There’s never a dull moment with 10-year-olds; they’re full of energy and always on the move. However, if you don’t have activities ready to go, they can get restless, and that’s when trouble starts and you find yourself trying to think up things to keep them amused. We’ve got you covered and have pulled together an amazing list of all kinds of activities from educational explorations to fantastically fun games. Why not work your way through this list of exciting activities with 10-year-olds? You can thank us later!
1. Brainteasers
Brainteasers are great for anyone but are especially great for your 10-year-old students. They’re a brilliant way to keep them busy for hours on end, and you can even join in with them! Not only will they bring a moment of calm as their minds work away, but these puzzles also help them to work on their critical thinking skills!
Learn More: Picklebums
2. Make a Map
Have your kiddos create their very own map! Let them map out whatever they want; it could be the classroom, the school grounds, or their route to school! This activity is the perfect way to let them get creative as they enjoy drawing and coloring all the different areas. You could also then use these in a math lesson about directions and compass points!
Learn More: Picklebums
3. Visit Local Farms
It’s hard to find a kid who doesn’t know the song about Old MacDonald’s farm, but have any of them ever been to a real-life farm? This field trip is a great educational experience and a lot of fun for everyone involved! Local farmers might give them a behind-the-scenes look at life on the farm and sometimes on certain farms, you can even pick your own fruit!
Learn More: Play Learn Thrive
4. Go Camping
If you are up for a bigger adventure (and if you’re brave enough!) you could take your class camping! Teach them how to set up a tent, forage for firewood, and appreciate the great outdoors. They’ll love sitting around the campfire exchanging stories and making s’mores!
Learn More: Play Learn Thrive
5. Laundry Basket Toss
We bet that your kids can be occupied with anything that feels remotely competitive and that’s why a simple laundry basket toss is the perfect game! Set up a couple of laundry baskets and give them bean bags, balls, or even soft toys, and have them compete in teams to see which team can get the most items into their basket.
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6. DIY Mini Golf
If a field trip is off the cards, have your kids create their very own mini-golf course on school grounds. Get creative and encourage them to use materials like recycled cans or boxes, LEGO, and pool noodles to create a challenging course that they’ll need to guide a ball around!
7. Make an Indoor Clubhouse
Add a bit of magic to your school or classroom by getting your kiddies involved in making an indoor clubhouse. They can use cardboard boxes, blankets, pillows, and bedsheets to create a cozy secret room that’s just for them; no adults allowed! It’s the perfect place for them to relax with a book or hang out with friends!
Learn More: The Art of Simple
8. Puppet Show
Making puppets is super fun and very easy! With a few simple craft materials like pipe cleaners, googly eyes, and pom poms, you can make them out of paper bags or socks. Take this fun craft a step further by creating a puppet theater and letting your kids come up with a compelling storyline and put on a fun play.
Learn More: The Art of Simple
9. Indoor Obstacle Course
There’s nothing worse than a rainy day that keeps your students inside at recess. Get your kiddos to burn off all that extra energy with an indoor obstacle course. With a little imagination, you can set this up in so many ways, using the most simple materials. After an hour of jumping, crawling, running, and more, their weather blues will be long forgotten!
Learn More: YouTube
10. Write a Letter
Fixing your learners up with a pen pal is a fantastic way to improve their social skills and their functional writing in the process! They’ll get excited every time they receive mail from their new friend and be counting down the hours until their next writing session where they can pen their response.
Learn More: Pathways
11. Head to the Beach
If you have a beach nearby, it can make for a fantastic field trip. It’s the perfect spot to take your kiddies to learn more about the environment; from exploring the wildlife present to doing a beach clean, the possibilities are endless. You could even take some games and food down with you and have a bit of fun after learning!
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12. Games For Being On The Road
If you’re taking a field trip soon, you might want to have some games ready to keep your kids occupied on the journey. You could challenge them to design their own games that can be played on the bus en route or rely on classics like ‘I Spy’ or a memory game like ‘Shopping List’!
