fun virtual assignments for students

15 Fun Virtual Classroom Games And Activities

One of the challenges that teachers often face is preparing fun and engaging games and activities for their students. With more and more schools transitioning to virtual classrooms, coming up with game ideas has become much more difficult.

The traditional classroom games that teachers are used to playing in class may not be possible while teaching online in a virtual classroom. So, we have put together a list of virtual classroom games and activities to help you out.

All of these games and activities can be played while teaching students online in a virtual classroom, and any materials we mention below can be downloaded and used in your virtual classrooms for free.

Virtual Classroom Games

1. quiz games.

Quiz games are a perfect activity for virtual classrooms. All students need is a pen and paper to write down their answers. There are many types of quizzes, but one quiz game that kids and teenagers really enjoy is the ‘top five’ quiz. In a ‘Top 5’ quiz, each question has multiple possible answers. For example, ‘Name a zoo animal.’. Then, students must write down one answer. Next, ask the students to show their answers using their webcam to the other students in the virtual classroom.

Once everyone has shown their answer, the teacher can reveal the ‘Top Five’ answers. If a student’s answer is the same as one of the ‘top five’ answers, then they get points. If they have an answer which is not in the top five, then they don’t get any points. Students really enjoy this game, especially when they get the number 1 answer. You can download an example quiz, and an editable quiz template to add your own questions, here .

You can also find many fun quizzes on our online quizzes page . These quizzes include interactive general knowledge quizzes, vocabulary quizzes, grammar quizzes, and more.

2. Liar Game

This next virtual classroom game is great as an ice breaker and/or for getting to know your students. To play, first, choose a question to ask all the students. For example, if you’re meeting the students after the long summer break, you might ask them “ What did you do during the summer vacation? “

Next, instruct the students that when they answer they can choose to tell something true or they can lie and make up a story. Give the students some time, say 5 minutes, to come up with their story. When the students are ready, have each student tell their story. After each story, ask each student in the virtual classroom whether they think it is true or a lie.

This activity is a lot of fun and can lead to some hilarious stories. Students especially enjoy it when they are able to make their classmates believe their crazy stories.

3. Word Association Games

Word association games can be easily played in a virtual classroom and they require little to no preparation. If you’re not familiar with word association games, they are simple games in which the teacher would choose a word and then ask students to say the first related word that comes to mind.

A great way to play this in a virtual classroom is to give students a particular topic, for example, ‘animals’, and then ask students one by one to name something from that topic. The first student who can’t think of a word, or says a word that was mentioned previously, must do a forfeit. The forfeit could be that the student has to pull a silly face, do a silly dance, or just lose a point. For some other word association game ideas, check out our other post, Five Fun Word Association Games .

4. Describe And Draw

For this next virtual classroom game, each student needs a pencil and paper to draw on. This activity is a great way to practice listening skills.

First, the teacher should find something they want the students to draw and place it off-screen where students cannot see it. Next, the teacher should start describing the object and the students should listen and draw what they think the object looks like.

Once the teacher has finished describing the object and the students have finished drawing, ask the students to show their drawings to the other members of the virtual classroom. Next, show the students the object that you were describing and see whose drawing resembles it the most. After playing one time you can also let a student be the one who chooses an object and describes it. This game is a lot of fun, and kids especially find it funny when they see all the different drawings from their classmates.

5. Online Activity Videos

In your virtual classroom, if you are able to share your screen, then our collection of activity videos can be used when you want a fun, no-prep, ready-to-use game. On our activity videos page , we have over 70 ready-to-use games on many different topics. All are free and be shown in your virtual classroom from this website or from our YouTube channel.

6. Scavenger Hunt

This activity is a fantastic game to play while teaching online, especially with kids. And the best thing about it is it needs no preparation. To play, simply think of a kind of object that students likely have in their house/room. Then, students should run off and find that object and then return and share what they found with the class. For example, you might ask students to find something blue, or a toy, or find something that is a certain shape, etc. The things students come up with can be really surprising and funny making this activity great for teaching kids online.

7. Guess Who It Is

This next game is a great warm-up or ice-breaker activity. To play, choose one student and ask that student to close their eyes or look away from the computer screen. Next, choose one student to be a ‘secret witch’. That student should then say something like “I am a scary witch! Be very afraid! Wahahaha!”. And then, the student who closed their eyes should then open their eyes and try to guess which student’s voice they heard. This activity is super fun and works perfectly when teaching in a virtual classroom.

8. Would You Rather

Asking ‘Would you rather questions’ is a fun activity to play online with students and a great way to learn more about your students’ personalities. You can ask students to simply answer the question directly, or ask them to type what they would rather do in the chat window. If you need some ideas for these kinds of questions, check out our list of 30 Fun Would You Rather Questions For Kids .

9. Mystery Box Game

This next activity is a fun PowerPoint game that you can easily play online with students. For this game, you’ll need our Mystery Box PowerPoint Game Template . Simply add your own questions and/or pictures to the template before the lesson. To play this game, divide the students into two teams. The teams will take turns answering a question. After answering the question, students can then choose to keep the box or give the box to the other team. Inside the box is good points (e.g +1000) or bad points (-1000). Although this game takes a little preparation, it is worth it as students really love this activity.

