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Lovely Play & Recreation

A roundup of exciting grade-level recreational activities for junior high school students

Grade-level recreation is essential for bringing students closer together and providing opportunities for communication.

There are plenty of games and activities held in classrooms, gymnasiums, and on athletic fields.

In this article, we’ve compiled a wide range of engaging grade-level recreation ideas for junior high school students.

You can experience everything from games you can enjoy while seated and taking your time to activities that let you move your body to the fullest.

Be sure to check out these fun programs that encourage cooperation with classmates and help you get to know each other better.

A roundup of fun grade-level recreation activities for middle schoolers (1–10)

Sea turtle soup

Unravel the mysterious story! Lateral Thinking Quiz [Umigame no Soup #1]
Sea turtle soup

Quizzes are often used as recreational games, but how about livening things up with some unusual, difficult quiz questions? Have you heard of the quiz called “Umigame no Soup”? It’s also known as a “lateral thinking quiz,” where you’re allowed to ask questions about the problem posed, and the quizmaster answers those questions with a simple yes or no.

They can be trick questions or ones that make you exclaim “Ah!” when you figure them out, and as the questions pile up, things get more complex—which is exactly what makes this quiz game so exciting.

Drawing relay

SixTONES – Drawing Telephone Game: Who’s the Master Artist!?
Drawing relay

It’s a game that tests members’ ability to communicate and understand each other—both the willingness to convey your message and the skill to grasp what others want to express.

Players depict a given prompt through a drawing; the next person interprets the prompt from that drawing and then passes it along with their own drawing to the next participant, and so on.

The final person states, in words, what they believe the original prompt was, and everyone enjoys seeing whether they got it right.

If the group reaches the correct answer, you can feel a strong sense of unity; even if they don’t, it’s fun to analyze how the meaning shifted along the way.

The ability to capture distinctive features and one’s drawing skills are also part of what makes this game enjoyable.

Class relay race

2019 Hibari-gaoka Gakuen Junior High School Class Relay Competition, 3rd-year students
Class relay race

If you’re thinking of a recreation activity that will get everyone pumped up outdoors, why not try a class-versus-class relay? Since it’s a relay, it’s hard to have every student run, so follow the same format as a school sports day: select representatives and have them run the relay.

You can choose representatives by volunteers or based on times and results from sprint races.

If you’re not confident in sports, give it your all in cheering.

Your class can really show its unity through enthusiastic support!

A roundup of exciting grade-level recreation activities for junior high students (11–20)

Puzzle solving

[Kyo-Suki Club ⚡️ Full-Power Class Ep. 1] Solve the riddles to get the treasure! Mystery Treasure Hunt ✨ | Kyo-Suki 💘 Now streaming on ABEMA Video
Puzzle solving

Puzzle-solving is a pastime that fascinates people from children to adults.

It’s a popular recreational activity that can be customized with originality depending on the players’ ages and the number of participants.

In the typical format, players split into small teams, follow given instructions, and can’t proceed to the next stage unless they solve the puzzle at hand—competing to see which team reaches the goal first.

While puzzle-solving requires flexible thinking, teamwork is just as important.

It’s a game that helps you bond even with people you don’t usually talk to and enhances communication skills.

dodgeball

Back-to-Back God-Tier Plays: A Serious Dodgeball Showdown with Fischer's!!
dodgeball

If you’re looking for a game that gets classmates or club members excited, dodgeball is a great choice.

The rules are simple so anyone can enjoy it, yet it tests teamwork and strategy, helping participants build stronger bonds.

Not only does the intense movement improve athletic ability, it also sharpens split-second decision-making and the skill of anticipating opponents’ moves.

You can add twists like student-versus-teacher matches, and you might even see typically quiet people shine unexpectedly.

It’s easy to try in a variety of settings, indoors or outdoors, so gather your friends and have a blast!

Pin Pon Pan Game

We played the “Ping-Pong-Pan Game,” a party game, with eight people in yukata.
Pin Pon Pan Game

If you’re looking for a game to liven things up with classmates or club members, the Ping-Pong-Pan game is a great choice.

It’s a fun game where players call out “Pin,” “Pon,” and “Pan” in turn, keeping the rhythm as they play.

It may seem simple at first glance, but unexpected slip-ups keep everyone laughing.

Adding a penalty for mistakes makes it even more exciting.

The surprise of being called on and the split-second reactions when someone lets their guard down are sure to fill the room with smiles.

Why not give it a try as a way to strengthen the bonds within your class or club?

after-the-fact rock-paper-scissors

[Brain Training] Brain Exercise Gymnastics for Seniors! After-the-Fact Rock-Paper-Scissors [Mental Workout]
after-the-fact rock-paper-scissors

If you’re looking for a casual, equipment-free activity you can enjoy anywhere, how about trying “late-call rock-paper-scissors”? It might sound too easy, but it’s surprisingly entertaining.

In rock-paper-scissors, we naturally want to win, and we usually play with winning in mind.

By making “losing” the condition while calling your move after your opponent, the game suddenly becomes much more challenging.

Keeping a steady rhythm while continuously losing is the goal of this game, and if you turn it into a tournament, it can get a big crowd excited!