When the weather is nasty and the gym is off limits, what's a teacher to do? Indoor recess is not ideal, but you can still salvage the fun if you get creative. Having some games and activities up your sleeve can save your sanity when the weather does not cooperate. Here are some great ideas that can be used with minimal supplies.
1. Silent Speed Ball
Use a foam ball for this one. Count down from 10 to 0 and everyone must be in a different spot in the classroom. They should not be hidden behind something. They cannot talk at all during the game or they are out. In this game, students must always keep one foot in its original place. They can move one foot and put it back and then can move the other. If they move out of their place, they are out. The ball is given to one student who will attempt to throw it at another student. If it hits the other student, that student sits down where they are, and they are out. If the student misses, the student who throws the ball is out and must sit down. If the student throws the ball and the other student catches it, the student who threw it is out. So with each throw someone will get out. The student who ends up with the ball will throw it at another player and continue to do this until one one player is standing. If needed, a student may move from their spot to retrieve the ball and then return to their spot where play continues. Students who are sitting down may try to get another player to talk to them, getting them out. Last player still standing wins.
2. Four Corners
Number each corner from one to four (you can just do this verbally and do not need a sign). One person will be it and will close their eyes. They will count from 10 to zero. As the student is counting down, the other players must find a corner to stand in. If they are not in a corner by the time zero is reached, they will be out. The "it" will call out a number from 1-4 and whichever corner is called out, those players in that corner are out and must return to their seats. Continue recounting and playing until four players are left. At that time, announce that each player must be in a separate corner. If a corner is empty at any time, announce it for the "it" so they do not call that corner. This will help each round to go faster by getting someone out. When one player is left, they are the winner and the next "it."
3. Heads Up 7 Up
Choose 7 students to be it. For small classes, you can choose less. Everyone else will put their heads on their desks and their thumbs up. The students who have been chosen to be it will each go and tap one person, but they should each tap a different person. Any player who has their thumb up, and gets tapped, must put their thumb down as a signal that they have already been tapped. As players are finished tapping, they will come to the front of the class. Once all the students who are it at are the front, announce, "Head's up seven up!" The other players will lift their heads and stand up if they were tapped. They will take turns guessing who tapped them. The players who are it will not say yes or no. After everyone guesses, allow the players who are it to reveal who they tapped one at a time. If anyone guesses correctly, they can switch places with the player who is it for the next round.
4. Charades
Charades are always fun. You can do any type of Charade you choose, but here's some ideas to get you started:
animals, students, popular shows, or Bible stories (Christian schools)
5. Simon Says
One person is Simon. They will call out things such as, Touch your nose. Stand on one foot, etc. If they say, "Simon says Touch your nose," everyone should do it, or they are out. If they give a direction without saying, "Simon says," the other players should avoid doing it, or they are out.
6. Guess My object (Mystery Bag)
One student will place an item inside a bag. The student will give clues to their classmates about the object. Students will make guesses about what is inside. I would suggest giving a certain amount of guesses like 10 or 20. If no one guesses it in that amount of time, the student will reveal what their item was and choose another player to go next. If someone guesses the item, they will be the next player to go.
7. What Changed
One student will be chosen to be it. They will slowly spin around in front of the class to allow the other students to look at them. Then the student will step out of the classroom. They will change one thing about themselves. For example, they may roll down one sock, lift up their collar, or part their hair differently. When they come back inside the classroom, they will again slowly turn around to allow the others to try to figure out what changed. Students should raise their hands to guess what changed. If they guess correctly, they are the next one to be it.
8. Higher Lower
One person will choose a number from one to 100. Students try to guess the number as quickly as possible. Students will ask questions like is it higher than 40? Or is it lower than 20? Keep taking guesses until someone figures out the number. Whoever figures it out first is the next person to choose a number for the others to guess.
9. Stations building, puzzles, etc.
Some fun things to add to this station are things like Magna Tiles, Play-Doh, and 100 piece puzzles.
10. Board Games
Find some fun board games like Sorry, Checkers, or Candyland. You can find cheap ones at thrift stores like Goodwill.
11. Hot potato
You can use a ball to play this game. Students sit in a circle and pass the ball to the person on their left. Continue passing the ball while students chant, "Hot potato, hot potato, who has the hot potato? If you have the hot potato, you are O-U-T, out!" At that point, whoever has the ball is out. They slide out of the circle and play continues with the chant again. Continue until only one player is left. They are the winner.
12. I-Spy
One player will look around the classroom and mentally take note of one item. They will say, "I spy with my little eye something...." (and will give a clue such as "blue"). Other students will guess until someone figures it out. They will become the next it.
13. Cup Stacking Challenge
Get a stack of cups. Allow students to build towers with them. They could divide into two teams and race to add some more fun.
14. Whiteboard Games
Games such as Pictionary (drawing pictures of certain objects for others to guess) or Hangman can be a lot of fun in teams or a large group.
15. Directed Drawing
Here's one more fun one! If you have students who love to draw, turn on some directed drawings and let them follow along as a master artist shows step-by-step how to draw some amazing pictures. My favorite place to look is Art for Kids Hub. I use this sometimes for class art projects.
If you have any additional ideas for indoor recess, comment below.
