Secret Agent Tag From: Artie Kamiya's Great Activities' booklet
When I first started, I was very grateful for a Great Activities subscription. I got several good ideas from it that I still use until this day. This was years ago so I don't remember the person who had submitted the game idea.
An issue I have seen over the years is kids with pennies being sneaky. They will hide the penny in their pocket and when an agent tags them, it looks like they don't have a penny when they actually do.
If they are caught, they can sit out or do an alternative activity. The kids also tend to tell on the perpetrator as well because for the most part, the kids want the game to go smoothly and they don't like it when people don't follow the rules.
3-4 Secret Agents are chosen at the beginning of the round. They put on a jersey or football belt and hide their eyes on the wall.
The teachers have 10 pennies (or other small items) to secretly hand out to all the other students. They put their hands out and put their heads down. The only person who should know they have a penny is the person it was given to.
ALL STUDENTS will then close their hands into fists and WALK around the inside of the space trying to get stay away from the agents. It should look like everyone is hiding a penny even if they aren't! If tagged by an agent, the child must open their hands. If they have a penny, the agent collects it. After being tagged, the child RUNS a lap around the perimeter of the space. After running the lap, the child enters the game again. They should have their hands closed again to conceal that they don't have a penny.
At the beginning of every round, we give a goal for how many pennies we think the agents should be able to find in a 1-1/2 to 2 minute round. Usually 6 or 7 depending on the age. If the agents meet their goal, they win. If they don't, everyone else wins. I usually have the losing group do a short exercise or dance. The agents will hand their jersey/belt to a friend and we will play again. I ask the kids who have had a turn being an agent or have had a penny to keep their hands closed when we hand out the pennies again. They have had special opportunities in the game and we want others to have the chance too.
I can move safely around general space without bumping into others.
I can play the game within its parameters.
I can show good sportsmanship whether winning or losing.