A Clever Spell

Big Foot Relay. Have the children add 2 shoeboxes with them. Magnetic Tape the lids onto the corners, then cut a one-inch-wide and four-inch long slit in each top. Get the contestants slip their feet into the slits in the boxes and race.

Frisbee Tower. Buy a bundle of mini Frisbees and aim them in a pile in the center of the yard. Have the guests carve up the Frisbees among themselves. The first player begins the action by putting one of his or her Frisbees on the ground. Each of the following players places his or her Frisbee on top of the first Frisbee, and the activity continues until someone causes the growing tower to topple.

Cross Step. Draw a ten-by-ten grid on the sidewalk or patio with chalk. Have each player stand on a different square. One at a time, each player must move to a new square after crossing out the square she or he was formerly standing in. The trick is that players cannot step into a square that is occupied or crossed out. If a player cannot move to a new square, he or she is out. The game continues until one player is left.

Kill the Cockroach. Divide the players into 2 teams. Line them up, one in front of the other and set an odd object in front of the first players in line. They must kick the object across the yard and the across the end line to win a point for their team. Kick things like a pillow, empty can, a sock, and so on.