Home >> Games & Cards >> Kids Games

Good Games for Kids to Play in the Classroom From Kindergarten to the First Grade

Planning classroom games for kindergarten and first graders will ensure the children are having fun while learning at the same time. Games will also teach children how to work together and build fine-motor skills. Explain the rules for each game thoroughly to prevent confusion and ensure the children have a great time. Classroom games are ideal when students are stuck indoors due to inclement weather.

Relay Races
- Create an action relay race by pushing desks to the outside of the classroom. Divide the children into two teams and have both teams line up on one side of the classroom. Give the students an action, such as "hop." When you say ̶0;Go,̶1; the students must hop to the other side of the classroom and back to tag the next player in their team line. Each player must do the same thing. The first team to get its players back to the starting line wins the game. Other actions include walking backward, skipping, hopping on one foot and crab walking. Another idea is to give the children a plastic spoon. Have them race carrying a cotton ball in the spoon.
Number Games
- Organize a number-matching game by printing numbers on separate slips of paper, two papers for each number. Laminate each slip of paper to make them more durable. Mix the numbers up and place them face down on a table. Ask one player to turn over two cards. If the numbers match, he keeps the cards and draws again. If the numbers do not match, the turn passes to the next player. The child with the most matches wins the game. Another idea is to do the same thing using letters, colors, symbols, days of the week or months.
Hunts
- Make a list of trivia questions and write the answers on small slips of paper. Some ideas include ̶0;What day of the week comes before Friday?̶1; or ̶0;What color is an apple?̶1; Hide the answers all over the classroom. Select three or four students to play at a time. Ask a question and the student who finds the correct answer wins. Another idea is to simply hide magnet numbers or letters all over the classroom and have the students hunt for them. The student who finds the most wins the game. Alternatively, call out a word like ̶0;cat.̶1; The first player to find the letters to spell out the word ̶0;cat̶1; wins the game.
Memory Games
- Ask all the students to stand in a circle and select one child to go outside the classroom door. While he stands outside, send another player to hide in the classroom. Bring the student back in the room and have him guess which student is missing from the circle. If he guesses correctly, award him with a small prize. Another idea is to hang five or six pictures on the wall and tell the children to look at the pictures. Have them close their eyes and you remove a picture. The first student to tell you which picture is missing wins the game.

Kids Games