For elementary school kids! Fun riddles recommended for the middle grades
Children in the middle grades of elementary school are growing rapidly.
It’s also a time when friendships deepen and play with friends becomes very active.
At this age, their thinking and expressive abilities develop, and their curiosity grows stronger.
They learn many things and absorb new knowledge.
Here, we introduce riddles perfect for middle-grade elementary school children to enjoy with their friends.
Riddles help nurture thinking skills while having fun, making them great for communication with friends and family, too.
By all means, let both kids and adults give them a try together!
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For Elementary Students! Fun Riddles Recommended for Middle Grades (41–50)
What is something that doesn’t decrease no matter what you eat?
What is something that doesn’t get smaller no matter what you eat? Right now, all sorts of foods are probably popping into your mind: rice balls, sandwiches, apples, tangerines, sweets… There are so many edible things, but once you eat them, they’re gone, right? In other words, if you focus on the food when thinking about this question, you won’t get the right answer.
It’s a trick question, so you need to look at it from a slightly different angle.
The correct answer is “your mouth.” It certainly eats anything, but it’s the food that diminishes—the mouth doesn’t get smaller!
An elderly person carrying large luggage got on the train. But no one offered their seat. Why do you think that is?
See the answer
Because there were many seats available.
The reason the people around didn’t offer their seats when an elderly person carrying large luggage got on the train was that there were plenty of empty seats to begin with. In other words, the elderly person could sit wherever they liked, so there was no need for anyone to go out of their way to give up a seat.
Which was built first, the Great Buddha of Nara or the Great Buddha of Kamakura?
See the answer
Neither of them is standing.
The question asks which came first: the Great Buddha of Nara or the Great Buddha of Kamakura. But since both the actual Great Buddha statues in Nara and Kamakura are displayed in a seated position, the correct answer is “Neither of them is standing.” The key is to read the question carefully and avoid being tricked.
Among kindergarteners, elementary school students, and adults, which is the biggest?
See the answer
kindergarten
A kindergarten isn’t a person; it’s the name of a building. Elementary school students and adults are people, but a kindergarten is a large building that many people can enter. So if you compare sizes, the kindergarten is the biggest. The key to this riddle is noticing the meanings of the words.
What are the two things a younger brother has but a younger sister has only one of?
See the answer
The hiragana “to”
The word otōto (younger brother) contains two instances of the syllable “to,” while imōto (younger sister) contains only one. Both are family terms, but in this riddle the key is not their meanings—it’s the letters within the words. If you look closely at the words and consider which characters appear and how many times, you’ll arrive at the answer.
What is the name of the old man who appears in Urashima Taro?
@igosso.youtube♪ Original Song – Igossou [YouTube] – Igossou [YouTube]
Speaking of Urashima Taro, it’s known as the story where he rides a turtle to the Dragon Palace, spends what feels like only a short time there, and when he returns, many years have passed in the world he came from and not a single acquaintance remains.
It’s a beautiful yet sorrowful tale, and surely everyone, from children to adults, has read it at least once.
Now, recall the story carefully and try this challenge.
If you’re thinking, “Did Urashima Taro have a grandfather?” you won’t reach the right answer.
The hint is to remember what happened to Urashima Taro when he opened the tamatebako (jeweled box)!
What is something you can move easily but can never lift?
https://www.tiktok.com/@igosso.youtube/video/7494567204071984385When you hear that something is easy to move, you probably imagine something small or light that’s easy to carry.
But in this riddle, it says it’s something you absolutely can’t lift.
What could it be? First, think of something you can move yourself.
It’s something everyone has, and even if you go outside with nothing but the clothes on your back, it naturally follows you.
Among those, think of something you can’t lift.
The answer is “your shadow”! You can easily make it move by moving yourself, but you can’t hold it in your hand, so you can never lift it.
What is something you can see but can’t touch?
Something you can see but can’t touch… Huh? A ghost? That might be the kind of answer you’d think of, but that’s not it.
Don’t worry, it’s not a scary question—feel free to give it a try.
The answer to this riddle is something unique to elementary schoolers, or rather, it even comes up in lower grades’ classes.
If you have a flash of insight, even a first-grader could solve it.
The hint: it’s something you can usually find in a classroom or a room.
Try solving it while thinking, “What is it that I’m always looking at?” The answer is “time.” You can see it, but since it isn’t a physical object like a clock, you can’t touch it—that’s the trick.
What is in the middle of Hokkaido?
This is a question that those in the know will understand in an instant! Hokkaido is located at the northernmost part of the Japanese archipelago.
It’s known above all for its delicious food.
Ramen, seafood, and the classic souvenir Shiroi Koibito are things many of you have probably tried at least once.
Now, here’s the key to solving the puzzle: first, forget about trying to derive the answer from knowledge like geography or shipment volumes.
You don’t need any of that—if you can read the problem statement, you can answer it.
The hint is to focus on the characters in “Hokkaido” (北海道)!
The grandson played with a ball with his grandpa. What did they do?
The key to solving this puzzle is to think of a different way to say “ojīchan” (grandpa).
So, what word could you replace “ojīchan” with? If something immediately comes to mind, try connecting that word to a scene where he’s playing with his grandchild using a ball.
If you do that, the answer should naturally reveal itself.
If you know lots of ball games, you might also try thinking from the types of ball games.
The answer is a fairly mainstream ball sport, so you might have an “aha!” moment that leads you to the correct answer.