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.
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Use Your Brain! Riddles, Quizzes, and Brain Teasers (11–20)
Tic-tac-toe
For students, tic-tac-toe is a classic among classics.
It’s a game you can play anywhere, so it’s an easy way to have fun.
For those who don’t know the rules, here’s a quick explanation: you write circles and crosses in a 3×3 grid, and the player who lines up three in a row—vertically, horizontally, or diagonally—wins.
Since it’s a game that uses your brain, it might also be good as a warm-up before a test.
Restricted Shiritori
An idea for a guaranteed heated game: restricted shiritori.
The basic rules are the same as usual.
However, there’s an added rule that imposes a restriction related to any word once it’s been used.
For example, if one person answers “suika” (watermelon), the other players decide a restriction related to watermelon.
Possible restrictions could be “foods with seeds,” “symbols of summer,” or even “three-letter foods,” and so on.
I hope you’ll enjoy not only the game but also deciding what kinds of restrictions to set.
Count-Taking Party Game
This game, “Kazutoridan Game,” was played as part of the variety show “Mecha-Mecha Iketeru!” In this game, after saying “bun bun bububun,” you present a prompt.
The next person says “bun bun,” then gives the quantity that matches the prompt and the next prompt.
For example, if the first person says, “bun bun bububun, apple,” the next person would say, “bun bun, one, bun bun, book.” The quantity increases by one each turn, so the following person would continue with, “bun bun, two (books), bun bun, car.” If you lose the rhythm or get the quantity or unit wrong, you lose.
It’s a pretty brainy and fun game!
Buzzer quiz
How about trying a fast-buzzer quiz that really brings out everyone’s competitive spirit? It’s been a staple on TV variety and quiz shows for ages.
Having the actual buzzers would be ideal, but since they’re often hard to prepare, you could switch to a hand-raise system and let the person who raises their hand first answer.
You could also add a specific theme or constraint to the questions, or mix in a variety of genres to keep things interesting.
No Voiced-Sound Game
Voiced sounds refer to “muddy” sounds like da and ji.
For example, daijoubu and gomen are words that contain voiced sounds.
This game is about having a conversation while banning these voiced sounds.
When you talk, choose a topic and discuss it.
Saying you won’t talk is not allowed.
Remove the voiced sounds and keep the conversation going.
If you answer reflexively, you’ll end up speaking as usual, so be careful.
Announcing that there will be a penalty game for each voiced sound used will make it more thrilling!
What’s inside the box?
It’s the classic “What’s in the box?” game you often see on TV shows and YouTube.
I used to find making the box a hassle, but these days you can buy dedicated boxes online, so it’s become much easier to play.
You can put anything inside, but it’s fun to choose items while thinking about how the person touching them will react.
It might also be nice to give the item as a gift if they guess it correctly.
Escape Game
Let’s work together to solve puzzles and aim for a clear! Here are some escape room ideas.
An escape game is a game in which players solve riddles and puzzles with the goal of escaping from a certain room or place.
If you have classmates who love quizzes, it could be fun to start by creating riddles and give it a try! If you take on the challenge in teams, it will definitely strengthen the team’s unity! By getting the teacher involved and working together, you’re sure to have a wonderful time.