Indoor and outdoor activities that avoid crowding. Enjoyable for students from first to sixth grade.
Some of you may be looking for games that can be played while maintaining social distance as a way to prevent colds and protect against viruses.
Games that can be played without close contact—such as ones that involve “minimal talking” or “keeping children from getting too close to each other”—are ideal.
In this article, we’ll introduce games that elementary school students from first to sixth grade can enjoy.
We’ve picked a wide range of themes, from activities that can be played in the classroom to ones that let kids move their bodies outdoors.
Try setting different rules for lower and upper grades and give them a go!
Indoor and outdoor activities that avoid crowding. Enjoyable for grades 1 through 6 (1–10)
Rule Game
Would you like to try a rule-based game that you can enjoy as brain training? The questioner says, “This is 1,” and shows a hand with one finger raised.
In the same way, they show a hand with two fingers raised while saying, “This is 2,” and a hand with three fingers raised while saying, “This is 3.” Then they show a hand with four fingers raised and say, “What is this?” You might answer “4,” but that’s actually wrong.
The correct answer is “1.” There’s a rule: when they say “kore ga,” it’s 1; when they say “kore wa,” it’s 2; and when they say just “kore,” it’s 3.
Newspaper Island
Newspaper Island is a game you can play with a large group while avoiding crowding.
All you need is a newspaper.
How to play: First, spread out a sheet of newspaper and stand on it.
Then choose one person to be “it,” and everyone plays rock-paper-scissors against that person.
Anyone who loses must fold their newspaper in half.
As you repeat this, the newspaper gets smaller and smaller, and some people won’t be able to stand on it anymore.
The last person who can still stand on their newspaper wins.
It’s a thrilling game that’s sure to get everyone excited!
Jump Marionette
When you feel like moving your body, Jump Marionette is perfect.
In this activity, you jump while opening and closing your arms like a marionette.
Try adjusting the difficulty by separating the up-and-down motions or speeding up the rhythm.
Just setting your hands to a duple meter and your feet to a triple meter makes it quite complex.
Working on this game can also help improve your jumping ability.
Plus, since everyone performs the same movements together, the sense of unity is another big draw.
Speaking of 〇〇, games.
It’s a “When you think of OO” game where everyone tries to match answers.
Many YouTubers have done it as a企画, so lots of people may already know it.
Here’s how to play.
First, choose one person in the group to be the questioner.
The questioner asks a prompt in the form of “When you think of OO…”.
If all participants give the same answer to the prompt, you succeed.
Share hints through conversation so your answers line up.
As long as you don’t say the actual answer, you won’t be breaking the rules—use your conversational skills to guide everyone to the correct answer!
Rhythm clapping
It’s a game where you follow the rhythm by doing the clapping “pan” movement and the stopping-the-body “un” movement while watching a model.
We recommend first watching the example to grasp the overall flow, then trying the movements in time with the rhythm.
Once you’re used to the normal tempo, gradually increase the speed so participants focus on quicker movements.
It’s important to pick a variety of songs—from familiar nursery rhymes to popular tracks—so everyone can really get into the rhythm.
Solo partner acrobatics
Group gymnastics often conjures images of crowded formations.
This idea is for a “solo technique group gymnastics” routine performed individually.
Start by trying simple movements like balancing on one leg.
Once you get used to it, add actions such as leaning your body forward.
If everyone in a line performs this, you can create a sense of unity like group gymnastics without actually forming groups.
Other movements include the V-hold and the bridge.
If you want to make it look even better, pay attention to synchronizing the timing of the movements.
Treasures Scattered Throughout the School Building
Let me introduce a non-crowding, campus-wide mystery-solving kit called “Treasures Scattered Around the School.” It’s a product sold by Akazuno Hako, a company known for escape games.
Players form teams of four and explore the school building while solving puzzles.
The kit is designed to prevent crowding, with measures such as not having multiple people use the same item and avoiding gatherings in one place.
By the way, kits are available for groups ranging from 50 up to 800 participants.
For more details, please check the official website.
Quick clapping game
A quick clapping game that everyone can enjoy in a large group.
First, split into teams and form big circles.
You can also make one big circle as a whole class.
At the start signal, one person claps.
Then the next person claps, passing it along around the circle.
The circle in which everyone has clapped the fastest wins.
If there are multiple circles and it’s hard to see who finished first, it’s a good idea to time each group.
Playing this game can also help improve listening skills.
Badminton Through the Ages and Across the World
Introducing Kokon Tozai Badminton, a game that engages both body and mind.
First, let’s touch on the “Kokon Tozai Game.” In this game, players take turns answering based on a chosen theme, and the person who gets stuck loses.
Classic themes include things like “animal names” or “stations on the Yamanote Line.” Kokon Tozai Badminton is simply playing this game while playing badminton.
You must answer at the moment you hit the shuttle, so the faster you return it, the more you can pressure your opponent.
Let’s start by choosing a theme.
Signaling Game
The signal game is a game where you move in ways that match the teacher’s or leader’s instructions.
The way to play is to give directions based on traffic rules.
When the teacher or leader says a color, move accordingly.
For “blue,” march in place with one step; for “yellow,” move your head to look around as if watching passing cars; and for “red,” squat down on the spot.
It’s a game where everyone can have fun while learning traffic rules!