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Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for junior high school students

Introducing recommended indoor games for junior high school students!

These days, many junior high schoolers have smartphones.While you might chat or play using communication apps, there are still plenty of chances to have fun face-to-face.

In this article, we’ll introduce indoor recreational activities that classmates, club members, and other groups can enjoy together.

They’re perfect for recess at school, after classes, or when you get together with close friends—so be sure to have fun with everyone!

Indoor Games and Recreational Activities Recommended for Junior High School Students (71–80)

paper tower

Icebreaker: “Paper Tower Building”
paper tower

Many people probably enjoy games that make you think.

For you, I recommend a game called “Paper Tower.” In this game, the rule is simple: within the time limit, whoever stacks flimsy sheets of paper the highest wins.

It’s simple, but there are plenty of ways to get creative, so use your head and think about how to build your stack.

Debate showdown

[Debate] Are homemade lunches better than school meals for elementary school kids?! | How’s That? District Court! Episode 2
Debate showdown

Convince your opponent! Here are some ideas for debate showdowns.

These ideas are great for developing logical thinking and communication skills.

Participants exchange opinions based on a given theme and strengthen their persuasive power to convince others.

In this game, you can train not only your speaking skills but also your listening skills and the ability to change your views flexibly.

By choosing familiar issues as themes and engaging in discussions at school or at home, you can also learn the importance of constructive exchanges of ideas.

A command game popular with both children and adults

[Encore Galore!] Command the class with the teacher’s rec game! A hugely popular “command game” for kids
A command game popular with both children and adults

It’s a fast-paced game that tests your listening skills and split-second decision-making.

The rules are very clear: if someone says, “Order: do XX,” you perform the action; but if they say only “Do XX” without the word “Order,” you must not move.

If you react by mistake, you’re out, so observation and concentration are essential.

The teacher’s feints will spark laughter across the classroom, creating a fun atmosphere.

Despite the simple rules, there’s a lot of strategy in the rhythm and timing, and it stays exciting no matter how many times you play.

Move or stay still—the instant you decide determines the winner.

Mega Ginton

[Going Viral] We had everyone play the Mecha Ginton game and it turned into a hilarious yokai frenzy lol
Mega Ginton

“Mecha Ginton” is a game created as a segment of the TV show “Mecha-Mecha Iketeru!” and became popular throughout Japan.

The basic rule is to answer with onomatopoeic words that match the given prompt.

After a series of easy prompts, you can try a “killer pass” on a difficult one—have fun experimenting with different strategies.

Fruits Basket

[English × Physical Play] 08 Fruit Basket Game
Fruits Basket

English Twist! Here’s a fun Fruit Basket idea.

Prepare a number of chairs that is one fewer than the number of players.

The rules are the same as the classic Fruit Basket game! Divide everyone into teams by the four seasons.

The game starts with the call, “When is the season?” The person standing in the middle then calls out a specific season.

The team of the season that’s called stands up and moves to a different chair from the one they were sitting in.

If “All seasons!” is called, everyone stands up and switches the chairs they’re sitting in.

Team Competition! True or False Game

https://www.tiktok.com/@soramame.sensei/video/7399617996366286098

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.

Team Gesture Game Competition

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.

Popular with kids! How to play a realistic Werewolf-style game

A huge hit with kids! How to Play the Real-Life Werewolf Game #ElementarySchoolKids #WerewolfGame #IndoorPlay
Popular with kids! How to play a realistic Werewolf-style game

This is a Werewolf-style game that incorporates real movement, played by setting up multiple rooms such as classrooms and a gym.

The basic rules are similar to standard Werewolf, but a distinctive feature is that during the night phase, the werewolves carry out attacks by secretly tapping citizens or lovers on the back with a finger.

Because players actually move around, the tension and sense of realism increase dramatically.

During the deduction phase, players need keen insight to spot subtle inconsistencies in expressions and behavior, allowing for an intellectual battle of wits that sets it apart from simple tag.

Using multiple rooms creates an authentic atmosphere, transforming the classroom into a game stage.

It’s also recommended as a recreation activity that boosts children’s discussion skills.

Dash through the gym while scrubbing the floor!

Sprint through the gym with rag-wiping! Keep attacking the inside lane! [Our School Battle]
Dash through the gym while scrubbing the floor!

This activity involves racing through the gym while in the posture used for wiping the floor with a cloth—competing for speed while also cleaning the gym.

Since it uses a unique posture different from regular running and involves equipment, you also get to experiment with how to go faster.

Until participants get used to it, it’s recommended to first compete in straight-line sprints, then expand to courses with curves or obstacles.

Even those who aren’t good at regular running might discover that they can win in this posture—there may be new findings like that.

Word Bingo

[Number Bingo is old news] A psychological battle that captivates both adults and kids! “Word Bingo”
Word Bingo

Try a unique Bingo that uses letters! Here are some Word Bingo ideas.

In regular Bingo, you cross off selected numbers on a card with numbers, and aim to win by lining up one row vertically, horizontally, or diagonally and shouting “Bingo!” This time, let’s try Word Bingo using letters instead of numbers.

Draw lines on a sheet of paper to make nine squares, and, without letting each other see, write one hiragana character in each square.

The first player asks the opponent questions, and as they get answers, they cross off the hiragana that apply, aiming to complete a Bingo.