The announcement of ‘indoor recess’ sends a collective groan through the teacher’s lounge. While we don’t experience snow days where I live, extreme heat or unexpected wildlife sightings often force us indoors. Regardless of the reason, indoor recess can be a challenge. To help you prepare, I’ve compiled a list of easy and engaging activities to keep your students active and entertained when the weather or circumstances require it.
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Indoor Recess Idea #1 – GoNoodle
GoNoodle is an excellent choice for indoor recess. I highly recommend it because it effectively engages students with interactive videos that combine movement and learning. This makes it a fantastic way to help children expend energy and stay active while indoors. With a vast library of videos to choose from, GoNoodle offers a simple and enjoyable solution for keeping students entertained and engaged during unexpected indoor recess periods.
Indoor Recess Idea #2 – Beblox
Beblox are a fantastic and engaging tool that your students will adore. These interactive blocks foster collaboration among students, encouraging them to work together to solve problems and develop a growth mindset. By allowing students to creatively construct and build, Beblox ignite their imaginations and provide an ideal activity for keeping them engaged and entertained during indoor recess.
Indoor Recess Idea #3 – Magnetic Tiles
Magnetic tiles, available in an array of shapes, colors, and sizes, offer a fantastic way for students to unleash their creativity and imagination. These versatile building blocks captivate students of all ages and provide the perfect interactive activity for those rainy-day recesses, keeping them engaged and entertained while fostering their problem-solving and spatial reasoning skills.
Indoor Recess Idea #4 – Craft Area
Good old-fashioned arts and crafts remain a timeless and effective way to keep students engaged during indoor recess. Simply gather some basic supplies like paper, crayons, scissors, and glue, and let their creativity flow! Students can enjoy making cards, books, pictures, or anything their imaginations can conjure. This is also a fantastic opportunity to declutter your craft supplies by incorporating those leftover stickers, construction paper scraps, and other miscellaneous items you may have accumulated.
Indoor Recess Idea #5 – Storyline Online
Storyline Online is an exceptional website that features beloved children’s books read aloud by celebrated actors. The selection of books is truly impressive, and it’s always exciting to discover which celebrity will be the next guest reader. With a diverse library of titles, Storyline Online allows you to easily search for books by their reading time, making it simple to find the perfect length for your indoor recess period.
Indoor Recess Idea #6 – Mini Hashtag Blocks
These mini hashtag blocks from the Target Bullseye Playground are consistently a hit with my students. They love using them to creatively construct letters, 3D shapes, buildings, and more! Available in a variety of colors, these versatile blocks are not only engaging but also budget-friendly, costing only $1 for 72 pieces.
Indoor Recess Idea #7 – TomYou Building Blocks
The TomYou interlocking blocks are another fantastic option for engaging students during indoor recess. This set boasts 200 brightly colored blocks, providing endless possibilities for creative construction. Students can build shapes, vehicles, bracelets, letters, and much more, while simultaneously developing their fine motor skills and imagination.
Indoor Recess Idea #8 – Heads Up 7 Up
Heads Up 7 Up is a classic and engaging game perfect for inside recess. To play, select seven students to be “pickers.” The remaining students sit at their desks with their heads down and their thumbs raised. The teacher announces, “Heads down, thumbs up!” The seven pickers then quietly tap the thumb of one student each. Once all seven have chosen, the teacher calls out, “Heads up, 7 up!” The seven students whose thumbs were tapped stand up and try to guess which picker touched them. If a student guesses correctly, they switch places with the picker. If they guess incorrectly, they return to their seats.
Indoor Recess Idea #9 – Building Chips
PicassoTiles Building Chips provide an excellent platform for creative expression during indoor recess. These versatile building blocks allow students to work independently, in pairs, or in small groups to construct anything their imaginations can conjure. The tiles easily click together, offering endless possibilities for building and fostering collaboration while providing a refreshing screen-free activity.
Indoor Recess Idea #10 – Playdoh
Play-Doh is a timeless favorite among children, and inside recess provides the perfect opportunity to unleash their creativity. With its endless possibilities, Play-Doh offers a simple yet engaging activity that can keep students entertained for hours. From molding basic shapes to creating intricate masterpieces, the versatility of Play-Doh, combined with the array of fun tools available, makes it an ideal choice for indoor recess.
I hope these ideas spark your creativity and help you make the most of indoor recess. Remember, the goal is to keep students engaged and having fun, even when the weather or circumstances keep us indoors. So, gather your materials, get those creative juices flowing, and enjoy some unexpected indoor playtime!
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