10. Simon Says

The classic classroom game ‘ Simon Says ‘ can be easily adapted to play online. Ask students to stand up and stand back from the camera. Next, the teacher should say an action preceded by “ Simon Says.. “. For example, “S imon says touch your head “. If the teacher says “ Simon says… ” first, then students should do that action. If the teacher doesn’t say it first, then the students should not follow the instruction. Students that do, are out.

11. The Chain Game

This game needs no preparation and is great for when you have extra time in your online class. To play, one student should say a word, and then the next student should say a word that starts with the last letter of the previous word. To make it more difficult, you can introduce a category of words (e.g. animals) that students must focus on.

12. The Telepathy Game

To play this game, you’ll need to download our Telepathy Game PowerPoint Template or make your own. The idea of the game is simple. You ask students a question and give them two possible answers. Only one of them is the answer that the teacher chose. So, students must use ‘telepathy’ to read the teacher’s mind and guess the answer. If they guess correctly, they get a point. Students basically have a 50/50 chance to guess the answer. Although this game is so simple, kids really love it and love pretending that they have the power to read minds.

13. Make A Story Game

This activity is very simple but often students will come up with some really hilarious stories. To play, start the story but don’t finish the sentence. For example, “ Once upon a time, there was a .. .”. Then, ask a student to finish the sentence, and start the next sentence of the story. Again that student should not finish the sentence, the next student should. To play this game online, you can ask students to type in their sentences into the chat window and then the teacher can read the story allowed at the end.

14. Word Detective

If you are teaching a particular text or story, this activity is great to play to practice students’ reading and scanning skills. Display the text on-screen, or if students have their own copy of the text at home they can use that. Next, choose a word from the text and ask students to be ‘word detectives’ and find how many of that word there is. To make it more difficult, you can ask students to find a particular type of word, such as nouns, verbs, adverbs, etc.

15. Blooket

Blooket is a fantastic platform for online learning that allows teachers to create and host quizzes and games. After creating a quiz, teachers can share the game with students so they can complete it online on their own devices. Check out this helpful guide on How To Use Blooket for more details.

16. Let’s Dance Game

This last activity can easily be played online by sharing your screen and using our Let’s Dance PowerPoint Game Template . The template has 30 boxes, each with space for one word or number. Simply type in 30 words into the boxes that you want students to practice. Then, the game can begin. Students will take turns reading the words in the boxes. Each time, students can choose to say 1 word, 2 words, or a maximum of 3 words. The student who says the last word must do a silly dance.

Thanks for reading. I hope you found this list of virtual classroom games and activities useful.

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30 Virtual School Activities That Students & Educators Love

Written by Laney Kennedy

Save time, engage your students and offer differentiated learning online with Prodigy Math game!

• Teaching Activities
• Virtual learning games & apps for online learning
• Traditional learning activities to bring online
• Fun virtual field trips to try
• Virtual first day of school activities

More ways to make virtual school fun

As a teacher, you know better than anyone how much the past year has transformed learning. And although our circumstances will continue to change, virtual learning is still a reality for many students and teachers.

No matter what teaching looks like this year, building a sense of community is so important for you and your students, especially if they’re learning at home . 

But with hundreds of virtual teaching platforms to choose from, how do you make sure your students are getting the best resources to learn and grow — and have fun while doing it?

We’ll help you narrow it down with a complete list of 30 virtual school activities for students of all ages. Whether you teach elementary school, middle school or high school, this list has your remote learning needs covered!

Try these virtual learning games & apps for online learning

Learning outside of the classroom can be easy and fun with these virtual school must-haves. Use these free virtual resources to engage students online and make your virtual classroom feel like home.

1. Prodigy Math Game

Price: Free. The optional Premium Membership provides extra in-game features for students and additional tools for parents, starting at $4.99 USD per student, per month. 

In or out of the classroom, math games are a great way to keep students excited about learning math — even when it comes down to tricky concepts. 

With Prodigy Math Game , you can keep math class fun wherever students are!

As your students create unique characters, explore virtual worlds, collect pets and enjoy all the fun in-game adventures Prodigy offers , they’ll also answer curriculum-aligned math questions . Plus, Prodigy’s adaptive algorithm is built to meet students where they are, so they’ll receive questions that match their progress level.  

Use your free teacher account to create a classroom and:

• View in-depth data on student and class progress 
• Create Assessments that align with your lesson plans
• Differentiate in-game content based on individual student needs

Parents can also sign up for their own account to view and support their child’s progress and motivate them even more!

Ready to make math an adventure this year?

P.S. Check out these free resources to help you use Prodigy in your virtual classroom!

• How to use Prodigy to fight summer learning loss
• How to use Prodigy in your everyday virtual teaching strategies
• How to benchmark student progress with Prodigy’s Test Prep tool

Price: Free or paid versions, with education plans for schools and classrooms. 

In the past year, Zoom has become a close friend to many of us. And it’s no wonder! 

Zoom is a reliable and accessible way to engage your class with virtual teaching. Use it to:

• Host online classes with video and screen sharing
• Engage your classroom with online polls, breakout rooms and virtual chats
• Host zoom games where students can join the fun from home or at school!

P.S. Want to add some pizzazz to your next online lesson? Try one of these custom Prodigy Zoom backgrounds !

3. Flipgrid

Price: Free

Come up with discussions that really get your class talking! Flipgrid offers over 35,000 conversation starters to spark student creativity. Students can respond to each prompt with their own videos, which are displayed on the response board for the rest of the class to see.

The best part? It’s filled with fun editing resources so students can add animations, emojis and text to create fun videos they can be proud of.

