Classic Backyard Summer Games

We may just have spent the entire fourth grade playing this game—a cross between dodgeball and tag. Assign each player a number, give one player the ball to start and have all the other players stand about in a bunch. The person with the ball throws it upwards and calls out a number, at which point the group runs around—except for the child assigned that number who must catch the ball. When the ball is caught, the catcher yells out ‘SPUD' and all players freeze. The catcher then tries to hit one of the frozen players with the ball—they can dunk and bend and twist, but no moving their feet. If they're hit, they gain a letter (S, then P, then U and then D) and become the new thrower. When a child accumulates SPUD, they're out!