[Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
Lively, fun recreation games that get elementary school kids excited! Whether in the classroom or the gym, there are plenty of activities that bring smiles to everyone’s faces.
Here, we’ll introduce fun ideas ranging from team-versus-team cooperative games and brain-teasing hiragana quizzes to active ball tag—everything from no-equipment options to games you can enjoy with simple prep.
These games help deepen friendships and reveal new sides of each other, so be sure to enjoy your time with friends through play!
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Rock–paper–scissors and its variant games (11–20)
Don-pappa
This is a game derived from rock-paper-scissors.
Players throw their hands in time with a chant and continue until they get a tie; at the moment a tie occurs, the player who shouts the predetermined phrase first wins.
The name and the chant vary by region, so it can be fun to compare them.
Evolution Rock-Paper-Scissors
Simple yet exciting! Here’s an idea for “Evolution Rock-Paper-Scissors.” If just deciding winners and losers with rock-paper-scissors feels boring, this is a great idea for elementary school students.
You start as a cockroach and, as you play, evolve into a frog, a rabbit, a monkey, and then a human.
The key points are to only play rock-paper-scissors against others in the same evolutionary stage, and to act out the poses and movements of each creature.
Once everyone gets the hang of it, it could be fun to come up with new creatures to evolve into together with the kids.
Psychological rock-paper-scissors
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A new kind of invisible rock-paper-scissors! Introducing the idea for “Psychological Rock-Paper-Scissors.” In this game, you face each other with a wall between you so neither can see the other’s hand.
While talking—saying things like “I’m throwing ___” or “Are you throwing ___?”—try to guess what your opponent is putting out.
Until the time limit is up, you can change your hand as much as you like.
When time’s up, who will be winning? It’s a thrilling, heart-pounding way to play.
Rock–paper–scissors game using newspaper
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♪ Original song – toiro After-school Day – toiro After-school Day
Play while visualizing wins and losses! Here’s an idea for a rock-paper-scissors game using newspaper.
When you’re playing rock-paper-scissors, you sometimes wonder how everyone else is doing, right? This time, how about using newspaper to make the results visible as you play? Adding actions beyond just rock-paper-scissors can also boost children’s interest in the game.
The rules are simple: stand on a spread-out sheet of newspaper, and each time you lose, fold the newspaper smaller.
Imagining it as a boat floating on the sea or a bridge over a mountain can make it even more exciting!
ladder rock-paper-scissors
This is “ladder rock-paper-scissors,” where both teams start from opposite ends of a ladder and play rock-paper-scissors when they meet.
The loser goes back to the end of their team’s line, while the winner continues forward to face the next opponent, aiming to reach the other team’s starting point.
The team that reaches the opponent’s starting point first wins.
If you don’t have a ladder, you can make one on the floor with masking tape.
Cooperative Rock-Paper-Scissors Activity
Enjoy these during short breaks or free time! Here are some ideas for cooperative rock-paper-scissors activities.
Rock-paper-scissors is usually associated with deciding a winner and a loser, right? This time, let’s try some unique games using cooperative rock-paper-scissors.
In the video, the games “Rock-Paper-Scissors Pyramid” and “Queen of Scissors” are introduced.
Both are team-based games for children, so they’re great to use when you want to strengthen relationships within a class or group.
Tamaire Hoop Rock-Paper-Scissors
Using items makes it even more exciting! Here’s an idea for a Ball-Toss Hoop Rock-Paper-Scissors game.
When you hear “ball toss,” many people probably think of the equipment used at sports days.
This time, let’s try a version you can easily set up indoors.
All you need are some colored balls and small hula hoops.
As an introduction to the game, it’s a good idea to first give players time to freely toss balls into the hoops.
Ultimately, the activity evolves so that the person who wins rock-paper-scissors within each group gets the role of throwing the balls into the hoop.
Feel free to adapt and arrange the game as you like.