15 Fun Indoor Recess Ideas - Around the Kampfire

Indoor recess can be a teacher’s worst nightmare. The kids are disappointed, and you are stuck inside with a classroom full of students who need to run and play. By having a few tricks up your sleeve, you can limit the disappointment (both yours and your students) and get some energy out.

Here are my favorite indoor recess ideas that your class will soon look forward to!

Indoor recess ideas for kids playing games.

Indoor Recess Ideas for Elementary Classrooms

Whether you are stuck inside for a below-freezing day, a storm, or a too-hot day (in my case, in Arizona), these 14 indoor recess ideas will brighten the mood!

1. Board Games

Take some time at the beginning of the year to introduce a few favorite board games. This way, when an indoor recess happens, your students will know exactly how to play and look forward to doing so.

Some favorites in my class include Checkers, Connect Four, Jenga, and Uno. All of these games are easy to store and simple to learn.

2. How to Draw

If you have a classroom full of artists, they will love to do a “how-to draw”. The Art For Kids Hub on YouTube has the best videos that are easy to follow and lead to great final products! Then, your students can spend the rest of the time coloring their masterpieces!

3. GoNoodle

GoNoodle is a favorite for brain breaks in elementary classrooms, but they also have full indoor recess videos! Most of them are 15 minutes long and include a variety of different games, dances, and movements.

4. Silent Ball

I remember playing silent ball when I was in elementary school and thinking it was the coolest thing ever. All you need is a soft ball and room to form a circle. Then, students just pass the ball to each other, and the last person to talk or drop it is the winner.

5. Yoga

If you need a few moments of zen during indoor recess, try yoga! There are many different videos that teach yoga to kids on YouTube, or get creative and teach it yourself! My students love switching off who is the yoga instructor. They come up with some funny moves!

6. Whiteboard games

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, whiteboards are my favorite versatile classroom tool! They are great for whole group quick checks, small group instruction, and can also be fun to use during indoor recesses!

Students can play tic-tac-toe, hangman, or color. I will even bring out my special colorful expo markers during these days!

7. Charades

Charades is a classic game that’s perfect for keeping kids entertained during indoor recess. Just divide the class into teams, write a few topics on slips of paper, and have students take turns acting them out while their teammates guess.

To make it even more fun, choose a theme and let students create their own cards to add to the mix. Some fun theme ideas include holidays, famous people, animals, or TV shows.

Indoor recess ideas with kids playing charades.

8. Simon Says

Another classic, Simon Says, is the perfect filler activity. If you have a spare 5 or 10 minutes to kill, I always start up a game of Simon Says. If you have more time, you could have the students switch off as to who is Simon.

9. Puzzles

Puzzles are always hit or miss, depending on the year. But if you have a puzzle-loving class, puzzles are a great way to spend an indoor recess. Some years, I will even have a puzzle tournament. Students love working with a partner to finish their puzzle first.

Indoor recess ideas and magnetic letters game.

10. Heads Up Seven Up

In addition to Silent Ball, we also played A LOT of Heads Up Seven Up when I was in school. I’ve carried out the tradition to allow my students to play as well! It’s a quiet yet engaging game that will keep your students entertained all recess.

To play, you choose 7 students to be “it”. They will stand up front while the rest of the class puts their heads down with their thumbs up. The 7 will walk around and (as quietly and sneakily as possible) touch another studnets thumb.

When all 7 have finished, someone will say “Heads Up Seven Up”. Whoever had their thumb touched will get to guess who did it. If they guess right, they change spots with that person.

Indoor recess ideas kids playing thumbs up.

11. MakerSpace

Having uninterrupted MakerSpace time in the classroom is rare. However, it’s always a favorite in my class. During a MakerSpace recess, I will put out cardboard, cups, tape, straws, popsicle sticks, etc., and allow my students to get creative. I’m always amazed by what they create!

12. Telephone

If you are looking for a quiet and hilarious game, introduce your kiddos to Telephone. I like to divide my class into 2 groups (less wait time) and then have 2 separate games going.

If you aren’t familiar with the game of Telephone, one person will start with a message. They will then whisper it into the next person’s ear. The message continues down the line/circle until it reaches the last person. The last person will then share the message out loud. Get ready for some giggles when they hear how much it changes!

13. STEM

Similar to MakerSpace time, a STEM indoor recess may be a bit more teacher-directed but still allow for creativity. With similar supplies, you can give your students a challenge to solve (ex, build a bridge, design a house, make a trap, etc.). They will then work as a team to solve the problem.

14. Science Toolsky

Science is my favorite subject to teach, so I always have a well-stocked science supply closet. On occasion, I will take out some of these science tools to allow for free exploration during indoor recess. My students especially like exploring with the magnifying glasses, magnets, and STEM kits.

Girls looking through magnifying lenses at school.

Indoor Recess Wishlist

To make your life a bit easier, I’ve compiled all of my favorite indoor recess items into this wishlist. Better yet? It all can be purchased right on Amazon, so no need to leave your house on your precious nights or weekends!