[Elementary School] Indoor Games and Recreational Activities Recommended for Upper Primary Grades
There are lots of elementary school children who love the internet and online games, right?
Of course, they can build relationships and develop various skills through them, but many parents and educators probably feel, “I’d like them to play something other than games a bit more.”
Kids can learn a lot from new experiences, so we hope they’ll try a variety of activities.
In this article, we’ll introduce fun games and recreational activities suited for upper elementary grades!
All of them can be played indoors, so they’re perfect for days when you can’t go outside!
- Recommended for upper elementary grades! Exciting indoor recreation and games
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- Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for junior high school students
- [Elementary School] Quick and Easy! Indoor Recreational Activities Perfect for Lower Grades
- Indoor and outdoor activities that avoid crowding. Enjoyable for students from first to sixth grade.
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
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- [Elementary School Rec] Recommended Games and Performances for a Fun Party
- Recreation popularity rankings for junior high school students
- [Part 2] Recommended Indoor Activities and Recreation Games for December
- Get the Fun Going! Easy Classroom Games You Can Play at School: Recreational Activities for the Whole Class
[Elementary School] Indoor Games and Recreational Activities Recommended for Middle Grades (101–110)
indoor hockey game
Kids are guaranteed to be hooked! Here’s an indoor hockey game idea.
Hockey, which was a big hit at the Olympics, is played with sticks and a hockey ball.
This time, let’s try an indoor version you can enjoy at home.
All you need are marker cones.
Set up two red and two blue marker cones facing each other as goals, then use another color of marker cone as the “ball.” Slide it along the floor and aim for the goal—game on!
Fluffy Tennis Using Scrap Materials
Here’s an idea for fluffy tennis using recycled materials.
Tennis usually involves a racket and a ball, but this time let’s try tennis using a plastic bottle and a bag! You’ll need a plastic bottle, a bag, stickers, a pen, and masking tape.
Draw your favorite illustrations on the bag, then fill it with air.
Decorating the plastic bottle freely with masking tape and stickers will get everyone excited.
Work together to keep the softly floating bag from falling.
Balloon Soccer
Great for first-time soccer players! Here are some balloon soccer ideas.
Many parents may want to enjoy soccer together with their children.
This is a recommended idea when you’re unsure where to start playing soccer.
All you need is a balloon.
First, use the balloon as a stand-in for a ball and get used to the rules.
It’s good to help kids get a feel for body movement and eye coordination through activities like juggling with the thighs or toes and heading with the head.
Balloon Tennis
Kids’ smiles bursting with joy! Here are some balloon tennis ideas.
Tennis is usually played with a racket and a tennis ball, right? In the video, they’re using rackets with Anpanman illustrations.
Using larger-than-normal balloons might make it easier to hit with the racket.
Since balloons can easily be carried away by the wind, if you play balloon tennis outdoors, it’s best to choose a spacious area and a day with little wind.
It’s also a fun idea for indoor play.
balloon volleyball
Let’s have fun moving our bodies! Here are some ideas for balloon volleyball.
Volleyball is a sport where two teams face off across a net, hitting the ball back and forth to score points.
This time, all you need is a single balloon.
You can even find them at 100-yen shops these days, so it’s easy to prepare.
The way to play is simple: two or more people face each other and tap the balloon with their hands to keep a rally going.
Once you get used to it, try counting out loud or playing a word-chain game (shiritori) while you rally.
Beef Tongue Game
All you need are your hands! This is a beef-tongue rhythm game you can enjoy with no props.
Start with both hands together.
After someone says “gyu” (cow), the next person claps once to say “tan” (tongue).
Go clockwise in time with the chant “gyu-tan gyu-tan gyu-tan tan,” and on the second, third rounds and so on, increase the number of “tan” claps you add at the end.
If you say “gyu” at the wrong time, clap at the wrong moment, or fall off the rhythm, you’re out! The rules are simple, but when you actually play, you’d be surprised how easily you panic.
It’s a game you can start right now, so give it a try!
Hoop Tail Grab
Let me introduce a thrilling hoop tail-tag game.
Attach a tail to your backside and try to escape within a hula hoop so it doesn’t get taken.
If your tail is taken, the game is over.
Since the space inside the hula hoop is limited, the key is to move your body cleverly to avoid having your tail grabbed.
It may be even more exciting if you set a time limit or prepare extra hula hoops.
If you increase the number of hula hoops, it’s also recommended to add more taggers.
A game where everyone matches their answers
This is a game where everyone thinks of an answer to a given prompt and tries to match those answers.
Since the prompts allow for multiple correct answers, your teamwork in aligning responses will be put to the test.
If you can discuss too thoroughly, it becomes easier to match answers, so it’s recommended to set clear boundaries for how much discussion is allowed.
It’s not only about testing whether your thoughts align; progressing with strategies—such as choosing to match a specific person’s answers—may also be important.
Anything Basket
A game where everyone sits on chairs in a circle and moves if they match the given prompt.
There’s one fewer chair than the number of participants, so the person left without a seat chooses the next prompt, and everyone needs to move quickly without spilling out of the circle.
Picking the right kind of prompt is key—questions that delve a bit into people’s private lives can be fun, too.
Through the game, you might discover surprising sides of each other that you didn’t know, even after spending a long time together.
duck‐duck‐goose
The English version of a game similar to ‘Hankachi Otoshi’ is called duck-duck-goose.
It’s a game that tests your ability to listen carefully to subtle differences in words and act on them—your judgment is key.
Everyone sits in a circle facing inward, and the tagger lightly taps each person’s back in turn while saying “duck.” When the tagger says “goose,” the roles switch: the previous tagger tries to sit in the newly opened spot without being caught by the new tagger.
The anticipation of when “goose” will be said and the thrill of reacting instantly make it an exciting game.