Teaching Expertise

When it comes to elemental school activities, it is so important to keep them fun, engaging, and developmentally appropriate. Creating activities that meet all of these criteria can be challenging for busy teachers.

So, it’s important to remember that these activities are perfect for team-building, helping your students learn more about each other, and just plain old fun. The good news is that they’re not just for elementary students – they can be adapted for any age group. So without further ado, here are 27 fun elementary school activities for kids!

1. My Hands Are For…

This is a perfect and very unique class discussion activity. Our hands are used for so many beautiful aspects of life, which is why Beautiful Hands by Bret Baumgarten is the perfect classroom story for teaching how to use hands appropriately.

Learn more: Baldwin Schools

2. Beach Ball Activity | Q&A

Anything involving a ball usually perks elementary students right up. Fun ideas like this beach ball questionnaire can be modified to really anything from just being a simple hands-on activity for kids to being the perfect test review.

Learn more: Speech & Stripes

3. Pipe Cleaner Bubble Painting

Elementary-aged children will absolutely love this craft. It’s also a great activity for toddlers, so if you have a buddy system in your school, try it out! Using a sheet of paper, some bubble mix, and pipe cleaners, your students will love creating different shapes and painting!

Learn more: ARTastic Franklin

4. Emoji Memory

Fun games that can easily be played right up on the smart board are always a win with elementary students. Sometimes you need a little break from learning, and a simple memory game is really the perfect brain break for your school students.

Learn more: Richmond Park International Primary School Sarajevo

5. BlindFolded Races

This is an activity for kids in upper elementary, as it can be a bit intense for the younger grades. With that in mind, it can quickly be added to your team-building activities for the beginning, middle, or end of the school year.

Learn more: Open Sight

6. Blindfold Toss

Another outdoor activity that students will be blindfolded. The difference, this can be played with any elementary-aged children. Your students will love the challenge, and teachers will love the outcome of this super adorable bonding activity.

Learn more: Unfold EFL

7. Sensory Tubes

Finding a sensory activity that fits into a classroom full of elementary school-aged children can be challenging. Now, this could definitely be used as a science experiment in your elementary classroom or just a little brain break. Keep them available for students in a calm-down corner or a break.

Learn more: Sensory at No. 39

8. Cup Stacking Challenge

Break your class into teams and watch the fun begin! This tactile activity for kids, where building towers has never been so focused. Your students will love the challenge and will love working together even more.

Learn more: McHarg Elementary

9. Zipline Challenge

Hands-on activities can be hard to come by. But add this zipline challenge to your Friday activity ideas and watch your students fall in love with STEM! It’s so much fun and has very few materials. It’s great for child development and works in any classroom environment.

Learn more: STEM Challenges for Kids

10. Craft Stick Slingshot Challenge

Do your kiddos love being destructive? Mine LOVE throwing paper airplanes and scrunched-up paper balls any chance they get.

Therefore, I always like to include some fun activities where they can use their engineering skills for the better good, just like this craft stick slingshot activity.

Learn more: Audrey Thompson

11. Bridge Design

There are tons of different community helpers who work on bridges. Add a bridge-building STEM challenge into your elementary classroom and spark the conversation about everything that goes into building a bridge. Teachers can plan lessons about different STEM-related jobs to follow up on the challenge.

Learn more: Rebecca Turner Sheperd

12. Snowflake Creations

Wintertime is literally right around the corner (I’m not super excited about it either); alas, it will soon arrive! Get ready for good ol’ Mr. Frost with some simple snowflake creations! Hang them in the window and welcome the winter months with open arms.

Learn more: Asheboro Hybrid Academy

13. Speed Scrabble

Okay, this is one of those games perfect for upper elementary classes. The key to using it in any class is to be able to use your vocabulary or spelling words. Let your students share their knowledge about different words and vocabulary using a piece of paper or the whiteboard.

Learn more: Having a Good Year

14. Snake

Another spelling word that’s great for some extra spelling or vocabulary practice. Create the longest word possible using the last letter of the word before. The best news is that this can easily be manipulated to reach even your youngest learners with a word list.

Learn more: Words With Friends

15. Boom, Clap, Snatch!

Looking for hands-on activities for students to play during indoor recess? Or just need a little brain break activity for students?

Boom, clap, snatch will have your students quickly laughing and lively. They’ll love the shock of it, and it will also work on those quick reactions skills.

Learn more: Wildly Learn with Littles

16. Avacado, Avacado

Avacado, Avacado is a challenging but super fun game. Once your students get the overall gist of the game, they’ll want to play again and again. It’s perfect for any classroom.

Learn more: Slaghtjk

17. Guess My Number

Who can guess the number first? This simple game requires little to no setup besides a whiteboard and a little knowledge about how the game works. Students will use their comparing numbers skills to determine which number they’re thinking of.

Learn more: Miss Alyssa Teaches

18. Board Game Challenge

In search of some clever art challenges for your elementary students? This one is perfect! With a Youtube video already created to guide your students through, you can even join in on the fun! Watch as students quickly acclimate to using their art skills in creating the most creative board game.

Learn more: Kyle Wood

19. Listen & Create

I love letting my students take a break from everything else, being told what to do and how to do it, and just being one with themselves. Drawing to music is a great way to get students out of their heads and into a creative, self-paced space.

Learn more: Kerri Bevis

20. Teacher VS Student Art Battle

In my case, my students are way more talented than I am in drawing. BUT, they love supporting me when I attempt to draw, which is why this game was so much fun! It can easily be a teacher VS student battle or have students battle against each other.

Learn more: 123 Go! School

21. Emoji Puzzles

Sometimes, finding activities for kids that don’t require prep is a win. This activity is fun and will give teacher’s a little break if needed. It’s also a great activity for teachers to join in on.

Learn more: Finest Studio

22. Spot the Difference

Did you know that photo puzzles like this can greatly impact student learning? This activity will help students recognize the differences, work together and even enjoy the process! The best news, it’s super low prep and can be done anywhere with a screen.

Learn more: Detormentis

23. Bop It Brain Break

Do you have a Bop It in your classroom? If not, it doesn’t really matter. This is one of those high-energy activities that your students will love! Get them up and moving in between classes or before transitions.

Learn more: Fitness Hustle TV

24. Dissolving Egg Shell

If you’re just looking for some educational, fun activities to do in the elementary classroom, then this dissolving eggshell experiment might be perfect. Your students will absolutely love watching the chemical reaction.

Learn more: Dave Hax

25. Hot Ice

Have you ever heard of hot ice? It’s super cool, and any school-aged children will be very interested in how it works. Whether you’re looking for activities to do at home this summer or you’re a teacher looking to fill some free time, this may just be the perfect activity.

Learn more: MEL Science

26. Butter Making

Making your own butter isn’t only highly high-energy but also super fun. Your elementary-aged children will love adding different ingredients to make it their favorite flavor. And then, of course, passing it around shaking!

Learn more: Animal Jam

27. Homemade Bouncy Ball

Okay, we’ve all got one of those bouncy balls out of the vending machine at the supermarket. But what if you were able to make your very own? It’s way easier than one might think! Your kiddos will love creating them using glitter and just a few other ingredients!

Learn more: Mommy Hacks