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!
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Music, Dance, and Rhythm Games (1–10)
Change Janken
Rock-paper-scissors is a game that’s woven into everyday life, like when deciding the order of things.
It often ends with a simple one-shot bout, but this “changing rock-paper-scissors” is a variant you can savor at a slower pace.
Without seeing what the other person throws—and only seeing their facial expressions—you both form your hand shapes on a cue.
From there, you predict your opponent’s move through conversation and expressions, and within the time limit, you’re allowed to change your own hand as many times as you like.
It’s a game that heats up with bluffing through talk, eye contact, and facial cues—do you lie to your opponent, or are they lying to you?
Music, Dance, and Rhythm Games (11–20)
Pedometer Dance Showdown
Let’s try a dance showdown where everyone wears a pedometer, and the person whose final count is closest to a set target number wins.
The winner is the one who hits the exact number or gets closest, but the real fun is the part where you dance while wearing a pedometer.
Since you’re counting steps, you might end up dancing with a very serious face—and that’s part of what makes it fun.
Cups
This is “CUPS” performed with cute, colorful cups and hand claps.
The way the cups are passed around and placed, along with the hand claps and the sounds of the cups in between, is very pleasing to watch.
There are many variations you can try, so it might be fun for everyone to create their own original version!
Kyun Desu Game
The “Kyun-desu pose,” where you make a heart with your thumb and index finger.
There’s a game that uses that “Kyun-desu,” called the “Kyun-desu Game.” There are several types of kyun, each with its own pose: small kyun-desu, big kyun-desu, ___’s kyun-desu, everyone’s kyun-desu, maid’s kyun-desu.
Starting from one end, you call out the types of kyun-desu in order; everyone does the kyun-desu pose together.
For “___’s kyun-desu,” only the person whose name is called does the kyun-desu pose, and then it starts again from there.
Dance Gesture Game
This is a more stylish take on a gesture game where you communicate using only body movements.
As the prompt is announced, music starts playing; you perform an improvised dance to the music, consciously making sure it works as a dance while also incorporating movements that express the prompt in your own way.
Others should not only guess the prompt but also judge whether the dance stands on its own.
If you’re good at dancing, leverage your creativity to aim for more stylish gestures; if you’re not, the fun comes from everyone enjoying your earnest effort.
Choose tracks to match each person’s dance ability; for those who are confident, it’s also recommended to play songs with more challenging choreography.
Time Bomb Game
How about trying a nerve‑racking, heart‑pounding time-bomb game? This game uses an item where a balloon pops when the time is up.
Players take turns answering prompts and pass the “bomb” along as they go.
The player holding the bomb when it explodes loses.
If you want something a bit easier to try, you can use an app that replicates the toy.
Either way, enjoy the thrill of not knowing when it will blow!
Buzzer-beater showdown
Compete using counters! Here are some ideas for a fast-tap showdown.
It’s a simple, easy-to-understand game, making it a unique idea you can try casually in your spare time.
All you need is a handheld tally counter.
See who can reach the highest number within the time limit.
Each participant’s tapping style shows their personality, which should be entertaining for the audience as well.
Adding perks for the winner or a penalty game for the last-place finisher could make it even more exciting!