[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
- Fun activities for junior high school students. Recreation 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
- Play ideas kids can enjoy from 1st to 6th grade [indoors & outdoors]
- [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
- 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)
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.
[Elementary School] Indoor Games and Recreation Activities Recommended for Middle Grades (121–130)
callout
It’s a game where you toss beanbags into two large boxes—one labeled with numbers and the other with English words—and then pronounce the word where your beanbag lands as many times as the number indicates.
It tests your quick judgment and smooth pronunciation, linking the recognition of the word and the number to the act of speaking.
You can throw casually and the game will still move along, but if you want to get closer to winning, it’s smart to aim for easier-to-say words or lower numbers.
How you divide into teams and how you decide on the words and counts can change how exciting the game gets, depending on how you set up the rules.
123 game
A no-equipment, easy-to-play activity! Here’s an idea for the 123 Game.
It’s a simple and effective game that leverages English learning.
First, say, “Put your hands out!” Then teach three words and their gestures, and participants choose one and act it out.
If they choose the same one as the teacher, they’re out—great for building attention and quick reactions.
This game lets learners move their bodies while using English without any props, and it provides a practical way to use and remember the words they’ve learned!
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.
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!
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.
Balloon Carrying Game
Introducing the Balloon Carry Game, where you carefully transport a gently bobbing balloon to the finish line.
Players form pairs of two, place a balloon on an opened newspaper, and carry it to the goal without dropping it.
The turnaround point—circling a cone set up along the course—really tests how well the two can coordinate.
If you drop the balloon along the way, restart from that spot.
If the newspaper tears, unfortunately, you’re disqualified on the spot.
The team that reaches the finish line first wins.
Since the balloon floats and drifts easily, perfectly synchronized movements between the two players are essential!
