Recommended outdoor games and recreational activities for lower elementary school children
Here are some recommended outdoor recreation activities for lower elementary school children.
We’ve gathered popular games ranging from easy activities you can play casually in parks and open spaces to group recreation everyone can enjoy during campfires and camping trips.
Some games have more elaborate rules, so if you’re thinking, “I’m getting bored of simple games,” feel free to use these as a reference.
Each game has standard rules, but it’s totally fine to tweak them to suit your own style!
Play plenty outside to not only build physical strength but also strengthen bonds with your friends!
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Outdoor games and recreation recommended for lower elementary school students (21–30)
Cup relay
This is done as a team competition.
Prepare a bucket full of water at the starting point and a plastic bottle or a large jar at the finish line.
Adding a little team-colored paint or food coloring makes it easier to see.
From the start to the finish, several people line up in a row, and the standard rule is to have the person at the front scoop water with a cup and pour it into the next person’s cup, repeating this down the line.
Moving House Tag
@kidschallengeclub♪ Odoru Pompokolin (Chibi Maruko-chan) – soyoco.nico.moco
Let’s move from cone house to cone house! Here’s a fun tag game idea for moving day.
It’s a game that builds reflexes and strategic thinking while keeping everyone active! Arrange traffic cones in a circle; the rules are simple and easy to understand: the tagger chases friends within the circle and tries to tag them.
However, the runners must quickly move to an empty cone while avoiding the tagger’s gaze, which tests their focus and agility.
Time your moves well and keep dodging so you don’t get tagged!
Outdoor games and recreational activities recommended for lower elementary school children (31–40)
Bingo Relay
This is a game played on a 3×3 grid of nine squares, where the team that first places three cones in a row wins.
Place cones so they form a straight line vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.
Each team has only three cones, so from the fourth runner onward, move an already placed cone.
When switching runners, always tag to make the change.
This game requires you to instantly grasp the situation and decide your next move.
It’s also important not only to align your own team’s cones, but to block the other team from completing theirs.
Catch game
A catch game where everyone stands in a circle and, on the leader’s signal, tries to either grab the neighboring person’s finger or dodge having theirs grabbed.
The rules are simple, yet the outcome changes every time, so it never gets boring.
It calls for quick reflexes and concentration, making it great for building fitness.
You may have seen kids getting excited playing it in parks or plazas.
It’s easy to do at camps and outdoor events, too, so it’s a recommended group activity everyone can enjoy.
Spend plenty of time playing outside and strengthen bonds with your friends.
kotoro-kotoro (onomatopoeic; a light rattling/rolling sound)
The traditional game “Kotorokotoro” is a full-body activity that also helps children build bonds with friends.
First, several players stand in a single-file line, placing their hands on the shoulders of the person in front.
The person who is ‘it’ wins if they manage to tag the player at the very back of the line within the time limit.
If anyone’s hands come off the shoulders, they’re out, so quick movements and teamwork are essential.
Once you get used to it, you can increase the number of players to raise the difficulty.
Since it requires no equipment and is easy to set up, it’s perfect for outdoor recreation and similar activities.
Pyramid Rock-Paper-Scissors
Let me introduce Pyramid Rock-Paper-Scissors, a game where you form a pyramid shape and work your way to the top.
Divide into two teams: Defense and Offense.
Draw horizontal lines to form 1–5 rows in a pyramid shape, and have the Defense team’s kids stand on each line.
The Offense team’s kids start by playing rock-paper-scissors with the player in the first row; if they win, they advance to the second row.
At the end, they face the King at the top of the pyramid—win there and they reach the goal.
If they lose at any point, they return to the start.
It’s a fun game that gets everyone moving and communicating, so give it a try!
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.
