[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!
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- No worries even in the rain! Fun recreational activities you can do in the gym
[Elementary School] Indoor Games and Recreation Activities Recommended for Upper Primary Grades (111–120)
Human finger smartphone (likely shorthand for smartphone operated by human finger)
With a numerical count, participants simultaneously show their thumbs and try to guess the total number—this is the classic “finger sum” game, but advanced through full-body movement.
Participants wait while bowing, and with each count, they freely decide whether to raise their upper bodies.
If someone correctly guesses how many people have raised their upper bodies, they clear the round.
The key excitement comes from reading and outmaneuvering how others will move.
Since each person can only choose 0 or 1, it’s best played with a large group to broaden the range of possible totals.
[Elementary School] Indoor Games and Recreation Activities Recommended for Middle Grades (121–130)
Shape Finding Game
How do you say this shape in English? Here’s an idea for a shape-finding game.
It’s a way to learn English that fits right into everyday life! By finding shapes in your room that are specified in English, you can build vocabulary you can actually use.
For example, try linking everyday objects with words like circle, square, and triangle.
You’ll improve your ability to recognize shapes while learning their names in English at the same time.
It’s also great that you can learn in familiar places!
Finger Smash
The game known as “Yubi-suma,” whose name is said to have become widespread thanks to the variety show SMAP×SMAP, has long been played by children under names like “Issē no se” or “Issē no de,” so many people may have heard of it in their childhood.
All participants form a circle and extend both fists in front of them so that thumbs can be raised.
In time with a chant, players call out how many thumbs in total they think will be raised among all participants.
If a player’s prediction is correct, they lower one fist; the person left with a fist at the end loses.
With these simple rules, it’s a handy party game you can play anytime.
Teleportation Game
It’s a game that tests each player’s quick reflexes as they swiftly move to the next spot to keep a newspaper stick from falling.
You stand the stick up, move to the adjacent stick, grab it before it falls to support it, and anyone who lets a stick fall is eliminated.
The difficulty of supporting the stick changes depending on the moving distance and how the sticks are set up, so by adjusting those factors, a wider range of ages can enjoy the game.
It could also be exciting to try a challenge mode where players test their limits to see how far they can go without letting the stick fall.
Paper Cup Relay
It’s a game where you pull out the bottom paper cup so it drops without toppling the stacked cups, then pass it on to the next person.
You have to judge how to move it to avoid knocking the cups over, which really tests each person’s control of strength and speed.
The relay format—passing it to the next person—is also key, because the pressure of someone waiting makes control even harder.
Precisely because it’s a simple action of pulling the cup out to the left or right, it’s a game that people of all ages can enjoy together.
Question game
Let’s try to infer the correct answer from the responses and figure it out! Here’s an idea for a question game.
Ask the questions you think are necessary to guess what’s inside the mystery box.
Then, based on the answers, try to say what’s in the box! Through this game, you’ll develop your speaking and listening skills.
The rules are simple, so it’s easy to try with friends or family—that’s part of the fun.
Give it a try!
Word association game
Listen to the hints and figure out the answer! Here’s an idea for an association game.
All you need are picture cards.
It’s a highly effective idea for learning English! By using picture cards and thinking of English words related to what’s drawn on the cards, your vocabulary will grow naturally.
Through the game, you’ll strengthen your English communication skills and associative thinking, which can help reduce any anxiety about English.
Incorporating the teacher’s gestures and hints makes learning English more fun and engaging, and helps spark interest.