Utilizing bookshelves after hours we had pre-teens (though you can also do this with teens) we created a maze to reflect a live action Pac Man game. We had one Pac Man and sometimes a Mr and Mrs. Pac Man in the maze with four other participants acting as ghosts to try and catch them. While dodging ghosts Pac Man scores points by gathering 'dots' along the way and special bonus items.
Type: Active
Age: Middle school
Optimal size: 11-20
Estimated cost: $1 - $25
Planning time: <1 hour
Frequency: One-time
Learning outcomes
1. Team work. The 4 'Ghosts" often have to work together in order to trap Pac Man. At first the ghosts all just went there own way, but as the program progressed they started working together.
2. Strategy. Pac Man had to determine the best way to gain points. Higher point items were is riskier parts of the maze. Participants had to choose whether to try and grab as many points and risk being caught or getting through the maze quickly.
Instructions
Supplies
- Masking/Painters Tape
- Pac Man/Mrs. Pac Man and Ghosts printouts (laminated)
- Something to act as dots (we had cut up pool noodles, slice them like a loaf of bread)
- Plastic Play food
- Messenger bag or basket
- Pac Man theme music
- Snacks (Optional)
- Board games (optional)
Set Up
We utilized our bookshelves to create the maze. You can lay out a maze with just masking tape, but its more expensive, takes a lot more time, and just not as fun.
We used painters tape to set up the maze. We had tape on the floor to extend wrap around opening to other shelves. We put tape across the space in between shelves in certain areas to block off a paths. We also had a blocked off area right in the middle of the maze for a staff person to go to monitor behavior inside the maze. We put an X in tape to mark the beginning of the maze and also a Ghost box. The ghosts entered in the middle of the maze and had to remain in the ghost box until told to enter.
One the maze was constructed we took our 'dots' (pool noodle slices) throughout the maze, usually about a foot or two apart. These were throughout the entire maze. In the 'trap areas' (places where there is only one way in and out) we put a piece of plastic food.
We had 3 staff members for this program. 1 staff member was inside the maze monitoring game play, another was in charge of releasing the ghosts into the maze, and a third organizing/running the game.
Game play
We start out with one Pac Man and four ghosts. Pac Man is given a dot holding bag, we used a messenger bag for easier mobility. When the Pac Man music starts (we had a youtube video with the theme playing on the Ipad with a bose speaker) Pac Man enters the maze. Pac Man earns points by collecting dots, plastic food bonuses, and completing the maze.
Dots=1 point each
Food=5 points each
Finishing the maze= 10 points
Ten seconds into the game the first ghost is released. After that every 15 seconds another ghost is released. The round ends when either Pac Man makes it out of the maze or is caught by a ghost.
After the end of the round Pac Man drops off their satchel with a designated staff person (game runner). One staff member tallied the points, one got the pac man and ghost from that round to gather for a photo and called for the next set of members, and the third helped reset the game. The kids also were really helpful with resetting the dots.
Variables
Walk or crawl.- In order to avoid complete chaos we didn't allow them to run in the maze. We had everyone being required to walk. Pac Man could speed walk, but ghosts could not since it was four against one. You can also have your players crawl instead, however this will require the use of knee pads to avoid rug burn.
Ghost Timing
We started out at 5 seconds between ghosts, but it was too easy for them to catch pac man with this timing. We then upped it to 10. Sometime not all the ghosts got into the maze before Pac Man was caught.
Waiting Area- We had an area with games and snacks right next to the maze area. Each game only used 5 participants at a time, so make sure their is something for those waiting to do. These games go really quick though so no one was waiting for too long before they were either a ghost or pac man.
Two Player
If you want to make things more interesting, send Mr and Mrs Pac Man in at the same time and let the get a combined score.
Player Pieces
We just printed out and laminated pictures of Pac Man/Mrs. Pac Man and all the ghosts. Punch holes and use some string and it'll hang around their neck. Just make sure you don't make the string too long.
Evaluation
This program was a lot of fun and was really easy to put together. The rounds were so quick no one really got bored. We did have to play around with timing for the ghosts, but overall it went seamlessly. We did it for pre-teens, but you could do this with teens as well.