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[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!

[Elementary School] Indoor Games and Recreation Activities Recommended for Upper Elementary Grades (131–140)

Greeting game

[Japanese Activity] Greeting Game / [Aisatsu Game] Greetings, Bowing #1
Greeting game

Let’s greet according to the time of day! Here are some greeting game ideas.

These fun activities help you learn greetings suited to different times and cultures in a game-like way.

Walk around to music, and when the music stops, look at the illustration the teacher shows and say the appropriate greeting for that time of day—this helps develop decision-making skills! You can also incorporate greetings from other cultures, such as the United States and France, to learn greetings from around the world and expand your vocabulary.

Give it a try!

Back-carry ball relay

[Summer School 2022]: Ball Relay! 8/25 Afternoon Festival CECI Japan
Back-carry ball relay

The back-to-back ball relay is a race where you carry a ball in an unusual way.

Two people pair up, stand back to back, and transport a ball held between their backs.

Since there are hardly any sports or events where you carry a ball on your back, it offers a unique experience.

The partners’ height difference and the size of the ball are important factors, so adjust them to make carrying easier.

It’s also important to decide who will lead when moving forward.

Be sure to discuss and plan before you start.

Dodgebee

Dodgebee: A Recreation Game Played in an Elementary School Gym
Dodgebee

It’s a sport called “Dodgebee,” which combines dodgeball and frisbee.

Instead of a ball, players throw a soft disc.

The rules are the same as dodgeball: you hit members of the opposing team who are in the infield with the disc; anyone who gets hit moves to the outfield.

Outfield players can return to their own infield by hitting an infield opponent with the disc.

Because the disc is made of soft material, it doesn’t hurt when you’re hit, and the risk of injury is reduced.

craft; handiwork; fabrication; maneuvering (scheming)

Crafts that everyone loves, from little kids to big kids.

Open-ended crafts where you can make anything are so much fun, aren’t they? Let’s make use of materials you have at home—things you can reuse before throwing away, like newspaper, milk cartons, and empty containers from pudding and more.

Just thinking about what to make is really fun too.

By creating freely, children’s imaginations will expand.

origami

How to make an origami robot
origami

When you say, “Let’s play with origami!”, it might sound like an activity for very small children, but there’s also a way to enjoy origami by folding extremely complex creations.

For example, ‘OriRobo’—a robot made from a single sheet of origami paper.

Of course, there are no cuts anywhere; it’s all folding.

And of course, it’s also fun to fold simple things.

Trump

No. 378 [Playing Cards] Since Momoka slammed down a challenge to Dad at Speed (the card game), I’m planning to beat her♪ Trump speed magic
Trump

How about trying a game of playing cards that you can easily enjoy indoors without taking up much space? There are so many ways to play that kids of all ages can have fun.

For small groups or two players, you can play Speed or Poker; for larger groups, try Sevens, Old Maid, or Concentration.

One of the great things about playing cards is that when you get bored, you can just switch to a different game.

three-legged relay

Children’s Association Event – Recreation and Games for Fun Parties and Farewell/Welcome Parties
three-legged relay

Let’s try enjoying a relay using three-legged races! Pair up in teams of two, tie the inside legs together with a string, and step in sync.

Walking is one thing, but running makes it a bit tricky—coordinating your breathing and calling out together as you run is the key.

If you have a lot of people, you can try a three-person, four-legged relay too.

Just keep in mind the difficulty goes up.