Learn More: What To Get My
13. Go on a Bike Ride
Riding bikes is great exercise and will keep your kids entertained for hours! Take them out and about on their bikes either around the neighborhood if it’s a safe space or around the school grounds. You could even take the opportunity to teach them about bike safety with this series of amazing activities from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration!
Learn More: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
14. Build a Model
Your kids will be blown away when they discover all the things they can build with pre-made sets! There are airplane models, boat and ship models, and so much more. Pick up a couple of these sets and let your kids have fun following the instructions to piece them together. Everyone is sure to be impressed with the final results!
Learn More: Amazon
15. Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt can be a super activity to get your 10-year-olds up and moving! The beauty of this activity is that you can theme it however you want; you could link it to your topic, or take things outside and hunt for items in nature or the local neighborhood!
Learn More: A Healthy Slice of Life
16. Build LEGOs Using The Brickit App
There is no end to the fun your kiddos can have with LEGOs. Their versatile nature invites kids to not only build set items but also to let creativity flow and build whatever springs to their minds. The Brickit app is an amazing tool that shows your kids different options they can build with the bricks they have – just lay the bricks out and snap a picture with the app!
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17. Playdough Fun
Who doesn’t love playing with Playdough? Give your kids a range of different colored Playdoughs and some tools and watch as their creative minds take over! You could have them make items relating to a topic or even use it as concrete material in math lessons on fractions or division.
Learn More: Budgeting For Bliss
18. Virtual Amusement Park
VR is becoming increasingly popular with kids and is something that they’ll definitely be using in the future! Give them a taste of this in school with a virtual trip to an amusement park! 3D videos make it possible for them to experience a ton of rides. All they’ll need is a headset and YouTube!
Learn More: Indy’s Child
19. Make Friendship Bracelets
The Taylor Swift fans in your class are already jumping on the friendship bracelet trend, so they’ll be super excited when you announce this activity! You can keep things simple and have your kids use yarn, string, beads, or even elastic bands to bring their wearable art to life!
Learn More: Indy’s Child
20. Make Popcorn Garland
What better way to build excitement for the holiday season than by making some DIY decorations? Making popcorn garlands couldn’t be simpler for your kiddos; just have them use a needle and some thread to string together pieces of popcorn and cranberries. We can’t guarantee that all the popcorn will make it onto the string, but your kids are sure to have fun!
Learn More: Woman’s Day
21. Decorate Your Classroom For The Holidays
Bring out the holiday decorations and turn up your Christmas playlist! Spending an afternoon decorating with your kiddies is the ultimate way to get everyone enjoying the Christmas spirit. Letting them join in really makes this a shared experience and will foster a real sense of community in your class!
Learn More: Woman’s Day
22. Tea Party Time
Grab the fine china and host a tea party for your class! This is a super way to give your kiddos a bit of a reward after a period of hard work or a tough test! Treat them to a fancy lunch and add to the fun by having everyone dress up and bring some snacks to enjoy.
Learn More: Matchless Day
23. Bake
Get creative in the kitchen with this next idea! For your kids who love to spend time in the kitchen, baking is a super activity that you can get everyone involved with. From measuring out the ingredients and timing the bake to decorating their creations, there are plenty of learning opportunities! Don’t forget the taste-testing at the end!
Learn More: Matchless Daily
24. Host A Fitness Class
You don’t have to be a fitness fanatic to host an energetic fitness class for your little ones; there are plenty of free options on YouTube. From dance parties to yoga sessions, there’s something to suit everyone’s fancy! This is a healthy way for your class to spend an hour and get some of their energy out.
Learn More: YouTube
25. Check Out Bugs and Plants in Your Area
Get outside and explore the local wildlife with your learned! Checking out different bugs and plants is educational for kids and they can even use an app to identify them. This may not be everyone’s favorite activity, but it’s a super way to grow an appreciation for the environment and highlight why it’s important to protect it!