TEDEd was specifically designed to celebrate student and teacher ideas. 

You’ll find free online lessons in tons of subjects — including Earth School , where students watch videos, answer quizzes and complete quests to learn more about the natural world. 

Plus, the TEDEd program lets students create their very own TED talks to share what they’re passionate about with the rest of the class!

5. Google Classroom 

Encourage virtual teamwork with your one-stop-shop for lessons, assignments and class discussions. 

Google Classroom provides access to:

• Google Meet — Host video lessons and presentations online. 
• Google Forms — Host surveys and quizzes for your class to fill out.
• Google Calendar — Keep track of lessons and give students insight into the structure of their day. 
• Google Slides — Present lessons in a presentation format and include visuals to keep your class engaged.

Price: Free for the basic plan, with optional paid teacher or school plans starting at $10 USD per month. 

Start meaningful conversations and encourage student engagement with the online platform that “creates a powerful learning loop between students, teachers, and families.” 

With Seesaw, students have a digital space to share their thoughts and give you insight on how they’re learning. Plus, you can keep families in the loop with an exclusive space for home-to-school connections. 

7. YouTube Kids 

Price : Free

The good old days of TV stands on wheels are long behind us. Now, students can watch fun, educational videos no matter where they are!

YouTube Kids was built with kids in mind. This means the video content you choose to share with your class will always be safe and appropriate for their age group. 

Have students download the app or watch directly on their browsers, then assign them videos on art, science and everything in between!

Price : Free for the basic plan, with optional subscription plans starting at $8 USD per member, per month. 

See new ideas spark and virtual collaboration happen right in front of your eyes — and add a pop of color to make the day a little brighter.

Miro is an online whiteboard that lets your class collaborate through tables, flowcharts, sticky notes and more. Perfect for brainstorms or team projects ! 

Virtual learning can never be dull when you have this many fun effects and templates to choose from! 

Whether you’re using it for lessons or encouraging students to create their own, Prezi makes online presentations easy and fun with plenty of design resources and a user-friendly interface. 

Create presentation decks, videos, infographics, maps and more. Let student creativity take over and see the amazing results!

Ready to make learning an exciting adventure?

Boost engagement in your classroom with two captivating standards-aligned learning games for math and English!

6 Traditional learning activities to bring online 

In today’s digital world, virtual learning is more prevalent than ever. But that doesn’t mean we should say goodbye to our favorite in-class activities!

Here’s how to transform classic school activities into online activities that are perfect for distance learning. 

1. Digital escape rooms

No room needed! Bring this classic team-building activity online and transform your classroom or students' homes into haunted houses, pirate ships or even the North Pole! 

Try these: 

• Virtual Escaping rooms
• 20+ Free digital escape rooms 
• Build your own escape room through Google Forms

2. Two Truths and a Lie

Put a spin on this classic icebreaker game through online polls, presentation decks, or quiz platforms like Kahoot! . Compile student submissions into a quiz format. Then have them vote on each other’s options and see the submissions on-screen right away.

You can also use this game to supplement lessons. For example, add two truths and a lie questions during activities that review science concepts or historical figures. 

3. Virtual journal writing

Instead of daily journal entries on paper, encourage virtual journal submissions through an online platform like Google Docs. 

Or, take it to the next level and start a classroom blog . Students can compile their entries and reflect on each others’ submissions, then look back on their great work at the end of the year.

4. Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Create a checklist to bring your scavenger hunt online. Then have your students submit pictures to check items off the list.

Your list can include:

• Items they can find around their home ( find 3 items that have stripes )
• Information they can find online ( when was the telephone invented?)
• Information about one another ( find a classmate who is left handed )

Host one big scavenger hunt, or provide one daily checklist item for them to find by the end of the day.

5. Read aloud videos

Record yourself reading a book out loud, then send the video to your students and have them listen during class time. Or find author read alouds that introduce students to the authors of their favorite books, so they can hear the stories straight from the source. 

6. Virtual brain breaks

Brain breaks are an effective way to keep kids energized and ready to learn more. And there are so many options for online brain breaks! 

• Videos that encourage activity (like an action song or yoga video ) 
• Online games (try assigning five minutes of Prodigy time between class tasks)
• Fun discussion topics that prompt online chats (Ex. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?)

Take one of these exciting virtual field trips

Even if they don’t happen in person, field trips can still be informative, exciting and hands-on! In fact, virtual field trips may be even better, because you can visit places that are hundreds or even thousands of miles away! 

Here’s how to encourage classroom community building and bring your students to brand new places, without ever leaving your home or classroom. 

1. Virtual zoo or aquarium

Lions and tigers and bears … and penguins and sharks and monkeys! Oh my!

A virtual zoo visit is super fun for younger students, or a great way for students of any age to learn more about animals and their habitats. 

• Videos from the San Diego Zoo
• Live cams from the Monterey Bay Aquarium
• 3D animals to turn students’ homes into their own zoo!

2. Virtual national park tours 

Your class can visit some of the most famous parks and learn more about nature without even stepping outside! Use Parks Through Your Screen to explore different parks and see them from a brand new perspective.   

3. Virtual walking trails

Let your class explore mountains, trails, forests or even the pyramids! These virtual walking tours from across the globe provide an exciting online escape along with plenty of learning opportunities.

4. Ellis Island tour

Provide students with a hands-on history lesson through this interactive online tour of the historic Ellis Island . They’ll find stories, photos and notable facts at each stop. 

