Get the Fun Going! Easy Classroom Games You Can Play at School: Recreational Activities for the Whole Class
Here are some games and class recreation activities you can play in an elementary school classroom! There are many options, including simple games for small groups, activities the whole class can enjoy, and team competitions.
Some require equipment, but there are also plenty you can start right away.
“Shiritori” and a “Rock-Paper-Scissors Tournament” are easy to set up and really get everyone excited! Use these ideas as a reference and have fun with your friends during recess or at school events.
Communication-Themed Class Rec Game Collection (1–10)
Gorilla Game
Let me introduce a game that will have your class roaring with laughter: the Gorilla Game.
Choose one child in the classroom, and have them answer every question from the questioner with the word “Gorilla.” For example, if the question is, “What did you eat for breakfast today?” the child answers, “Gorilla.” Of course, the questioner should react with a funny comeback to the “Gorilla” answer.
This back-and-forth will make the kids burst into laughter.
Make sure the final question sets up a punchline.
Also, the questioner’s reactions are key—add some facial expressions to make it even more exciting.
A game where everyone matches their answers
It’s a fun game with an unexpected twist, built around the theme of getting the whole class to land on one answer.
Choose topics that everyone can answer in common, such as favorite school lunch items, favorite subjects, or the most anticipated school events.
Each person writes their answer on paper and reveals it at the same time.
The answer chosen by the largest number of people is deemed correct.
Despite the simple rules, it gets exciting when classmates’ thinking takes unexpected directions.
Anyone can jump in right away, making it a perfect game for strengthening class bonds.
Without Katakana
In everyday life, we often use words written in katakana.
Here, we’d like to introduce “Katakana-ashi,” a game where you explain a given topic without using katakana.
For example, you show a ball used in P.E.
and ask, “What is this?” The answer will likely be “ball.” Next, have them describe the ball without using any katakana.
Children will likely search for answers by thinking of various words in their heads.
Try switching the roles of questioner and answerer and give it a go.
Antonym Game
There are many words in the world, but some of them don’t have antonyms.
The “Antonym Game” is a game where you go ahead and force antonyms even for words that don’t have them.
As a light warm-up, you start with words that do have antonyms, but partway through you start making increasingly unreasonable antonyms.
It’s a playful activity that leads to strange words and makes you laugh without meaning to.
6 Easy Indoor Activities You Can Enjoy
When rainy weather continues or the heat keeps you indoors, kids can’t move their bodies as much and may start to feel stressed.
Here are some recommended indoor activities that get them moving.
Try simple seated games like “Tonton Surisuri” or finger-play exercises to combine light gymnastics with brain training.
For example, with Tonton Surisuri, sit down and lightly pat one thigh with one hand while you make a fist with the other hand and rub the other thigh.
Doing two different actions at the same time is said to help build attention and provide brain-training benefits.
Give these easy exercises a try and have fun staying active indoors.
Three fail-safe activities that are guaranteed to get everyone excited
Here are three games that are guaranteed to get everyone hyped.
First is the “Rhythm Game”! Pick a theme, and only clap twice when you hear a word that matches it.
If you clap after a word that doesn’t fit the theme, you’re out.
Be careful not to clap by mistake in the heat of the moment.
The second game is “San-Ken Hoi!!”.
Everyone shows some fingers, and the first person to correctly call out the total number of fingers wins.
The third game is the “Clan Game.” Choose your own name, then make eye contact with someone and play rock-paper-scissors.
If you win, your name is passed to the person who lost.
In the end, the person who has spread their name to the most people is the winner.
Consider the difficulty level and group size, and pick the perfect game for your crowd!
Two wordplay games
Let’s have fun with wordplay games that can also serve as a foundation for language play.
「を（wo）」を省いた五十音表を使うと、2文字の単語を作れたり、しりとりで1文字ずつ積み重ねて遊びに変化をつけることができます。
Wordplay games are not only enjoyable; they’re also said to help improve children’s vocabulary and pronunciation.
Plus, through exchanging words, children can develop their communication skills and deepen their friendships.
Wordplay games require little preparation, so they’re easy to try anytime.