WOW Game Title: Oyster Tag
Physical Education Game: Elbow Tag
Content Area: Science
TEKS Focus: Habitats
Food Chains & Webs
Physical Education Unit: Cooperation, Cardiovascular Endurance
Grade: 3
Resource: Instructional Material: Seaside Naturalist by Deborah A. Coulombe
Oyster Tag by Pam Atkins
Equipment/Materials: None
Set Up: No set up of equipment is needed.
Discuss with students Oysters vs. Clams. Oysters are mollusks; the class
comprised of two parts shells. Oysters live in clusters. Oysters have only one valve
which is permanently cemented to a rock of another hard object. Oysters have no foot or
no siphon. These mollusks open their shell to bring water over their gills. The American
Oyster is found from the Gulf of Maine to the Gulf of Mexico. Predators of Oysters
include Oyster drill snails and Sea Stars.
Clams are also mollusks. They, like oysters, are made with a two part shell.
Clams live scattered out, apart from each other. Clams have one foot and a siphon. The
clam filters water through its gills for food particles and oxygen. The beautiful Coquina
Clam is in Gulf of Mexico, known as the “Butterfly shell,” burrows rapidly into wet, surf
by using their pointy foot. Their siphons are short and live below the sand’s surface.
These clams live in huge colonies. Predators of clams include Sea Stars, several species
of fish and Seagulls.
Activity:
All students will be asked to stand shoulder-to shoulder interlocking elbows to
make “clusters of oysters” (groups of 3.) Several students will be chosen to be “it,”
known as the taggers. The students chosen to be “it” symbolize the predators of the
mollusks which are Oyster drill snails and Sea Stars!
The game will begin when the teacher asks the question, “What’s the name of the
game?” When all students reply “Oyster Tag” the game begins. The oyster to the left of
the center oyster of the cluster must run and hook up on the right end of a different cluster
of oysters. Remind students no more than 3 oysters may make up a cluster. If an oyster is
tagged by a sea star or oyster drill snail (predator), then the oyster becomes the predator
and the predator becomes an oyster.
Variations:
 The game may also be played as clams where all students scatter out evenly
throughout an open area. Teacher designates several students to be the tagger
clam predators (Sea Star, Fish, and Seagull). Remind students there is “no base”
or safe area from being tagged.
Review Questions:
Skill Focus: Was your heart rate beating fast or slow at the end of the game?
Is this game a good cardiovascular endurance game? Did you play the game
honestly and safely?
Academic Focus: What is the difference between the mollusks, oysters and
clams? What is one predator of the oyster? Of the clam?