4. Museums and art galleries 

Some of the most well-known galleries in the world offer amazing online exhibits anyone can enjoy. 

• The Louvre online tours 
• Google arts & culture collections
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art online

6 Virtual back to school activities for the first day of the school year

Back to school is the best time of year! And there are so many ways to make your first day of school activities welcoming and fun, whether they’re online or in person. 

1. Play virtual ice breaker games 

On the first day of school, it’s important for classmates to get to know one another, and for you to get to know them! 

Ask icebreaker questions through online chats, play virtual games (like two truths and a lie) or have students create quick online profiles that feature fun or important facts about them. 

2. Set expectations

Whether learning is remote, hybrid or in-person, it’s important that students know your classroom expectations and where to find everything they need. 

Make sure to: 

• Share your digital class schedule
• Let students know the best way to ask questions online
• Communicate classroom rules (try using Bitmojis to keep things light and fun!)

3. Send fun virtual questionnaires

Give students fun questions that will help them find out what they have in common and build community for the rest of the school year. 

Ask questions like:

• What’s your favorite movie?
• What’s your favorite thing about school? 
• What’s one thing you want to try this year?

Send them through fun online questionnaires through Google Forms, or create storyboards in Miro to display responses. Don’t forget to share your answers too!

4. Design virtual lockers 

Use a fun Bitmoji template and have students create virtual lockers to display their personal style or show off their favorite things. To take it a step further, create a whole virtual classroom where students can customize their own space.

5. Share summer stories

Encourage your class to get creative and talk about what they did during the summer in whatever way they’d like. 

This could be:

• Digital art
• Presentations

Or anything else they can think of!

6. Send out student learning surveys

Once you’ve shared your expectations for them, let students share theirs, too!

Send an online survey to each student asking questions like:

• How do you learn best?
• What’s your favorite way to learn?
• What questions do you have for me? 
• What do you want to learn the most this year?

We couldn’t forget these activities! Here are a few more ways to make your online classroom awesome. 

1. Encourage socialization 

Social emotional learning is critical for student success. 

And the best way to help students practice their social emotional skills? Provide them with plenty of opportunities to socialize and collaborate in fun, easy ways. 

• Assign social emotional learning activities online
• Have frequent breakout rooms for students to socialize in small groups
• Create a collaborative class playlist on Spotify or listen to music as a class
• Hold regular discussions with the whole class and allow students to use chat functions or speak out loud

2. Hold virtual morning meetings

Have a daily check-in with morning meetings where you and your students can share feelings, thoughts and ideas for the day. Then go through your schedule and make sure everyone has all the online resources they’ll need.

3. Host theme days

Have regular theme days where the class wears a certain color or accessory, or dresses as a specific character. 

For example, create a “color of the week” where every Friday, students wear as much of a specific color as they can find. Then let them show off their outfits in your online classroom! 

Get the most out of your virtual classroom

Online teaching can be a tough balance. But with such a wide range of virtual school activities to choose from, there’s no shortage of fun your class can have while they learn! 

Add a few of these activities to your online lesson plans to help students learn, play and collaborate — no matter where they are!

Looking for an online activity to supplement your math lessons?

Prodigy can help make learning math fun! 

Assign curriculum-aligned math questions that match learning progress and grade levels , easily track student data , and provide your students with a fun way to practice math online — all while they embark on new adventures and battle friends to win rewards! 

Create an Assessment for your Prodigy classroom today to keep students on track and differentiate for individual learning needs. 

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13 Virtual Games to Play in Your Elementary Classroom

From scavenger hunts to Pictionary, we’ve gathered a batch of virtual games to get students talking, laughing, and engaging with peers.

While most educators feel too worn out to take on anything else this year, classroom games—old and new—can provide a much-needed respite for students and teachers who are burned out on video lessons and miss social connection.

We found some easy-to-use virtual games that elementary teachers are playing with their students this year, along with tips on how to incorporate them into the classroom.

Gaming With Google Slides

After noticing how much her students missed informal socializing during hybrid learning, Liz Henneberry, a third-grade teacher in Franklin, Massachusetts, transformed Connect Four , Trouble , Chess , and Checkers to Google Slides; the latter two are adaptations from Eric Curts' templates , and all of Henneberry's templates can be downloaded and immediately used in your virtual classroom. During recess breaks, students click a board game shelved in a virtual recess room, which creates their own copy of the game. Students can then share the game with their friend using Google Drive so that the two can play a round together. If students are new to sharing Google Slides, Henneberry recommends modeling the step-by-step process first.

Similarly, Robin Nahhas says her third-grade students have loved playing Multiplication Tic-Tac-Toe , a downloadable game she created on Google Slides so that they could practice their multiplication facts. Before playing, Nahhas goes over directions and the code of conduct with students, reminding them of protocols such as not interfering with classmates’ games or else having their gaming privileges revoked.

Then, she pairs up students and places them in breakout rooms on Zoom. Each student in the pair selects a set of color pieces, and when it’s their turn, they roll two digital dice, multiply the numbers shown, and place a piece onto the virtual board with the corresponding number. To play again, they move their pieces back to the side of the board. If students need help solving a problem, they can rely on their partner or click the “Ask for Help” button after trying one of the strategies they learned in class with pencil and paper first.

