High-Energy Opening Activity
Boy's Favorite

Steal the Bacon

Steal the Bacon is a fast opening game that gets children moving right away while still practicing listening and self-control. It works especially well at the beginning of Activity Days when the group needs to burn off energy and focus before the main lesson.

Time10 to 15 minutes
Best ForMedium to large groups
SpaceGym, cultural hall, lawn, or open room
SuppliesOne soft object such as a beanbag, scarf, handkerchief, or foam ball

How To Run It

Keeping score usually makes Steal the Bacon more fun because each round feels like it matters and both teams stay engaged from start to finish.

  1. Split the group into two teams and have them stand in two lines facing each other.
  2. Assign each player a number and place one soft object in the middle. A handkerchief works especially well for the bacon.
  3. Call out a number and have those two players race to grab the object.
  4. The player with the object tries to return safely to their team without being tagged.
  5. Reset and repeat with different numbers until everyone has played several rounds.

Simple Scoring

  • Give 1 point to a team when its player grabs the bacon and gets back across the team line without being tagged.
  • If a player grabs the bacon but gets tagged before making it back, give 1 point to the other team instead.
  • If neither player gets clear control of the bacon, reset the round and call the number again.
  • Keep playing until everyone has had several turns or until one team reaches a score you choose ahead of time.

Leader Tips

  • Use a soft object and gentle tagging rules. A handkerchief is an easy option for the bacon.
  • Announcing the score after every round helps the children follow the game and adds excitement.
  • Call two numbers at once for older groups.
  • Add hopping or backward movement rounds for variety.