Whether the rain has you stuck indoors or you just need fresh ideas for making indoor physical education a little more interesting, this list is your new go-to! You can take outdoor games and make them adaptable to indoors, use traditional games with a new twist, and use physical exercises to bring movement indoors. Most of these simple games and activities don’t require much, but some do call for a few supplies such as yoga mats or hula hoops. Have fun with these 26 activities!
1. Rock, Paper, Scissors Bean Bag Balance
This provides a fun PE class idea that’s sure to be a big hit with your students! Kids love to play rock, paper, scissors. As they choose to show the rock, paper, or scissors, the winner collects a bean bag from their opponent’s head. They then add them to the bean bags atop their own head. Competitive students will really love this one!
Learn More: We Are Teachers
2. Yoga
Great for any age, yoga is a fantastic pick for indoor physical education. Whether basic or more complex, these stretches pose, and moves are a great way to incorporate movement into the classroom. Yoga is a fantastic choice for exercise and learners are sure to have lots of fun as they begin their yoga journey.
Learn More: Early Impact Learning
3. Simon Says
Especially good for young learners, the classic game of Simon Says is great for an active gym class. Not only does it provide students with plenty of physical movement, but this game also helps them enhance their listening skills and improve their ability to follow directions.
Learn More: Early Impact Learning
4. Human Connect Four
This is the perfect game for teams. You will need a few hula hoops and two groups of students. Colored vests are helpful in being able to distinguish teams as they engage in the human version of Connect Four. The twist is that a member of each team is shooting a basketball until they ring it and their team then adds a new person to the board. It’s the perfect game to encourage teamwork and sportsmanship!
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5. Indoor Rainbow Golf
For kids who enjoy golf, this activity provides a fun spin on the game. Set up colored targets to help students practice their strokes. This is great for all skill levels but will be a great way for students to work on basic putting skills. This engaging game will have students excited to take their turn.
Learn More: S&S Blog
6. Scooter Swimming
Put a twist on using scooters in the traditional way and have students lie on their stomachs as they use their arms and legs to push themselves around; much like they would do when swimming through water. Bring out a competitive spirit by making it a race.
Learn More: S&S Blog
7. Hula Hut Relay
Your students will absolutely love wriggling out of these hula hoop huts! Start by building a few of these structures before challenging them to work in teams to get each of their teammates through the hut without knocking it down.
Learn More: The PE Specialist
8. Walking Club
A walking club is a fun idea for all students. While this can be done indoors or outdoors, you can keep the concept the same. As students make laps, they get their cards punched so you can keep track of how much they walk. This fitness activity is easy to carry out and provides lots of cardio for these active little bodies.
Learn More: The Colorful Apple
9. Indoor Foosball
Now, here is a fun game for kids to play as either an indoor or outdoor activity. Provide each person with a pool noodle and toss a beach ball into the middle. Use some pop-up goal-posts and teach learners the concept of a foosball table. This will quickly become a favorite for students and even teachers, as it is easy to prep and clean up.
Learn More: Mr. Mark Classroom
10. Cross the River Game
Another great game for building teams is cross the river. This is an excellent game for practicing communication skills, as students must work with their teams to figure out a plan to cross over the imaginary river. This is a game that will require students to bond together and work with others to come out successful.
Learn More: The PE Specialist
11. Fitness Bingo
Give each student a bingo card and as you call each physical activity from the board students will have to mark it on their card and act out the movement. This is good to use at the beginning of the year and to introduce each activity to students in a fun game-like way.
Learn More: The Trip Clip
12. Indoor Obstacle Course
Perfect for indoors, this obstacle course leads to heaps of fun and can be reused many times. You can change it up or let the kids design their own obstacle courses. This is a good activity to use to develop control over simultaneous whole-body movements. This could even be a great cardio workout if you have students race through it.
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13. Spell Your Name Workout
This is perfect for completion on an individual basis or could even be used to facilitate a fun, full-body workout for the entire class to enjoy together. As each student completes different aerobic activities, they will use the letters from their names to spell out what their exercises should be.
Learn More: I Am Style-ish
14. Bucket Bean Bag Tag
Kids enjoy the traditional game of tag, but this game has a twist! Students will wear a belt and bucket around their waist and their peers will try to fill their buckets with bean bags. The faster they can escape their classmates, the better!
Learn More: Pinterest
15. Hopscotch
Good for indoor or outdoor physical activity, hopscotch is always a winner! This is a great way for younger students to also squeeze in some practice of numbers, letters, or even sight words. This activity can be enjoyed inside if you add some tape to the gym or classroom floor.
Learn More: Half Crazy Mama
16. Wall Ball
Most middle school students know the game of wall ball, but this is a good activity for younger students too. Great for hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills, this simple game requires only a ball and a space on a wall. Students can throw and catch, use a paddle or racquet, or rotate with a partner.
Learn More: PE with Mr. G
17. Fitness Jenga
If you haven’t tried fitness stations, they may be a great addition to your indoor physical education routine. Using tools like these fitness Jenga blocks provide great opportunities to give students quick and easy fitness challenges. They can perform the activities in turns; moving on to something new once they’ve completed the task required at one station.
Learn More: Delia Creates
18. Red Light, Green Light
Sometimes classics are the best! Playing red light, and green light is a fun way to get kids moving. You’re sure to hear giggles and laughs galore as the students play together and yell out red light, and green light as they sprint across the gym; stopping dead in their tracks along the way.
Learn More: Mental Up
19. Musical Chairs
Always a fun time, playing musical chairs can be a great way to encourage students to get up and out of their chairs before racing right back to them. This is a quick and fun activity for students to complete while getting in some physical activity.
Learn More: Mental Up
20. Bowling
Fun bowling games like this one are easy and can provide hours of entertainment and activity. You can use a variety of different materials to play indoor bowling games. Cups and a small ball are really all you need but you can also buy some nice indoor bowling sets.
Learn More: What Moms Love
21. Ping Pong Ball Catch
A simple game of catch with a twist, this ping pong ball cup catch is a great activity for kids to do alone or with a partner. All you need is a small ball and a cup. Students can toss their ball into the air and catch it as it falls, or toss the ball to a partner who will catch it in their cup before throwing it back.
Learn More: What Moms Love
22. Snowball Throwing Game
Similar to bowling, this game of snowball toss is a great way to practice aiming and throwing. It’s easy to reassemble using cups and puffy balls and helps students build their strength.
Learn More: Differentiated Teaching
23. XO Hop Game
This fun activity is a great way of exploring different types of movement. Maybe you can have students hop or tip-toe, but whatever you choose, they will be moving around in different ways. Add X’s and O’s onto the floor and have students move from target to target.
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24. Dinosaur Tag
Tag is generally fun, but themed versions are even more fun! The majority of young students love dinosaurs, so pretending to be dinosaurs while playing tag is a two-way win!
Learn More: Pinterest
25. Dancing
Just dance and freestyle dancing are great ways to get moving! Students can really let loose and get moving with the music. Play some age-appropriate tunes and let students dance or bust out their best moves with their friends.
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26. Movement Dice
Perfect for a variety of movement activities, this activity is fun and different for everyone; and is a great choice for all confidence and fitness levels. This can be an entire circuit or could be in a fitness center or station. This only requires a number cube and a paper key to the activities.
Learn More: Teaching Littles
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