Learn More: Kiplinger
26. Make a Movie
Aaaand…..action! Challenge your kiddies to film their own short movie about anything they like. Editing on iMovie or something similar is an excellent way to improve their digital skills and has them considering literacy aspects like narrative and storylines. Be it a documentary, a movie trailer, or a music video, they’re sure to have fun with this project!
Learn More: IdTech
27. Play I Spy
Everyone loves a good game of I Spy! Each child can take a turn at identifying an object that they can see and gives the other players the first letter of the object. The other players then desperately race to be the first to guess what the mystery object is so that they can have the next turn.
Learn More: Mommy Poppins
28. Do a Puzzle
Puzzles are perfect for creating a moment of calm in your classroom. Bring out the jigsaws and let your kids methodically work to organize and put together pieces to reveal the picture. It’s an ideal opportunity to have them working cooperatively in teams as they each take charge of a certain aspect of the work.
Learn More: Mommy Poppins
29. Create Stickers
Give your learners an exciting opportunity to improve their digital skills by making their own stickers! Show them how to use Canva to design their stickers using existing templates that they can put their own creative stamp on. Then print them onto some vinyl sticker paper for them to take home!
Learn More: Canva
30. Make A Robot
Your tech-savvy students will love this project! Making an art robot is a great screen-free activity for your 10-year-olds that encourages them to problem-solve and use their scientific knowledge. They’ll create these funny robots that have markers for legs and that move, drawing as they go!
Learn More: Science Buddies
31. Learn To Code
Coding is a skill that lots of your pupils will use in their future careers. Scratch offers a whole host of fun and rewarding virtual activities that are perfect for your 10-year-old learners. Not only will they learn essential problem-solving skills but they’ll also start creating their own amazing programs and games!
Learn More: Scatch
32. Have A Nerf Battle
Ready, aim, fire! Nerf battles are a fun and active way for your kiddos to socialize and have some friendly competition! You can set these simple activities up on your school grounds to give them a chance to run around and blow off some steam. You might just be surprised by their cunning strategy and skill!
Learn More: Dart Dudes
33. Test Paper Airplanes
Calling all future aviators! We’re pretty sure your kids are all well-practiced in making a paper airplane, but have they ever tried folding different types of paper airplanes? Challenge them to experiment with different designs and let them discover which ones fly the farthest or the fastest! All they’ll need is a piece of paper and their imagination!
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34. Build K-Nex
The creative possibilities of K-Nex are endless! These awesome building toys are not only fun to use, but they can help develop problem-solving skills and an engineering mindset. From simple towers to complex rollercoasters, your kiddos will never run out of things to build!
Learn More: Instructables
35. Grow An Herb Garden
Your class won’t need a lot of encourage-mint to spend thyme growing an amazing herb garden! This is an excellent way to teach them about a whole host of topics; from the growing process and the life cycle of a plant to looking after nature and the benefits of fresh food. Choose a sunny spot, plant some herbs, and watch them grow!
Learn More: PBS
36. Make Stop-Motion Movies
Stop-motion movies are a super way to get your 10-year-olds excited! With just a few supplies like an iPad with a stand, some toys or putty, and a plain background, they can have fun creating a silly animation! Once the filming is done, have them create a voice-over then let them premier their movie to the rest of the class on the big screen!
Learn More: Tinker Lab
37. Sell Lemonade
Spark your students’ entrepreneurial spirit! Give them a bunch of lemons and let them get squeezing to make some delicious fresh lemonade to sell in the playground or at a school event! Have them consider creating some advertising to let people know about their stall and then decide what they’ll use their profits for!
Learn More: Lemonade Day
38. Learn to Crochet
Crochet is a fun and easy skill to learn, and it’s perfect for 10-year-olds! By teaching your kiddos just a few basic stitches, they’ll make all sorts of things, from hats and scarves to blankets and toys! What are you waiting for? Dig out the crochet hooks, or show them how to use their fingers and start creating!