Games to Boost Creative Thinking

During morning meetings, fifth-grade teacher Sarah Wood says she incorporates games like scavenger hunts that the whole class can play together while learning from home. When it’s time to play, Wood projects a word like blanket and a matching image on a slideshow, and then students run to find the item in their homes. When they find the object, they can share it on video or by typing in the chat box.

Wood has even focused the game around particular learning goals, like having students find objects that reinforce vocabulary or putting together a project with the items. Once, they were asked to find a broom, a blanket, and a few heavy objects, and then they had 10 minutes to build a reading fort. During asynchronous time, they used Flipgrid to give a tour of their forts.

She says her students have also enjoyed directed drawing exercises—when students are directed to draw something without seeing it. Wood gives directions like “Draw a large oval with a smaller oval inside; on the left side, attach a triangle,” based on images from a drawing book or a directed drawing YouTube channel . When her students are done drawing, they turn on their cameras, put their artwork up to the screen, and guess what they drew. Wood then reveals the actual drawing and it tends to bring out a lot of laughter, she says.

Wood’s students also love games where they take a more active role. Using Blackboard Collaborate  for Pictionary, students take turns drawing on a whiteboard—prompted by a word generator —while students call out their guesses. The next time Wood plays, she’ll use Whiteboard.fi instead of Blackboard Collaborate, a free virtual whiteboard. When playing Taboo , her students take turns trying to describe a word like crack , for example, while being prohibited from using related words like drop or glass while the rest of the class guesses. And her students are obsessed with competing against their peers by being the first to name Disney movies, for example, in the ever-popular quiz platform Kahoot .

Viral Sensations

Initially, during remote learning, it was hard getting students comfortable with face-to-face interactions over Zoom, but the viral video game Among Us —a kid-friendly murder mystery—has stimulated engagement and conversation in Vickiela Wright’s fifth-grade class, she says.

In the game, each student is a crew member on a spaceship and is given a task to keep it running. One or more students are impostors, and their mission is to kill the crew members without getting caught. In between each round, students use Google meets to try to guess the impostors and form alliances to identify the killer.

“The conversations, problem-solving, engagement, and teamwork were robust and surprising. One student said it was the best part of her life,” says Wright.

Similar to Among Us, Werewolf is a game of deduction where students take on the role of villager or werewolf. Students collaborate and problem-solve to kill the werewolves before they become werewolves themselves. And the hugely popular Minecraft: Education Edition can serve as a hangout for students’ pixelated avatars to socialize and even partake in English language arts–based station rotations.

21 Online Classroom Games and Activities Your Students will Love

In the age of pandemic, more and more schools are turning to online platforms to keep classes connected. This can be a great way to keep students engaged and learning, but it can also be tricky to come up with new ideas for activities.

So, as a new school year starts, we've put together this list of 21 online classroom games and activities your students will love! From word games and puzzles to math challenges, we've got something for everyone.

Get ready to connect with your students in a whole new way!

Digital Scavenger Hunt

While there are many ways to do a virtual scavenger hunt , our favorite is our photo hunt! Using 5 easy-to-customize prompts, you can have your students send in pictures they already have on their phones.

Or, take the challenge up a notch, set a timer, and give the photo prompt and send your students off to find the item and send in the picture.

No matter which method you use, your students are sure to get a kick out of sharing a little bit of their lives through this online game.

Dungeons and Dragons Virtual Game

For all the budding adventurers out there, this one's for you!

With the popularity of Dungeons and Dragons growing again, you can now take your whole class on a journey, right from their computers! Our Dungeons and Dragons slide deck walks teams through specific tasks and trivia in order to defeat the bad guys and save the day!

No dice needed!

Word Blurt!

This is a great game for building vocabulary and getting students thinking on their feet. One student starts by saying a word, any word. The next student then has to say a word in response that's related to the first word. This can go on for as long as you like, and you can keep score to see who comes up with the most creative connections!

Or use our Word Blurt slide deck and give word or photo prompts to the group, to keep everyone engaged.

Photo Sharing Game

A photo sharing game is great for building community and getting students to share a little bit about themselves. Have students choose a photo that represents something important to them, then have them share it with the class along with a short explanation. You can even create a class collage of all the photos to hang up in your virtual classroom!

Not sure where to start?

Use our Photo Sharing game slide deck, customize it to fit your students, and let the prompts do their work.

Math Scavenger Hunt

A unique twist on a virtual scavenger hunt, a math scavenger hunt is a great way to review math concepts and get students moving around. And there are so many great ways to lead out in a math scavenger hunt. Some of our favorites include:

Have students solve problems for specific measurements and take pictures of items matching that measurement.

Ask students to bring coins to virtual class and have them show coins in the amounts you ask for.

Have your students take pictures of things in nature matching the numbers they've solved for in their math problems (e.g. the number of petals on a flower).

Virtual Talent Show

This is a great way to build community and have some fun!

Encourage your students to showcase their talents, whether it's singing, dancing, playing an instrument, or telling jokes.

You can have student volunteers sign up ahead of time or do it as a surprise. Students can perform live on camera or share a video of them showcasing their talent.

2 Truths and a Lie

Two Truths and a Lie is a classic icebreaker game great for getting to know your students. Have each student share two true things and one lie about themselves, then let the rest of the class try to guess which is which.

You can even make it a competition to see who can stump the most people!

Draw What I Say

This is a great game for younger students or to review vocabulary words. One student starts by describing an object, person, or animal without using specific words. The next student then draws what they hear. This can go on for as many rounds as you like, and you can keep score to see who guesses the most correctly.

