experiences for every student. SPARK provides standards-aligned curriculum, ready-to-use lessons, instructional strategies, professional development, and resources that make quality physical education easier to plan and teach.
Through fun, developmentally appropriate activities, SPARK helps students build physical skills, confidence, and the knowledge and motivation to be active for a lifetime.
A Spooky Twist on Chasing and Fleeing
Zombie Graveyard is a fun, Halloween-themed chasing and fleeing activity that challenges students to safely travel through a spooky graveyard without being tagged by a zombie. Students take on the role of Trick-or-Treaters and use locomotor skills such as walking, jogging, and other movement patterns as they navigate through general space, avoid Zombies, and make their way to the opposite side. If tagged, Trick-or-Treaters become stationary zombies for the next round, creating new obstacles and encouraging students to adjust their movement strategies as the game progresses.
In addition to developing locomotor skills and spatial awareness, Zombie Graveyard encourages students to practice safe movement, follow rules, and apply simple strategies for chasing and fleeing. The activity also supports social-emotional learning by promoting self-regulation, self-efficacy, and respect for others. Teachers can add excitement and variety by incorporating “tombstones” that give Zombies places to hide, creating an engaging physical education experience that keeps students moving, thinking, and having fun.
