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 recreational activities recommended for lower elementary school children (41–50)
9-square tag
Nine-Square Tag is a quirky twist on tag played in an area divided into nine squares.
At a cue, everyone on the grid moves one square at the same time.
If the chaser (“it”) lands in the same square as someone else, that person is out.
If the chaser can’t catch anyone within ten turns, they lose.
It’s perfect for camps or indoor gatherings because it works even in small spaces.
Kids and adults can enjoy it, and although simple, it engages both mind and body—great as a lively brain workout.
Give it a try!
Camp Bingo
Let us introduce “Camp Bingo,” a game that uses bingo cards illustrated with camping items like campfires, tents, and lanterns.
Participants check off the items on their cards as they find or experience them at the campsite.
It’s enjoyable for both kids and adults and helps build observational skills in nature.
Because it feels like a game, it easily livens up the atmosphere and gives participants a chance to break the ice.
Preparation is simple, and the charm lies in how everyone can have fun together in a lively, social way.
Rock-Paper-Scissors Train
In rock-paper-scissors, the loser lines up behind the winner.
The person who keeps winning and ends up at the front of the connected “train” is the champion.
It’s best to gather a lot of people and play in a spacious area.
You’ll get bragging rights for proving you’re the strongest at rock-paper-scissors among many people! The sight of a long line of people is quite amusing.
While the music is playing, everyone can move around freely, so kids are likely to have a great time.
It’s also perfect for boosting class unity.
Bowling
Arrange 10 sticks in a triangle with the tip pointing toward you.
From a short distance away, throw a ball, and the winner is decided by how many sticks are knocked down.
You can play without going to a bowling alley by filling plastic bottles with sand or water as substitutes.
Round plastic bottles are easier to use as bowling pins than square ones.
It’s guaranteed to be a hit for team competitions!
King Dodgeball
The arranged version of dodgeball is “King Dodgeball”! The difference from regular dodgeball is that each team chooses one player to be the King.
The King can run away while being protected by their teammates.
Other than that, it’s the same as regular dodgeball, but even if you’re at a disadvantage, you can still win if you hit the opponent’s King with the ball first! Also, whether you reveal who the King is or keep it secret changes how the game unfolds, which makes it interesting.
As further variations, you can change the size or softness of the ball, or make the court smaller to create a more thrilling experience!
Red Light, Green Light
A traditional game you can play right away without any equipment is “Daruma-san ga koronda.” While the tagger faces away and chants “Daruma-san ga koronda,” the others advance, trying to touch the tagger.
There’s also a rule that you mustn’t move when the tagger turns around, which adds a thrill and makes it a game kids really get excited about.
Since it’s a classic, you can spice it up if it starts to feel old! For example, decide on a specific pose everyone must hold when they stop, or change the phrase to fit an event by swapping out the word in “___ ga koronda.” With a few tweaks, it can be even more fun!
Shuttle throwing game
It’s a shuttle-throwing game using badminton shuttles.
While shuttles are easy to send far when hit with a racket, throwing them far by hand is actually quite tricky.
In this game, you place a target, such as a hula hoop, and keep throwing shuttles at it.
The person who gets the most shuttles into the target within the time limit wins! Adjust the distance to the target and whether to place a net in between according to the children’s strength.
