Google Meet Tag is something I’ve been trying to work out, not knowing how in the world I’d actually play. I had read about a teacher who sent her kids to break out rooms in Zoom to play, and if the teacher enters a room that you are in all the kids in that room have to do some sort of exercise.

After I created Virtual Freeze Tag, a virtual game I provide on my YouTube channel, I decided to figure out how to play a live version of the game, and name it Google Meet Tag to get my students excited for a game instead of a virtual workout!

This game can be played on any virtual platform. I just happen to use Google Meet as my teaching platform.

Also see: Virtual Ideas for PE if you’re looking for more activities to introduce to your online students.

How to Play Google Meet Tag

First, be sure that all of your students have as many students visible on their screens as possible. You might have to show them how to go to settings –> change layout –> tiled view –> then crank the number all the way to the max 49. This should mean your students will all have the same view. (This may be something you have to play with).

To start the game: all of your kids cameras should be off and mic’s on mute.

As the teacher you will be IT first.

1. Call on a random student to “tag” (see highlighted blue box below in picture).
2. That student and the kids in the boxes above, below, left and right must turn their cameras on within five seconds of being called on (see highlighted orange boxes in picture).
3. If even one of the five kids expected to turn their cameras on does not turn their camera on in time, all five students must do 10 reps of an exercise.
4. The originally tagged student (blue) gets to choose the exercise.
5. Repeat this until you want to end the game.

Change the timing depending on the grade of each class.

Variations of Google Meet Tag

The cool thing about all the ideas us PE teachers share, is that we get to modify them to fit our students needs. Here I will give some options on different ways to play, or you can change it up completely!

Google Meet Tag Variation #1:

After you initially call on a student to tag, give that student the power to tag the next person. Keep this going until most or all students have had a chance to be the tagger.

Google Meet Tag Variation #2:

If a multiple students do not get their camera on in time while others do, have only the students who did not make the 5 second countdown do the exercises.

Google Meet Tag Variation #3:

Instead of calling on a specific name, call out a letter. Anyone whose first name STARTS with this letter will be tagged.

This will mean there are multiple people tagged, therefore more students will have to take action and turn their cameras on if they are tagged by association.

Google Meet Tag Variation #4:

Instead of calling names, you can call out characteristics about kids.

You could say “I’m tagging everyone who…WEARS GLASSES”. This will make the game harder for kids who are tagged by association, but would result in more kids getting physical activity.

Google Meet Tag Variation #5:

Forget the “tagged by association” kids, and tag kids by the letters in their names (just like variation #3).

For instance, you could say “everyone who has the letters C, D, and L are IT”. Give all of those kids 5 seconds to get their cameras on. That way you will have multiple people being it and it’s still suspenseful, because the student’s wont ever know who you will call on.

Another example: you could even say “everyone who has the letters TH next to each other in their names are IT”.

Be creative!

Different Ways to Play

This game could be played in so many different ways. It’s up to you to use your creative teaching powers to determine the best way to play with your classes.

You don’t even have to be a PE teacher to play this either. Play as a brain break or filler activity as you transition from one lesson to another.

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