Another fun iteration of this game is for you to describe a drawing or picture to the entire class and see what different results you get!

Virtual Charades

Why not take a classic classroom game and adjust it to a virtual environment?

One of our favorite examples of this is virtual charades. Send a student something to act out in the group chat - Like an animal or emotion. Then have the classroom guess what the student is trying to act out.

Split the class into teams if you want to add a layer of competitiveness to the game.

Virtual Pictionary

There are 2 ways you can play Pictionary virtually with your class. The first is the traditional way. Divide your class into teams and send a word to a member of 1 team. That student then turns their webcam to their drawing and draws until their team guesses the word or they run out of time.

For a simpler option, you can use a virtual whiteboard and have the student drawing share their screen for their team to guess.

Whichever team has the most correct guesses at the end, wins!

We're big fans of games that get students burning off a little extra energy, which is why Freeze is such a great option.

Play a song while students dance around their rooms (within sight of the camera). Then, at random times, stop the music and yell Freeze!

Students then have to get back in their chairs as fast as possible, with the last one being 'out'. Keep playing until all but 1 student is still standing.

Show and Tell

This is a great way to get students comfortable with sharing in front of the class, and it's also a fun way for you to learn more about your students.

Have each student choose an object from home to bring to virtual show and tell. It could be something as simple as a toy or family photo.

Then, have students take turns sharing their object with the class and telling a little bit about it.

Picture Zoom

Picture Zoom is a favorite!

To start, get a high-quality picture and zoom in really close. Share the picture with your students and let them guess the image. Keep zooming out until a student guesses right!

We love the idea of Picture Zoom for introducing a new chapter or topic of discussion.

We used to play a version of this online (not for school) and it always ended with the group in stitches.

In a sort of reverse Jeopardy, give your students a vocabulary word and ask everyone to give they're idea of the definition. After a designated amount of time, show all the answers and have the group vote on the one they think is right.

Whoever is closest to the right definition and those who guessed the right definition get a point!

We strongly suggest using Word Clouds for the voting portion of this game!

Virtual Bingo

This is such a fun way to spice up a lesson or review for a test!

You can easily create a bingo board in Google Drawings or there are tons of online generators, like My Free Bingo Cards or Bingo Maker ).

Then, instead of reading out numbers, read out the questions, answers, or topics you want students to find on their boards.

The first person to get bingo, wins!

Story Chain - What Would You Do?

Get everyone in your class involved with a combination story chain + what would you do.

Start a story with a made up scenario (even better if it's from your lesson). Start the story, then pick a student and ask "what would you do?”

Taking their answer, continue the story.

You can also boost class involvement by having everyone type in an answer and vote for their favorite choice on what to do.

Virtual Scattergories

Give your class a category, a letter, and a set amount of time. See how many answers each student can come up with for that specific letter. The student with the most unique answers (no other student gave that word) wins the game!

How Well Do You Know Your Classmates?

Give your class a questionnaire with the same number of questions as there are students in the class. Then, have your class fill out the questions.

Assign 1 answer to each student and present the question, plus the answer to the entire class. Then, let the class guess who gave the answer!

Of course, you don't want these to be too personal, so get creative in keeping these light and fun.

Cultural Share and Tell

Let your students create a small presentation on a cultural aspect of their family. This can be as simple as showing on a map where their family originated or describing their favorite food. You can make this a photo show and tell or have student volunteers share a story about their culture.

A riff on the popular British TV show, Pointless makes the perfect game to play virtually with students.

To start, give your students a category (Name the Most Famous Bob). Then have students give their answers (e.g Sponge Bob, Bob Marley, or Bob the Builder). The winner is the person who gave the most obscure, but correct answer! (Hint: Bob Marley is always the most famous Bob)

Virtual Mad Libs

This classic game is a great way to review parts of speech!

Write a short paragraph with blanks for different parts of speech (i.e noun, verb, adjective) and have students fill in the blanks.

Once everyone has had a chance to fill in the blanks, read the story aloud and enjoy the hilarity that ensues.

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12 Best Virtual Games for Classroom Fun & Learning

1. Dance and Pause

2. first letter, last letter, 3. pop up quiz , 4. complete a story , 5. guess who, 6. twist your tongue , 7. know your friends , 8. pictionary, 10. what would you do if you were.

As things get back to normal after almost two years, students are back in classrooms, and teachers are now teaching without screen barriers. However, teachers still need to be careful, and one way to ensure that is through virtual games. 

Teachers avoid taking students to field trips and indulge in extracurricular activities to mitigate the chances of spreading any infection. It is necessary for safety, but it impacts students’ engagement and social interactions.

Fortunately, virtual games are a simple solution to this problem. Teachers can host virtual game periods in classrooms to provide students with an engaging and fun environment. They can easily play and learn new things on a Zoom call, Google Meet, or online multiplayer games. 

So, let’s check out cool virtual games that you can play with your students today. Looking for more Math games and ELA games to educate and engage your kids? Here are more online educational games to check out!

12 Fun Yet Educational Virtual Games for Students

Games help create an informal classroom environment to develop better bonds between students and teachers. Playing virtual games can help students learn new things and interact with other students and teachers without stepping outside their homes. Here are some cool virtual games that you can play in your online classroom:

This game is a virtual version of musical chairs. You can play some music in this game and ask your students to dance their hearts out. You can suddenly pause the music, and then all your students have to stop dancing. However, students who keep dancing even after the music stops will get eliminated from the game. You can keep playing this game until a student remains in the game. 

