INDOOR RECESS ... 2 words that strike fear into the hearts of teachers everywhere. Luckily, I have 10 activities and games that will keep your classroom from sounding like someone let the monkeys out of the zoo. Use these great activity ideas to keep you sane, your students entertained, and best of all students ready to learn in the next lesson!
1. How to Draw Corner
Totally independent and perfect for encouraging calm vibes in your room, how to draw pages are perfect for indoor recess. Simply print some out and file them in a plastic pocket binder, pop them out on a table with pencils and paper. Website: https://howtodrawforkids.com/ has a great selection of simple drawing instructions that are easy to download and print.
2. Puzzles
There is something wonderful about puzzles that encourages teamwork, collaboration and communication among students. This classic mindful past time will have students learning and relaxing at the same time. Usborne has a wonderful selection of fantastically priced jigsaws available from their website and Amazon. The illustrations are delightfully colorful and I find 100 pieces to be perfect for 1st Grade students.
3. Coloring Pages
There always the kids who want nothing more than to zen with a coloring page during indoor recess. Luckily, this is one of the easiest activities to set up thanks to some beautiful and FREE coloring sheets available on TPT. There is a huge selection of free resources on TPT so you can even change up the coloring sheets depending on the seasons and holidays.
4. Fun Books
Want something that will last your students a little longer than just recess? Fun books are a fantastic way to keep students entertained for long periods of time. These fun books available on my TPT store are packed full of literacy and numeracy based activities that are engaging and able to be independently completed. You can purchase them individually or in a great value year long bundle by clicking the picture below:
5. Board Games
You can go wrong with a carefully curated collection of board games. Just be mindful of something I have learned the hard way through years of teaching - think about the noise and excitement level each game is going to produce. If calm vibes are what you're after, think twice about that game of Jenga! Target has a great selection of well priced board games your students will love.
6. Mystery Pictures
It doesn't matter the weather, some students just love to learn and want nothing more than to chill with a worksheet. My mystery pictures are perfect for students who need a little during wet day timetable. I have a selection that covers every season and holiday for the year - a fun way to practice their place value knowledge!
7. Kinetic Sand
Bring the sandpit inside with kinetic sand - this sounds like a terrible idea if you don't have the correct set up! Be sure to provide trays for students to keep their sand in one place (and off the floor). There are a bunch of really fun kits available beyond just sand that will encourage your students' creativity.
8. Where's Wally?
A throwback to most of our childhoods with Where's Wally books. These books are fun and engaging, and students love to make it a competition who can find Wally first. Where's Wally books are sold in many book stores and online.
9. Play-dough
A timeless classic among all students, play-dough is a winner for wet day timetable. Be sure to set out some ground rules for play-dough including not mixing the colors together to avoid multiple tubs of brown dough that loses its appeal pretty quickly! Play-dough is widely available at many stores including Target which also sell cute themed sets.
10. Go Noodle
We all have those students who need to move during their recess and lunch breaks. Luckily this list has something for absolutely everyone: Go Noodle is a fantastic way to encourage your active students to get the wiggles out of their system. There is a tonne of research that shows kids need to move in order to learn so don't shy away from this fantastic opportunity to harness the energy into some fun dancing!
