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

Say one thing, do the opposite game

It’s funny how you get tripped up even when you think you’ve got it! Here’s an idea for a “Say the same, do the opposite” game.

It’s a great way to get moving even indoors! The rules are simple: while saying the instructed word exactly as given, you perform the opposite action.

For example, if the instruction is “Forward!”, participants should repeat “Forward” while jumping backward.

The key actions involve front, back, left, and right! Since it doesn’t require knowledge or strategy, it’s an easy and welcoming game for first-timers too.

Came Alone Game

@mimasakadaigaku

I came alone game! It’s guaranteed to get everyone hyped, so give it a try! If you watch the video, I think you’ll understand the rules!#Mimasaka UniversityIcebreakerRecreation

Heaven and Hell – Offenbach

Recommended games that are fun even with large groups! Here are ideas for the “I came alone” game.

These are large-group ideas you can play in class recreation, too.

Once everyone sits in a circle so you can see all the participants, you’re ready to start! The first person raises a hand and says, “I came alone!” Then the next two people raise their hands and say, “We came as two!” Next, three people, then four, and so on; after reaching five, it goes back to one.

Once you get used to it, it’s also fun to arrange it as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!

Team Gesture Game Competition

Team Gesture Quiz Battle!

It’s a game where one person on the team looks at a prompt and acts it out with gestures, while the other members try to guess what it is.

It tests the team’s ability to cooperate—choosing movements that are as clear as possible and carefully observing even the small details.

Setting a time limit to push for quicker answers is also recommended; the rush to convey the idea might lead to some funny, unexpected movements.

If you gradually make the prompts more detailed and difficult, you’ll likely start to see each person’s unique style in which parts they focus on when they move.

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kappamaki

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Group boat race

@hiyoko_sakuranbo

You can start tomorrow! Group rhythm “Boat Race” “Solo boat” and “Two-person boat” are fun, but doing it as a group of 7 or 8 is even more fun! If you include it at the end of a requested staff training, the teachers’ smiles burst forth, and you can finish the session in a joyful atmosphere. It’s the same with children. If you end with a rhythm activity everyone can enjoy together, you’re sure to see the biggest smiles. ✨ Give it a try in tomorrow’s childcare! **************** “Saito Kimiko’s Cherry Rhythm Play” is a scientifically grounded method that promotes children’s development through play. We share rhythm activities that can be implemented immediately in educational settings through workshops and at preschools nationwide. **************** Mayumi Murata | Cherry Rhythm Play ▶ Book text composition for “DVD Book Complete Visual Edition: Saito Kimiko’s Childcare” ▶ Planning and editing for “Illustrated Edition: Saito Kimiko’s Sakura·Sakuranbo Rhythm Play” Thank you for your likes and follows!#Cherry Rhythm PlaySakura Sakura-nbo Rhythm#Rhythm PlayRhythm PlayHiroko SaitoNursery teacher / Childcare workerKindergarten TeacherGroup boat race

♪ Original Song – hiyoko_sakuranbo – hiyoko_sakuranbo

Perfect for class recreation or grade-level activities! Here are ideas for a group boat race.

You know how rowing is an Olympic sport, right? This time, we’re sharing ideas for a boat race played in groups.

In the video, teams of seven sit in a row and inch forward toward the goal by pushing with their heels.

It’s not just the person in front who does the work—when everyone on the team synchronizes their timing, you can make big progress! It’s also a good idea to use a chant like “1, 2, 1, 2” or “Ready, go!”

Tongue Twister Challenge

Tongue Twisters [For Practice]

Prepare a tongue-twister script and challenge yourselves to see how many seconds it takes to read it! Announcers and voice actors use this as enunciation training, right? If you search for “tongue twisters,” you’ll find plenty, and you can also create your own.

Add furigana to the kanji so that even first-time readers can read it.

The person who reads it the fastest without stumbling wins! Tripping up, getting stuck, and struggling to say it will get everyone excited, and if you can say it smoothly, you’re sure to draw attention!

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sasashina

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Team Competition! True or False Game

@soramame.sensei

Hello! This is Kotoba no Kyoushitsu Soramame Kids. We’re playing a team-based tic-tac-toe game! It gets surprisingly heated, so staying hydrated is a must. Give it a try!Kotoba no Kyoushitsu Soramame Kids#SoramameKidsChild Development Support ServicesAfter-school day serviceSpeech-Language-Hearing TherapistOccupational therapistNursery teacher / Childcare worker#KagoshimaRehabilitationKagoshima# developmental support (ryōiku)Recreation

♬ A comical long who seems to be chasing me(845594) – WataSound

It’s a game where you place your team’s marks on a grid, aiming to be the first to line up three marks before the opposing team.

Since you switch to the next person after placing a mark, it also tests your ability to read your teammates’ intentions.

You can have at most three marks on the grid; after that, you can only move them, which adds room for tactical mind games.

Even if it’s hard to decide where to place a mark, the game can still heat up because a fast relay can create opportunities.

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kappamaki

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Shiritori Dance Game

Perfect for rec time or school events! Shiritori Dance Game

This is a game that adds a movement element to the word-linking game shiritori, making the thinking process more complex.

The rule is to express the connected words with movements as well, so words that are hard to express through movement are out—that’s the challenging part.

While traditional shiritori proceeds with names of things, since this version emphasizes movement, it might work well to play using verbs.

It could also be fun to proceed rhythmically to music, or to have everyone present perform the movement whenever a word is called out.

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kappamaki

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