Learn More: Yarnspirations
39. Build A Video Game
The gamers in your class will love this one! Bloxels is a fun, interactive activity for kids who are interested in coding and game design. They’ll need to use their imagination and just a few blocks to create their own world, characters, and challenges. They can use the app to create their own characters too!
Learn More: Bloxels
40. Practice Card Tricks
Step aside Dynamo! Let your kiddies become masters of sleight of hand as they learn these jaw-dropping card tricks! Most are relatively simple and easy to follow, so they’ll be able to perform a whole load in no time. What a fun way for your children to impress their friends and family!
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41. Play Laser Tag
Imagine your pupils’ faces when you announce your next field trip is to laser tag! The game is fast-paced and exciting, and will require your kiddos to use quick thinking and sharpen their reflexes to stay one step ahead of their opponents! So grab your lasers and get moving!
Learn More: Steradian Laser Tag
42. Fold Origami
Your students will love mastering this traditional form of Japanese art! Origami is a relaxing hobby that they can progress the difficulty of whenever they feel they’re ready for something more challenging. They’ll create various objects, from simple shapes to complex sculptures. It’s a great way to enjoy a creative moment of calm in your classroom.
Learn More: Origami Expressions
43. Build A Bridge
What’s the best way to build a bridge? Your 10-year-olds will love answering this question as they complete this super STEM activity. Start them off with a few simple materials like popsicle sticks and glue, then let their imaginations and problem-solving work together to construct a sturdy, functional bridge.
Learn More: 17 Build-A-Bridge Activities For Students Of All Ages
44. Play 20 Questions
Develop your class’ critical thinking and questioning skills with this next game! Twenty Questions is a classic game that is a great way to test their knowledge and powers of deduction. You can think of anything; a person, place, object, animal, or number, then have your students try to guess what it is by asking only 20 yes or no questions! Can they do it?
Learn More: The Genius of Play
45. Make A Cardboard Arcade
If you have a load of cardboard boxes waiting to be recycled then this is the activity for you. Give the boxes to your kids along with some scissors, glue, and tape, and let them build their very own arcade games! This fun and creative activity is something the whole class can get involved with and enjoy.
Learn More: PBS Kids
46. Play Cops and Robbers
Cops and Robbers is a classic game of tag that is absolutely spot-on for 10-year-olds! Divide your class into two teams and let them chase each other around until all the robbers are caught (or tagged) by the cops! Encourage your robbers to be sneaky and use the surroundings to their advantage!
Learn More: Scouts
47. Play Hand Clapping Games
Hand-clapping games are a blast, and they’re a great way for your kiddos to have some fun without needing screens or game equipment. From Mary Mack to Concentration, the list of these different rhyming and clamping games goes on! Encourage them to have a go and they may be surprised at how much they actually enjoy it!
Learn More: Today’s Parent
48. Set Up A Laser Maze
Can your kiddies complete this Mission Impossible-style obstacle course? Creating a laser maze is a hilariously challenging activity that will test their teamwork and problem-solving skills, as well as their spatial awareness. In this activity, they must navigate a maze of yarn lasers without making contact; the first team to make it through wins!
Learn More: Welcome To Nana’s
49. Make A Rube Goldberg Machine
Rube Goldberg machines are the ultimate lesson in cause and effect! This activity is perfect for your learners who love to tinker and create with simple materials. Their wacky contraptions will set each other off in an exciting chain reaction that will amaze and delight anyone watching. They’ll need to be resourceful and creative to find different elements they can use!
Learn More: Tinker Lab
50. Play A Card Game
No screens? No problem! A deck of cards will keep your kids entertained for hours once you show them a few classic card games. From Solitaire to Speed to Spoons, there are hundreds of different games they can play to stave off boredom.
Learn More: Today’s Parent
51. Play Who am I?
Who am I? is a fantastic icebreaker activity for any class. Give each student a card or sticky note with a person or object on it to stick on their head. They’ll then mingle and ask each other yes or no questions to figure out who or what they are. The first person to guess correctly wins the game!
Learn More: Ice Breaker Ideas
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