Fun activities for junior high school students. Recreation games.
Introducing recreational activities for middle schoolers to enjoy during breaks, after school, or in free periods! We’ve gathered games that get everyone excited with friends and group activities that strengthen class bonds.
From games that test your ability to read the room to ones that challenge memory and reaction speed, there are lots of genres to enjoy.
They can even be a great chance to get closer to your friends! All the activities have simple rules and can be started right away, so invite your classmates and give them a try!
- Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for junior high school students
- Recreation popularity rankings for junior high school students
- A roundup of exciting grade-level recreational activities for junior high school students
- No worries even in the rain! Fun recreational activities you can do in the gym
- Get the Fun Going! Easy Classroom Games You Can Play at School: Recreational Activities for the Whole Class
- Recommended outdoor recreation for junior high school students: A roundup of fun outdoor activities
- Recreation Ideas That Truly Excite High School Students! A Fun Collection of Activities
- [Elementary School] Indoor Games and Recreational Activities Recommended for Upper Primary Grades
- Recommended for upper elementary grades! Exciting indoor recreation and games
- A collection of simple indoor recreational games
- [Easy] Punishments that will get middle schoolers excited
- [For University Students] A Roundup of Fun Games and Recreational Activities
- Games and activities everyone can enjoy together. A collection of fun play ideas.
Indoor physical activities (1–10)
Rock, paper (game of choosing ‘rock’ or ‘paper’)

Make your right hand open (palm) and your left hand a fist.
Push the open hand forward and pull the fist back.
At the signal of “Ready, go!” you switch the roles of your right and left hands.
As the signal gets faster, the movements start to get funny.
You can arrange it in various ways, like matching it to a song or swapping which hand does which role.
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!”
kickbase

Kickbase is a sport that feels like a mix of baseball and soccer, and because it uses a large, easy-to-handle ball, people of all ages can enjoy it.
The basic rules are similar to baseball, but instead of using a bat you kick the ball with your foot, and instead of gloves you catch the ball with your hands.
Another key point is that you don’t need baseball-specific equipment; as long as you have a ball and a place to play, you can enjoy it anywhere.
While there’s room for strategy, the exhilarating act of giving the ball a powerful kick also adds to the fun and can be a great way to relieve stress.
Indoor Physical Activities (11–20)
Teleportation Game

Everyone stands in a circle, places a rolled-up newspaper stick upright at their own spot, steps away, and before it falls, moves to the next person’s spot to quickly support their stick.
Since you can’t move into that spot until your neighbor moves, it may look like an individual challenge, but teamwork is probably important too.
Paying attention to details—like at what angle to set the stick so it stays upright and how to grip and support it—is crucial.
As the distance to your neighbor increases, quicker movement is required, so once you get used to it, we recommend gradually increasing the spacing.
Newspaper Rock-Paper-Scissors

Defend your territory! Here’s an idea for a newspaper rock-paper-scissors game.
It’s simple yet tense! Each participant stands on a sheet of newspaper, and if you lose a round of rock-paper-scissors, you fold your newspaper.
As the paper gets smaller, it becomes harder to keep your balance, adding to the excitement.
As the game goes on, players drop out, so you’ll need caution and a competitive edge to be the last one standing! It’s a fun idea you can enjoy with friends and family while getting everyone pumped up.
Birthday line

The birthday line we want middle school students to enjoy is a game where you line up in order by communicating your birthday using only gestures, without words.
It’s also a great chance to learn classmates’ birthdays—something you might not easily find out unless you get close.
The key is to use your hands and body to express numbers.
When everyone works together, it builds a sense of unity.
Misunderstandings or unexpected movements can spark laughter, and the sense of achievement and joy after the game is another highlight.
It’s perfect for indoor recreation during breaks or after school, so be sure to try it with your friends.
How many people can fit? Game

This is the “How Many People Can Fit?” game, where you see how many people can stand on something that clearly seems too small for the group.
Participants step onto a sheet of newspaper, a piece of cardboard, or similar material one by one.
Teams compete to see how many people can fit.
If everyone manages to get on, and no one is sticking out while you count to 10, it’s a success.
It gets more exciting if there’s a penalty for the slowest team or for teams with someone stepping out of bounds.



