[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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Team Competition & Cooperative Recreation Games (21–30)
Hana Ichi Monme
This is “Hana Ichi Monme,” a game played by splitting into two teams while singing a song.
When you finish singing up to the part that goes, “Let’s talk it over, yes, let’s do that,” each team discusses which player on the other team they want.
Then both teams announce the person they want, and the chosen players play rock–paper–scissors.
The loser joins the opposing team.
This is repeated, and the team that ends up with only one person at the end loses.
Blindfolded stepping game
Here’s a fun, space-saving, and not-too-noisy activity I recommend: the “Blindfolded March-in-Place Game.” Put on a blindfold using a bandana or towel, then march in place for a set number of steps—about 50 is ideal.
Even though you’re supposed to be marching in the same spot, when you take off the blindfold… well, you’ll see.
By the way, this might sound unrelated to kids, but if your final position is rotated by 45 degrees or more and shifted by 75 cm or more from where you started, it could indicate a possible silent stroke.
It might be a good idea to try it together as a family as a health check.
Team Competition & Cooperative Recreation Games (31–40)
7 park games kids can play without equipment
Park games that everyone from small children to adults can enjoy together without any preparation are great because they can be played with whoever happens to be there.
Hopscotch, hand-pushing sumo, number games, playing house, shadow play, and drawing are all familiar activities that don’t require any equipment.
You can also use natural materials like pebbles and sticks, which makes it easy to invent games and come up with original rules with friends.
Let’s make the most of the wide-open space of the park and have fun moving our whole bodies with games that can only be enjoyed in such a setting.
3 fingerplay activities that engage first graders
The first is the classic “after-the-fact Rock-Paper-Scissors.” The leader says “Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!” and throws rock, scissors, or paper.
Participants watch and then play after the leader, aiming to win.
The second is a game called “Pachi-Pachi.” You clap only when the leader’s hands overlap.
Adding feints makes it more exciting.
The third is a game called “How Many Fingers?” The leader quickly shows a number with their fingers, then hides their hands behind their back.
Participants answer the number the leader showed.
Finger Suma: Fun Anywhere
Finger Suma, a game that tests your split-second judgment and reflexes, can be enjoyed by a wide range of ages—from elementary school children to seniors.
First, use rock-paper-scissors to decide who will call the number.
The caller predicts how many thumbs will be raised and says, “Issē no [number]!” At the moment of the call, participants decide whether to raise their thumb or not and act accordingly.
If the called number matches the actual total number of raised thumbs, the caller succeeds and may pull back one of their hands.
If it doesn’t match, the turn passes to the next person in order.
The person who remains to the end loses.
Keeping a straight face throughout the game is also a key point.
Clap-Clap Game
Let me introduce the Clap-Clap Game that always gets the class excited.
The rules are simple: the leader moves both hands, and the participants watch the leader’s movements and clap their hands exactly when the leader’s hands overlap.
It’s a game where you enjoy clapping in sync with the timing.
Carefully observe the leader’s movements and match your timing.
It’s also important for the leader to be creative with their motions to make the game more exciting.
Even if someone claps at the wrong time, it turns into laughter and makes the game even more fun.
5 super fun activities
We’ll be introducing five activities: “Irregular Play,” “Swirly Tail Chase,” “Receive & Catch,” “Ball Rolling Play,” and “Cross Rubber Jump Tail Chase.” They mainly use a ball—putting it into a basket, catching it, and combining movements like hopscotch and forward rolls to get the body moving.
In “Swirly Tail Chase,” attach a jump rope instead of a string and run away from the tagger, changing directions between clockwise and counterclockwise.
For “Cross Rubber Jump Tail Chase,” stretch elastic bands across the room and escape from the tagger while jumping over the bands.