Tired of staying still? Play some games and get your body moving.
Tag
Players decide who is going to be “it” first. The player selected to be "it" then chases the others, attempting to "tag" one of them (by touching them with a hand) as the others try to avoid being tagged.
Freeze Tag
Follow the rules above. However, if a player is tagged, they become frozen (i.e. must stand still). If two players tag each other at the same time, both players become frozen. To free a frozen player, any player may tap in that player's hand.
Eraser Tag
To play, one student writes the name of another student on the whiteboard. The student whose name has been added must get to the board, erase their name and catch the writer before the writer makes runs around the classroom and back to the board!
Capture the Flag
Create two teams and two designated areas. Each team will place their respective flags in their area. It can be hard to find but not hidden. Once the game starts, players can cross into the other team’s territory to steal their flag. If in an opposing area, if they are tagged, they are sent to a designated jail. Players in jail cannot leave jail until they are tagged by a player on their own team (thereby freeing them from jail). The game ends when one person steals the flag from their opponent and brings it back to their territory without being tagged.
Silent Ball
Arrange students in a loose circle around the classroom. Provide a soft ball that they can throw around without anyone being hurt or anything being damaged. Set your timer and let them know the goal is to throw the ball back and forth without saying a single word. If anyone talks or drops the ball, they’re out! The winners are the students left standing when your timer goes off.
Tic-Tac-Toe, Hopscotch, or Four-square (with Masking Tape)
Use masking tape to map out your own tic-tac-toe board, hopscotch, or four-square game on the floor of your classroom. You can even challenge students to follow the tape via crab walk, hopping, walking backward, etc.
Hot Potato
Hot potato is a game that involves players gathering in a circle and tossing a small object such as a beanbag or even a real potato to each other while music plays. The player who is holding the object when the music stops is eliminated. The winner is the last one left.
Musical Chairs
Have kids set up chairs in a circle in the middle of the room (one less than the number of kids) and turn on some fun music. When the music stops, everyone has to sit in one of the chairs as quickly as possible. The student left without a chair will stand aside for the next round. The last person left wins.
Bob Ball
To play, one student writes the name of another student on the whiteboard. The student whose name has been added must get to the board, erase their name and catch the writer before the writer makes runs around the classroom and back to the board!
Balloon Volleyball
Stand in a circle and toss in a blown-up balloon. The game’s purpose is for the balloon to stay in the air and not touch the ground.
Recreational Sports
Kickball, basketball, soccer, and running are all good activities to do at recess.
Jump Rope
Have a jump roping competition to see who can jump rope the longest.
Hula Hoop Circle
Have students stand in a circle around the classroom and hold hands. The total is to pass a hula hoop around the circle without letting go of one another’s hands. Students have to move their bodies to keep the hula hoop moving.
Hula Hoop Wars
Divide groups into two teams. Teams form a line and face off, with the leader of one team’s line directly facing the leader of the other teams’ line. One player from each team steps forward, each with a hula hoop. At the whistle, they start to hula. The player that drops the hula hoop first is out and the one that went the longest goes to the back of their line. Play continues until one side has no players left.
Basic Hula Hoop
Let the kids hula hoop to music or see who can hula hoop the longest. Find music on YouTube.
Mirror Dance
The Mirror Dance is a fun activity that requires focus, teamwork, and works best in pairs of two. Children will face each other and take turns being the “leader”. As you play music, the leader will make up moves that their partner will try to replicate at the same time. It is best to dance to slower songs, as it will be easier to follow along. As children get the hang of the activity, their dances will appear to mirror each other as they copy each other’s movements.
Freeze Dance
Start by playing some music for students to dance and move around to. Then, at a random moment, pause the music. Everyone must stop dancing and stay as still as possible. Give it a few moments and then play the music where you left off. When the music starts again, everyone can go back to dancing!
Free Dance
What’s more fun than a dance party? Fun some good music and let your class dance.