Recommended for upper elementary grades! Exciting indoor recreation and games
Ever find yourself unsure what to do for upper-elementary recreation time? Wouldn’t it be perfect to have activities that not only get kids moving but also build teamwork and social awareness? Here, we’ve gathered ideas that make full use of collaboration and brainpower—from a game where you stack cups by working together, to psychological battles that test your timing and when to jump in.
Everything can be done with familiar, easy-to-find materials and will get the whole class excited.
Have fun with your friends!
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- A collection of simple indoor recreational games
Indoor play to enjoy with cardboard crafts (1–10)
Rin-rin hammer made from scrap materials
Let’s try playing with a jingling hammer made from scrap materials.
Although its shape is completely different from a hammer throw implement, it would be great if guardians could explain the rules and key points of hammer throw to children.
When throwing, make sure to create a safe environment where it won’t hit furniture or people before giving it a try.
A gymnasium or an open field would allow you to practice with peace of mind.
Another advantage is that it makes a jingling sound when thrown, making it easy to tell where it landed.
Be sure to give it a try!
Paper Cup Jenga
Let’s enjoy the thrill! Here are some ideas for Paper Cup Jenga.
Jenga is a simple party game played with wooden blocks, where players take turns removing blocks from a stacked tower without toppling it.
This time, let’s put a twist on Jenga—fun for both kids and adults—using paper cups and printer paper.
It’s also great because setup and cleanup are easy.
It’s perfect for recess or short breaks, so give it a try!
Indoor play to enjoy with card- and board-craft activities (11–20)
Balloon lifting
If you practice soccer indoors and try juggling, you can probably picture the disaster—things falling over and breaking everywhere.
But how about trying juggling with a balloon instead of a soccer ball? If it’s a balloon, even if it hits things around the room, the impact is light and nothing will break.
And because it moves slowly, even if you can’t juggle with a ball, you can still play with a balloon! It may float gently, but balloons sometimes make unpredictable moves, which will definitely make the game exciting.
You could even compete to see who can keep it up the most times.
The cup game that requires cooperation
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♬ School Activity – Daily Music
You can only clear the game if everyone who joins works together! Here’s an idea for a cooperation-required cup game.
It’s great for strengthening class unity and building bonds.
It also takes little prep, so give it a try.
All you need are paper cups, a rubber band, and strings.
Tie one string per participant to the rubber band and you’re ready to go! Aim to clear the challenge by arranging or stacking the paper cups.
The key is controlling your strength!
Cup Song
Do you know the game called the “Cup Song”? It originated from the music video of Anna Kendrick’s song “Cups,” where the scene of skillfully handling a cup and keeping rhythm with claps and the sound of placing the cup became a hot topic, and soon everyone started doing it.
You keep a brisk tempo, pass the cup along, and it’s fun even with several people.
Try it with different songs!
Card game
A trading card game that’s extremely popular with kids.
Famous examples include Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Duel Masters.
It’s basically a two-player game where you battle using your own deck of cards.
Since the outcome depends on the strength of the cards, everyone can’t resist wanting powerful ones.
It’s probably a game that adults find even more difficult.
Trump
How about playing with a deck of cards, which works from just two people up to quite a large group? It doesn’t take much space and is easy to pick up.
There are classics like Old Maid, Sevens, and Concentration, as well as slightly more challenging games like Speed, Poker, Daifugō (President), and Blackjack.
If you get bored, you can switch up the rules, and it’s the kind of game where everyone—adults included—can have fun together deciding what to play next and getting lively.