Lovely Play & Recreation

[Elementary School] Indoor Games and Recreational Activities Recommended for Upper Primary Grades

A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerAraki Jakkan
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

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 Fun and Recreation Games Recommended for Middle Grades (51–60)

Team Gesture Game Competition

Team Gesture Quiz Battle!

Team Gesture Game Competition

It’s a game where one person on the team looks at a prompt and acts it out with gestures, while the other members try to guess what it is.

It tests the team’s ability to cooperate—choosing movements that are as clear as possible and carefully observing even the small details.

Setting a time limit to push for quicker answers is also recommended; the rush to convey the idea might lead to some funny, unexpected movements.

If you gradually make the prompts more detailed and difficult, you’ll likely start to see each person’s unique style in which parts they focus on when they move.

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Drive out the UFO!

It’s a game where a big balloon stands in for a UFO, and you throw balls at it while being careful not to touch it.

The closer you get before throwing, the easier it is to land a hit, but you’ll also be more likely to touch the UFO, so you need to judge your distance carefully.

Another key point is that when someone else’s ball hits the balloon, its movement can become more erratic, making ball control even more important.

If you increase the number of UFO balloons, reading their movements gets more complex, which is also a fun option.

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Ghost Blitz!

@club_bg
A brain-training game that will scramble your head!? Make split-second decisions and grab it fast!! [Ghost Blitz 2]translation toy Ghost Blitz #boardgames #toy
♪ Original Song – Board Game Club – Board Game Club

It’s a game where various pieces of different colors and types are placed on the table, and you decide whether to take one based on the card that’s revealed.

If there’s a piece matching the color shown on the card, you take it; if not, you say the corresponding correct word instead.

The key is how this corresponding word is determined—the more complex this becomes, the more there is to think about.

Since it’s a game where you have to judge and act faster than others, you get to enjoy quick reflexes and strategic interaction with the people around you.

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Rock-Paper-Scissors Wheelbarrow

@mimasakadaigaku
A must-see for elementary school teachers! Build bodies while having fun with the “Rock-Paper-Scissors Wheelbarrow” activity! Mimasaka University – Elementary School Teacher – Fun Exercise
♬ Lilac – Mrs. GREEN APPLE

This is a game where pairs form a wheelbarrow (one person holds the other’s legs) and challenge other pairs to rock-paper-scissors; depending on the result, the roles switch.

After each round of rock-paper-scissors, the previous pairs break up.

The winning pair both take the easier role of holding the legs, while the losing pair has to do the tougher role of moving on their hands.

If you keep managing to team up with someone good at rock-paper-scissors, you might make it to the end without suffering, so let’s also see who has the luck of the draw.

It’s a game that lets you enjoy the strategy of the contest while having fun and getting a good workout.

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[Elementary School] Indoor games and recreation activities recommended for upper lower grades (Grades 3–4) (61–70)

Team Battle Tic-Tac-Toe

https://www.tiktok.com/@soramame.sensei/video/7399617996366286098

Here’s a game where you line up circles and crosses.

Split into two teams and give it a try.

There’s a 3×3 grid of empty squares.

One person from each team takes turns placing a circle or a cross card in a square.

The team that lines up three in a row—diagonally, vertically, or horizontally—wins.

Try to outwit each other so your opponent can’t make a line of three.

The real charm of this game is the battle of wits as offense and defense unfold.

It’s a simple game, but completing a line of three brings a special kind of joy.

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It varies by region! Okinawa’s Finger-Number Game

@okinawa_channel
[Yubisuma] Do the calls/chants differ by region?Okinawa Translation Jun player Nostalgic
♪ Original Song – Okinawa Channel – Okinawa Channel

It seems that Yubi-suma is a game whose name changes depending on the region in Japan.

There are versions called “Yubi-suma,” “Issē no se,” and “Ichi nī no,” among others.

Incidentally, in Okinawa some places call it “Chībaru.” Of course, even within Okinawa there are areas that say “Issē no se.” How about trying Yubi-suma using a chant from a region other than your own? It might be fun to decide which chant to use by drawing lots.

By the way, it’s said that the reason it’s called Yubi-suma is that it spread nationwide after being featured on a SMAP TV program.

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Nostalgic finger guessing game!

@riana_mine
Did you all do this a lot?Elementary school students in 2007 2007 #ElementarySchoolerProblems Heisei #Heisei Retro #Yubi-Suma numbers Ready, set, go!Hand games
♬ Original Song – Riana Mine 👼🏻⛅️ – Riana Mine 👼🏻⛅️

A game whose name changes depending on the region: Yubi-suma (Thumbs Up).

It’s said that there are many region-specific calls besides Yubi-suma, too.

The rules are: make fists with both hands and hold them out in front.

Decide the order, and when it’s your turn, say a call like “Yubi-suma, one!” or “Issē no, two!” All players then raise the thumb(s) from one or both fists.

If the number of thumbs raised matches the number you called, you can pull back one of your hands.

The first person to pull back both hands wins.

In some regions, there’s even a rule that allows choosing not to raise any thumbs.

It might only be a brief moment, but waiting to see how many thumbs go up is a real nail-biter.

It’s a simple game, but kids really get into it.

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