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indoor games
indoor games
Students gather together and wait for you to call out a descriptor. Prompt
them to “find something round” or “find something hard” and watch them
scramble around the class to find an item. You can scatter a few items around
beforehand to make it easier.
3. Museum Guard
This alternative to “red light, green light” or "freeze dance" is perfect to play
indoors as there is no running involved. The “museum guard” turns his back to
the class and the other students take their positions as statues. When his
back is turned the statues come to life but when the guard turns around,
students must freeze or face being the next guard.
4. Musical Chairs
This classic game never fails to amuse in the classroom. If actual chairs make
the classroom too crowded, try chair-less musical chairs and have students sit
on laminated cardstock on the ground. This eliminates any potential injury with
the chairs as the adrenaline when rushing to find a seat takes over.
A rubber chicken is always a winner amongst the students. Use the chicken
as a timer as students pass it in a circle before another student can
completely answer a question. Questions like “Name 7 mammals” are perfect
and will give the students a chance to pass the chicken around the circle. If
the speaking student cannot complete the task in time, they will have to do the
chicken dance. Show them an interactive video to learn the dance
beforehand.
6. Fly Swatter
This highly customizable game sees students compete in 2 teams. Teams line
up and the students in front each get a flyswatter. On the blackboard, you can
add possible answers to your questions for example numbers, colors, or
names. As a question and students race to swat the correct answer on the
board. You can also use a squishy ball that students can throw at the correct
answer if you want to avoid running.
7. Human Knot
One student takes the hands of two different students. They then in turn take
the hands of other students. The aim is to form a human knot as their arms
become entwined. Once they are all knotted up, they must try and undo the
knot without breaking the chain. They can go under or over and twist in any
direction but they must continue holding hands.
8. Movement Memory
Each student gets a chance to add a movement to a chain of movements.
Student 1 can clap their hands. Student 2 will then clap their hands and turn
around. Student 3 will copy both actions and add a third. See how far the
chain can continue without any mistakes. You can also replace movements
with words and let students list things to take on a picnic or holiday.
11. Charades
This classic party game is perfect if you want students to practice the work
they have been studying. Let them act out animals, historical figures, book
titles, and more. Students take turns to mime the names and will be eliminated
if they speak.
Put up a sheet of paper in each corner of the class, each with a number or
color on it. One student stands in the middle with their eyes closed. The rest
of the students scramble to choose one of the four corners. The student in the
middle calls out one of the corners while their eyes are still closed. All the
students in that corner are then illuminated. The game continues until you
have found the last man standing.
Divide the class into teams and assign each team a color. Students must try
and wrangle their colored balloons into a corner but the balloons cannot touch
the ground. You can give them paper plates to wave the balloons into the air
for an added level of difficulty. They must stay in the air at all times and teams
can interfere with each other’s balloons. Will they choose the path of sabotage
or will they work as a team to complete their task?
20. Judge
One student stands in front with their back to the class. The teacher points to
one student who has to say “Hello, Mr. Judge” and the student in front has to
guess who it is. Students can try to disguise their voices to make it more
difficult. Mr. Judge has to then guess who spoke to them. If they are correct,
they can stay in front. If they are wrong they swop with the student that tricked
them. See who can identify most of their classmates correctly.
Read more: The After School Guide for Creating Outstanding Indoor Games
22. Mafia
This classic party game can easily be translated into a class setting and is a
favorite among students of many ages. The card game is for up to 36 players
so everyone can join in the fun, trying to bluff their way out of being convicted.
If you don't have the physical game, you can still adapt the game to work in a
class setting by writing rolls on paper or using a deck of playing cards.
Put the students' engineering skills to the test by holding a good old-fashioned
paper plane race. They can test different materials and styles of folding to see
which one stays airborne the longest.
Learn more: Meaningful Mama
29. Jeopardy
Create a fun, non-academic Jeopardy Game, everyone's favorite TV game
show in your own class. Use trivia about the students or their favorite topic
outside of the class as the theme and see who knows their classmates the
best.
Zip Zap Zoom is a super simple game that will test each student's listening
abilities. There are just three commands, each allowing the students to pass
an imaginary ball of energy around. Zip lets them pass it in a clockwise
direction, zap lets them pass it in a counter-clockwise direction, and zoom lets
them pass it across the circle.
31. Yoga
Recess is a time to get active and release some energy. A structured
classroom yoga session is a perfect way to ensure kids burn some energy
while having fun. With some luck, they will return to their lesson cool, calm,
and collected too!
A classic game of bean bag toss or corn-hole is a great way to fill an indoor
recess session. To ramp up the fun, create an easy-themed game by making
a custom bean bag toss set or decorating the cornhole according to a theme.
Learn more: Me and My Inklings
Create an elaborate marble run throughout recess. Kids can release the
marble just before class starts to see if their creation was a success. use
building blocks, lego, books, and any other random objects found around the
class.
42. Kahoot!
Kahoot is always a classic and will have kids begging for more. Choose a
non-academic quiz to just let kids have fun or tie it in with a lesson covered
earlier in the day to use recess time constructively. Either way, kids will love
this times quiz challenge.
Host a quick bowling tournament in class with a DIY set of pins. Collect
pringle cans or coke bottles over time and stick numbers on them to give them
value. This is easy to set up and not messy or too noisy, the perfect indoor
recess game!
44. Bingo!
Find a fun free printable bingo template with numbers or pictures to keep kids
busy during recess indoors. Choose a themed printout or stick to numbers,
depending on the level of the kids.
Kids can practice their put during an indoor recess with this easy setup. Once
you have created this 5-hole target you can use it over and over, letting kids
practice their short game while stuck indoors.