Recommended outdoor recreation for junior high school students: A roundup of fun outdoor activities
Even in junior high, it’s fun to play in the schoolyard during breaks and get active outside after school or on days off, isn’t it?
There are also plenty of times when everyone needs a bit of recreation, like during homeroom or for outdoor activities as part of class.
So in this article, we’ll introduce a bunch of outdoor games that junior high students can enjoy!
We’ve included not only classic games you’ve been familiar with since elementary school, but also some that are a bit unusual.
Learn the rules and have fun playing together!
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Recommended Outdoor Recreation for Middle Schoolers: A Collection of Fun Outdoor Activities (21–30)
dodgeball
A classic among recreational activities: dodgeball.
Anyone can play, regardless of gender or age.
Usually it’s played with just one ball, but adding a second or third ball partway through makes it more thrilling and fun.
It’s also great to do a teachers-versus-students match.
Push-up rock-paper-scissors
A great way to train while playing outdoors is Push-Up Rock-Paper-Scissors.
The rule is simple: hold a push-up position and play rock-paper-scissors with one hand.
Decide the win conditions in advance and start playing.
Since you’re always holding a push-up pose, it’s also recommended for middle schoolers who want to build strength during outdoor activities.
Try adding original rules, like a penalty game where the loser has to do XX push-ups.
9-square tag
Nine-Square Tag is a quirky twist on tag played in an area divided into nine squares.
At a cue, everyone on the grid moves one square at the same time.
If the chaser (“it”) lands in the same square as someone else, that person is out.
If the chaser can’t catch anyone within ten turns, they lose.
It’s perfect for camps or indoor gatherings because it works even in small spaces.
Kids and adults can enjoy it, and although simple, it engages both mind and body—great as a lively brain workout.
Give it a try!
Human Othello
Here’s a human version of a world-famous board game.
Split into two teams and assign each player a number in order starting from 1.
Draw a court sized to fit the number of participants, and let everyone move freely within it for about 10 seconds.
When time’s up, the game starts from wherever you’re standing! Beginning with player number 1 on the starting team, each player takes three steps and moves closer to someone on the opposing team.
Teams alternate doing this.
When two of your team members sandwich an opponent between them, call out “Othello!” and convert that opponent to your team.
To make teams easy to distinguish, it’s recommended to wear red-and-white caps or similar markers.
The winner is the team that converts more players to its color within the time limit, or the team that corners the other side down to the last person.
Whether you love Othello or not, give it a try!
Tag (variant where the number of chasers increases)
It’s a game that evolved from tag.
First, players do rock-paper-scissors to decide who’s “it.” Once “it” is chosen, the game starts just like regular tag, with “it” trying to touch those who are running away.
The difference from regular tag is that anyone who gets tagged also becomes “it,” and the game continues until there are no players left who aren’t “it.”
Newspaper Battle
A newspaper battle is a game played in the same way as a snowball fight.
You make balls out of newspaper and throw them at the opposing team to attack, just like in a snowball fight.
Since the newspaper is rolled up lightly to make the balls, it doesn’t hurt or pose a danger when you get hit.
Let’s have an intense showdown!
Magma Game
The magma game, where you get to run around, is perfect for energetic middle schoolers! You can easily play it at parks that have equipment to use as escape spots or in the schoolyard.
After someone shouts “The floor is lava!” and a few seconds pass, the ground is considered magma—anyone still on the ground loses.
Since there’s a bit of last-minute pressure, it might even help train your calmness.
You can, of course, tweak the countdown, change how the magma rule works, or use special moves from anime as the call to make it even more fun!
Cat and Mouse
When it comes to simple yet thrilling games, Cat and Mouse is a great pick.
All you need are a few straight lines drawn on the ground, and anyone can jump right in.
Teammates line up in straight lines on two separate lines.
Then, at the call of “Cat” or “Mouse,” chase the opposing team.
If you’re tagged, you switch to the other team, and the game continues until the finish signal.
If you’re playing with a large group, it can be fun to create multiple team names—like animals or foods—and give it a try.
Water balloon catch
Water Balloon Catch is a game where you try to catch water balloons thrown by the pitcher without bursting them.
The fact that you’ll get wet if you can’t grab the balloon well makes it perfect for outdoor activities.
Set the distance between the pitcher and catcher in advance, and have the pitcher throw water balloons to teammates.
The key to catching is to use both hands and cradle the balloon as you take it.
Making it not only an individual match but also a team match or a tournament will make the game even more exciting.
Try competing among middle schoolers to see how many water balloons you can catch within the time limit.
Sideways tug-of-war
When you think of tug-of-war, you might imagine the full-scale version played at school sports days.
But with this sideways tug-of-war, even a small group can enjoy it casually.
Instead of holding the rope at both ends, you pull against each other with the rope positioned vertically.
It may seem like a never-ending battle, but it’s a good idea to set a rule that crossing this line means you’re out, just like in the regular version.
It’s sure to appeal to middle schoolers eager to test their strength! Give it a try during a sunny recess!