Elementary School Fun Day a Big Hit! Indoor Game Idea Collection
Here are some active indoor games that will get elementary school students excited at their fun party! Even on rainy days or in cold seasons, if you have games you can really enjoy in the classroom, everyone can have a great time together.
From relay-style games that build teamwork, to brain-teasers that get minds working, to physical activities that get everyone moving, we’ve gathered games the whole class can dive into while cooperating.
Preparation is simple, and they all use familiar materials, so there are plenty you can start right away—give them a try and have fun!
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Indoor games that get everyone moving (41–50)
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.
Gorilla Game
Let me introduce a game that will have your class roaring with laughter: the Gorilla Game.
Choose one child in the classroom, and have them answer every question from the questioner with the word “Gorilla.” For example, if the question is, “What did you eat for breakfast today?” the child answers, “Gorilla.” Of course, the questioner should react with a funny comeback to the “Gorilla” answer.
This back-and-forth will make the kids burst into laughter.
Make sure the final question sets up a punchline.
Also, the questioner’s reactions are key—add some facial expressions to make it even more exciting.
Say-and-Do Game
Let me introduce a game called “Follow What’s Said/Do the Opposite.” The teacher plays the role of the leader, and the students are the participants.
When the teacher says, “Say the same, do the same: right,” the students move to the right.
If the teacher says “left,” they move to the left in the same way.
Next, if the teacher says, “Say the same, do the opposite,” then when the teacher says “right,” the students should move to the left.
If the teacher says “forward,” they should move backward.
As you play, your brain might get confused and you may not be sure how to move.
Stay calm, think it through, and give it a try.
It’s also fun to speed it up as you go!
Trump Tower
A heart-pounding, nerve‑racking card tower where you carefully stack playing cards.
It’s great fun with a crowd using rules like “whoever knocks it down loses,” but you can also enjoy it solo with quiet tension.
Because you can focus entirely on your own world, it naturally nurtures concentration and dexterity.
Even if it collapses, if you don’t give up and try again, you’ll experience the joy of success—“I did it!” The more you find your own tricks and stack it higher, the more fun it becomes.
You can take it slow at your own pace, build confidence, and it’s a perfect recommendation for solo indoor play.
Shiritori Dance Game
This is a game that adds a movement element to the word-linking game shiritori, making the thinking process more complex.
The rule is to express the connected words with movements as well, so words that are hard to express through movement are out—that’s the challenging part.
While traditional shiritori proceeds with names of things, since this version emphasizes movement, it might work well to play using verbs.
It could also be fun to proceed rhythmically to music, or to have everyone present perform the movement whenever a word is called out.
Bomb Game
Children dash past, laughing, “Run for it!” That’s the thrilling scene of the Bomb Game.
Place mats for the start and finish, and if you make it across while dodging the rolling balls, you succeed.
The rules are simple, but by gradually increasing the balls’ speed, throwing in feints, or changing the timing, it stays fresh and exciting every time.
Each playthrough builds problem-solving—“How should I dodge?”—and trains not only physical ability but also reflexes and concentration.
It’s safe to play indoors, and the easy setup is another big plus.
6 Easy Indoor Activities You Can Enjoy
When rainy weather continues or the heat keeps you indoors, kids can’t move their bodies as much and may start to feel stressed.
Here are some recommended indoor activities that get them moving.
Try simple seated games like “Tonton Surisuri” or finger-play exercises to combine light gymnastics with brain training.
For example, with Tonton Surisuri, sit down and lightly pat one thigh with one hand while you make a fist with the other hand and rub the other thigh.
Doing two different actions at the same time is said to help build attention and provide brain-training benefits.
Give these easy exercises a try and have fun staying active indoors.