Crossing the River or 64 Squares (Requires 64 Sheets of paper, 4th grade up)
This game is a real challenge for adults and kids alike and is a team building game. Lay 64 sheets of paper on the ground, 8 x 8. Make up a story about why they have to cross this bridge, river, lava pit, etc. and why they cannot step on certain pages. (For instance, they need to cross a rushing river and there are rocks to step on but there are also turtles and alligators that look like rocks). Make a map with a path across. The rule is if a student steps on a bad piece they must go to the end of the line, everyone needs to watch to get across. The group wins when the whole class is across.
Ra-di-o (3rd grade up)
Students stand in a circle and take turns saying the syllables of the word radio. With the syllable ra they either put their left or right hand above their head, the person to the side of the raised hand says the next syllable, di and puts either his left or right hand under his chin and points. The person on the side he points to says o and points to anyone in the circle, and it continues. The people who mess up move to the outside and become hecklers, who are trying to distract the people inside the circle without touching or blocking them.
Mirror Image (2nd grade up)
Pair students and have them try and imitate the other’s movements as if a mirror.
Human Knot (3rd grade up, primary with supervision)
Standing in a circle, group members reach across and shake hands - use hand connecting to a different person.
The group then tries to unravel the "human knot" by unthreading their bodies without letting go of each other people's hands.
Group count-off (2nd grade up)
Count as a group to the number of students in the group without speaking anything besides the number. Rules:
• No gestures or speaking besides the next number.
• Adjacent people cannot say the next number.
• Everyone must participate.
• Group must count in consecutive order.
• If two people talk at the same time the group starts over.
Hot and Cold (2nd grade and below)
One volunteer is 'It' and leaves the room or play area.
The other students decide on an item for It to locate - a rock, a marker, a book.
When he or shee returns, everyone says "hotter" or "colder" as he gets closer or farther from the item until he locates it.
See who can find his or her item fastest.
Coseeki
One player leaves the group and stands where she/he cannot see the group. The group chooses a leader who does a movement, such as tapping his toe, which the others follow. The leader changes the movement regularly and the others follow the leader’s movement. The hidden player returns, stands in the middle of the circle, watches the movements and tries to guess who the leader is. The player in the middle has three chances to identify the leader. After the leader has been identified or the player in the middle has had three guesses, another leader and guesser are chosen to continue the game.
Silent Line Up (3rd grade up)
Ask students to line up by birthday without speaking. (Could do name alphabetically as a warm-up)
Category Snap (3rd grade up)
Everyone sits in a circle. Start a clap/pat/snap pattern that ends with a right hand finger snap then a left hand finger snap. Select a category. The first person says the category on their right hand then their selection on their left. The next person says the previous selection on their right then their selection on their left.
This Is a What? (Requires an object to pass)
Another game that seems simpler than it is. Have everyone sit in a circle. Pick up an object and tell the person next to you, “This is a marble.” He asks, “A what?” “A marble,” you answer. “A what?” he asks again. “A marble,” you say. “Oh, a marble,” he says. The pattern is now established. He then takes the marble and turns to the next person and starts the pattern. As the marble goes around, you start on the next object and the next object. Eventually there will be a lot of these conversations going on at once. The goal is to see how many objects you can pass around the circle.
Simon Says (K-1 teacher is the leader, 2nd up choose a student leader)
Around the World (Requires flash cards or a list of questions)
The Big Wind Blows
To set up the game, arrange several chairs facing inward into a medium sized circle. There should be one chair for each player, minus one. One person starts as the “Big Wind” in the center of the circle, with everyone else seated. The Big Wind raises both arms and spins around, while saying the following: “The Big Wind blows _____”. The blank must be filled with a true statement about himself or herself, such as “The Big Wind blows everyone who has been to Canada” or any other true fact. At this point, any of the players who share this characteristic (including the person who is currently the Big Wind) must stand up and quickly find a new seat. For each statement, no player is allowed to sit in the same seat or a seat directly adjacent to his or her previous seat. One person will be left without a seat. This person becomes the new “Big Wind” for the next round.
This game is especially interesting when players use unique, unexpected, or funny statements. For example, a player can say embarrassing statements such as, “Big Wind blows those who have gone without a shower for three days.” Have fun and remember the objective of the group game: to get to know each other better.
Silent Speedball (3rd up, requires a ball or “silent ball” with 2nd down)
Teacher is the only referee regarding bad passes and missed catches.
• Talking or making sounds is an out.
Missed catch or bad pass is an out. A “good” throw is within arm’s length of the intended catcher and does not include “fast balls” (model good throws for students)
Students that are out must remain quiet at their desks and not interfere with the game in any way Instructions:
No one can talk or make a sound; that is the object of the game
Students may stand by their desks or position students in any arrangement to facilitate tossing the ball to each other around the classroom
Make a good throw to a classmate; explain that students can not throw back to the person who threw to them.
If student misses the ball or makes a bad pass, student is out and must sit at his/her desk until the next round.
Play until all students are seated; last two are the champs!
Missed catch or bad pass is an out. A “good” throw is within arm’s length of the intended catcher and does not include “fast balls” (model good throws for students)
Students that are out must remain quiet at their desks and not interfere with the game in any way Instructions:
No one can talk or make a sound; that is the object of the game
Students may stand by their desks or position students in any arrangement to facilitate tossing the ball to each other around the classroom
Make a good throw to a classmate; explain that students can not throw back to the person who threw to them.
If student misses the ball or makes a bad pass, student is out and must sit at his/her desk until the next round.
Play until all students are seated; last two are the champs!
Freeze Game
Practice giving the direction “freeze,” ringing the bell, or other noisemaker by having students mill about the room and “freeze” safely on the appropriate signal.
More Games
Resources
Denton, P. The First Six Weeks of School. (2000). The Northwest Foundation for Children.
More Games
Resources
Denton, P. The First Six Weeks of School. (2000). The Northwest Foundation for Children.
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