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This is an exciting word game that can help you improve the vocabulary and spelling of your students. You have to give an alphabet letter to your student, and they have to name an animal starting with the letter, like D for a dog. After that, the next student will have to use the last letter of the word to name an animal, for example, G for the giraffe. The circle keeps on moving until the student can’t name an animal from the given letter. 

The best way to analyze your students’ performance in a fun way is by organizing a virtual pop-up quiz game. You can give a theme to your students for a quiz-like Disney, Math, Harry Potter, etc. You can use different props to make the quiz more interesting, like buzzers, timers, and costumes. Just try to make your virtual quiz as fun as possible for students. 

This virtual game can help you stimulate creativity and passion for reading among your students. You can give a line or prompt to students to create a story around it, like a man walking in the city or a girl dancing in the rain. For this game, you can divide your class into smaller groups so that each group can compete with one another to create a beautiful story.

If you want to test your students’ history knowledge, you can create riddles around famous historical personalities. This way, you can make your students learn about famous historical personalities and their achievements. For example, who is a naturalized-French physicist and chemist who researched radioactivity? The student who answers correctly will get a score, and the person with high scores will win the game. 

If you want to improve the pronunciation skills of your students, you can host virtual tongue twister games for them. You can give five chances to each student to say a tongue twister ten times as fast as possible. You can create a fun environment in your virtual class and make your students’ speeches clear. Some of the popular tongue twisters are:

• Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
• Betty Botter bought some butter
• She sells seashells by the seashore
• I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

This simple virtual game will help you build relationships with your students. With this game, your students can learn new things about one another. To play this game, you should ask questions like — “name the friend who has a birthday this month,” “name the friend who likes red colors,” etc. 

Pictionary is a traditional game that can help to improve students’ creativity and drawing skills. You can make your students share the screen and open the Paint application to draw. You can make the game even more enjoyable by dividing your class into small teams. This will boost team coordination and communication skills among your students. 

This game can help you improve your students’ cognitive and acting skills. You can send guessing prompts to your students via personal chat for this game. And ask a student to turn off his microphone and use gestures or lips to narrate the word to other students. The student who guessed the word right will get a score. You can also divide your class into groups to create a healthy competition. 

This classic game will help improve your young students’ imagination and decision-making capabilities. In this game, you will give an imaginary position to your students and ask them what they would do if you were in a particular situation, such as what would you do if you were president for one day? These questions will make your students think about new things and situations, leading to a logical and problem-solving mindset. 

You can develop observation skills by sharing puzzle pictures with your students. You can find several puzzle pictures online with different objects and colors. In this game, you have to ask your students to find an object or color in the image. The student who will identify more things mentioned on your list will win this game.

12. Sharp Memory 

As the name suggests, this virtual game will help you sharpen your students’ memory. You need to collect a few things and show them to your students via your camera to play this game, like a pen, paper, chocolates, etc. But only show the items for 20 seconds, and then ask your students to list down all the items you have just shown them. Finally, students who write down the most things will win the game. 

Parting Remarks

Virtual games are the best way to improve cognitive skills and develop bonds between your students. Especially if lockdown is still prevailing in your country, virtual games can help you create a stress-free environment for your students. So, let’s not hold back any longer and host a virtual game period today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are virtual games important.

Virtual games are essential for character development and skill growth among young students. Students learn to communicate and work in a team by playing online games. They also learn to express their emotions and be creative without any judgment. For overall mental and physical development, virtual games are beneficial. 

Are online games beneficial to students?

Online games can provide different learning and improvement opportunities to students. Through games, students can learn to write, better pronounce words and express themselves. They can also come out of their inner shell and freely communicate with teachers and other students during a fun game environment.

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21 Exciting Games to Play on Zoom With Students

With the rise of Zoom as a primary platform for virtual classrooms, teachers have discovered exciting ways to adapt and play games that foster collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, all while building a sense of connection among students.

These games are suitable for various age groups and subject areas, ensuring that there is something for every virtual classroom.

In this blog post, we present a handpicked selection of Exciting Games to Play on Zoom With Students.

They make use of Zoom’s features such as screen sharing, breakout rooms, and chat functions to create an immersive and interactive experience for students.

Get ready to bring the joy of learning back to your virtual classroom, one game at a time!

Virtual Scavenger Hunt:

One engaging activity to play on Zoom with students is a virtual scavenger hunt. This game encourages students to search their homes for specific items or solve riddles and clues provided by the teacher. To begin, the teacher can share a list of items or clues via screen sharing or in the chatbox. Students then race against each other to find the items or solve the riddles within a specified time limit. This activity not only promotes critical thinking and problem-solving skills but also encourages students to actively explore their surroundings. It also provides an opportunity for students to share their findings and engage in discussions, fostering a sense of community within the virtual classroom.

Pictionary:

Pictionary is a classic game that can be easily adapted for virtual play on Zoom. The teacher divides the students into teams and assigns a designated drawer for each round. The drawer chooses a word or phrase from a pre-prepared list and must draw it on a virtual whiteboard or piece of paper while the teammates try to guess the correct answer. The use of screen sharing or a document camera can allow everyone to see the drawing clearly. Pictionary enhances creativity, communication skills, and teamwork as students work together to decipher the drawings. It also adds an element of excitement and friendly competition to the virtual classroom environment.

