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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 (41–50)

Air Cannon Slack Out

Handmade Strikeout: Target for a PET Bottle Air Cannon [Craft]
Air Cannon Slack Out

How about enjoying the well-known “Strike Out” game from variety shows right at home, indoors? By making an air cannon out of a plastic bottle, even elementary school kids can safely join the fun! You can also easily create the strike-out targets by cutting and shaping a plastic board.

It could be fun to have everyone make the game together while preparing for a party.

Above all, building it as a class will not only make you feel more attached to the game, but also strengthen your bonds!

20 indoor activities you can enjoy even on rainy days

After-school teachers recommend: 20 indoor activities kids can enjoy even on rainy days
20 indoor activities you can enjoy even on rainy days

Let me introduce a brain-teasing rule game.

The key point for the kids is to tell them, “Watch carefully.” Then the teacher shows numbers with their fingers, saying, “This is 1, this is 2,” and so on, which naturally makes the children focus on the finger movements.

But here’s the twist! They should also pay close attention to what the teacher says.

The level of excitement changes depending on the themes or rules the teacher sets.

Be sure to have fun playing it together with the kids! It’s also great because you can play it anywhere, like at camp or on a field trip.

Exercise play you can enjoy at home

Introducing age-appropriate physical play you can do at home [Rakuwakai Health Class Web Edition]
Exercise play you can enjoy at home

Even when you can’t play outside, you still want to move your body! In times like that, let’s enjoy some active play at home.

For infants and toddlers, try baby massage or touch-and-play activities.

For preschoolers through elementary school kids, how about a spy game with a treasure hunt or a round of table tennis on the table? For the spy game, setting up obstacles around the room and preparing a treasure map can really liven things up.

For table tennis, you can substitute household items: a tissue box for the net, a pot lid for the paddle, and a super ball for the ball.

Newspaper race

@kazenomori.piconursery

You can move your body and have fun even indoors!#Nursery schoolA day at the nurseryNursery teacher / Childcare workerChildcareChildcarenewspaper (newsprint)#Indoor Play#Pico Nursery

♬ Athletic Meet “Heaven and Hell” (No Introduction) – Shinonome

Move your body while sitting? A brand-new kind of footrace! Here’s an idea for a newspaper footrace.

A footrace normally means a short-distance race where you run as fast as you can.

Usually, it’s done by running from a set starting point to a finish line, but this time, let’s try a unique version where you compete while seated: the newspaper footrace.

Once you’ve taped sheets of newspaper together into a long strip, you’re ready.

Spread the newspaper out long from underneath the chair, and using only the strength of your legs, pull the newspaper back under the chair.

It’s trickier than you might think, so give it a try!

Rock-Paper-Scissors Dash

Episode 2 [React Quickly!!] Rock-Paper-Scissors Dash with Various Ideas [Collaboration: ACV] #TryItTogetherAtHome
Rock-Paper-Scissors Dash

It’s a game that tests how quickly you can react: you look at the result of rock-paper-scissors and immediately switch to the role that matches the outcome.

The winner becomes the attacker and chases, while the loser takes the defender role and runs away to avoid being caught—both roles must be decided in an instant.

Even if you’re a fast runner, you might lose at rock-paper-scissors, so it seems that balancing different strengths is important.

It’s also a good idea to experiment by making small adjustments, like adopting a stance during rock-paper-scissors that makes it easier to break into a run.

Gorilla Game

[Class Activity] Guaranteed to Succeed, Laugh-Out-Loud! Gorilla Game
Gorilla Game

Let me introduce a game that will have your class roaring with laughter: the Gorilla Game.

Choose one child in the classroom, and have them answer every question from the questioner with the word “Gorilla.” For example, if the question is, “What did you eat for breakfast today?” the child answers, “Gorilla.” Of course, the questioner should react with a funny comeback to the “Gorilla” answer.

This back-and-forth will make the kids burst into laughter.

Make sure the final question sets up a punchline.

Also, the questioner’s reactions are key—add some facial expressions to make it even more exciting.

Say-and-Do Game

[A must-see for teachers] A lively activity: “Say the same, do the same.”
Say-and-Do Game

Let me introduce a game called “Follow What’s Said/Do the Opposite.” The teacher plays the role of the leader, and the students are the participants.

When the teacher says, “Say the same, do the same: right,” the students move to the right.

If the teacher says “left,” they move to the left in the same way.

Next, if the teacher says, “Say the same, do the opposite,” then when the teacher says “right,” the students should move to the left.

If the teacher says “forward,” they should move backward.

As you play, your brain might get confused and you may not be sure how to move.

Stay calm, think it through, and give it a try.

It’s also fun to speed it up as you go!