Related: 20 Exciting Five Senses Activities for Preschool (Printables)

Kahoot! Quizzes:

Kahoot! is a popular online platform for creating and playing interactive quizzes. Teachers can use Kahoot! to design engaging quizzes on various subjects and share the game PIN with their students on Zoom. Students can join the game using their devices and compete against each other in real time. The fast-paced nature of Kahoot! quizzes keep students actively involved and motivated to answer questions correctly. It also provides immediate feedback, allowing students to assess their understanding of the topic. With its colorful interface, lively music, and leaderboard feature, Kahoot! brings an element of excitement and friendly competition to the virtual classroom.

Virtual Escape Rooms:

Virtual escape rooms offer an immersive and thrilling experience for students on Zoom. Teachers can create or find pre-existing escape room scenarios designed for an online setting. These scenarios typically involve solving puzzles, deciphering codes, and finding clues to escape a virtual room. Students work together in teams, using critical thinking and collaboration to unravel the mysteries and complete the challenges within a specified time frame. Virtual escape rooms promote problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills. They also foster a sense of adventure and create an engaging and memorable experience for students in the virtual classroom.

Related: 20 Best Things to Make With PlayDough for Kids

“Two Truths and a Lie”:

Two Truths and a Lie is a simple yet effective icebreaker game for virtual classrooms. Each student takes turns sharing three statements about themselves – two true and one false. The rest of the class then tries to guess which statement is the lie. This game not only helps students get to know each other better but also encourages active listening and critical thinking as they analyze the statements and make educated guesses. It creates a fun and interactive atmosphere, allowing students to connect with their peers and build relationships even in the virtual setting.

“Guess the Emoji”:

In this game, the teacher shares a series of emojis representing a word, phrase, or famous quote. Students have to decipher the meaning behind the emojis and guess the correct answer. They can type their guesses in the chatbox or use the “raise hand” feature to indicate their response. This game not only tests students’ knowledge of emojis but also encourages creativity and critical thinking as they interpret and analyze visual representations.

“Name that Tunes”:

“Name that Tune” is a music-themed game that challenges students to guess the title or artist of a song based on a short snippet played on Zoom. The teacher can share their screen and play a clip from a popular song, and students have to quickly type their answers in the chatbox. The first student to correctly guess the song earns a point. This game not only promotes music appreciation but also enhances listening skills and quick thinking. It can be customized to focus on specific genres, decades, or even songs related to the current topic of study.

“Charades”:

Charades is a classic game that can be easily adapted for virtual play on Zoom. Students take turns acting out a word or phrase without speaking, using gestures, facial expressions, and body movements. The rest of the class has to guess what is being portrayed. To enhance the virtual experience, students can use virtual backgrounds or props to enhance their performances. Charades promote creativity, non-verbal communication skills, and teamwork, as students collaborate to guess the correct answers and cheer each other on.

“Virtual Talent Show”:

A virtual talent show is a fantastic way to showcase students’ unique talents and encourage their self-expression. Each student gets a chance to perform a talent, such as singing, dancing, playing a musical instrument, reciting a poem, or displaying artwork. Students can share their performances through video or audio on Zoom, while their classmates and the teacher provide positive feedback and applause through emojis or verbal encouragement. This activity fosters confidence, creativity, and appreciation for diverse talents within the virtual classroom community.

“Zoom Bingo”:

Zoom Bingo adds a twist to the traditional game of Bingo by incorporating elements specific to the virtual classroom. The teacher creates Bingo cards with squares containing actions or scenarios that can occur during a Zoom session. Examples include “someone’s pet appears on screen,” “someone’s connection gets interrupted,” or “someone wears a funny hat.” As these events occur during the Zoom session, students mark off the corresponding squares on their Bingo cards. The first student to complete a line or full card and shout “Bingo!” wins. This game adds an element of anticipation and observation, while also creating a sense of camaraderie and shared experiences among students in the virtual classroom.

“Zoom Trivia”:

Zoom Trivia is a game that tests students’ knowledge of various topics. The teacher prepares a series of trivia questions and shares them on the screen or through the chatbox. Students can either individually answer the questions or form teams to collaborate and discuss their answers. The teacher can keep track of scores and award points for correct answers. This game not only promotes critical thinking and recall but also encourages healthy competition and a love for learning.

“Virtual Show and Tell”:

Virtual Show and Tell is an interactive activity that allows students to share something meaningful with their classmates. Each student takes turns presenting an object, artwork, book, or any item of personal significance on Zoom. They can provide a brief explanation or story behind their chosen item. This activity promotes communication skills, self-expression, and cultural appreciation. It also encourages students to actively listen and ask questions, fostering a sense of curiosity and empathy within the virtual classroom.

“Would You Rather?”:

“Would You Rather?” is a thought-provoking game that presents students with two options and challenges them to choose between them. The teacher shares a series of dilemmas or scenarios on Zoom, and students express their preference by typing “Option A” or “Option B” in the chatbox. This game encourages critical thinking, decision-making, and persuasive communication as students defend their choices. It also provides an opportunity for lively discussions and insights into each student’s thought processes and values.

“Virtual Board Games”:

Virtual board games bring the fun of traditional board games into the virtual classroom. Teachers can use online platforms or create their own digital versions of popular board games like Monopoly, Scrabble, or Chess. Students can play individually or in teams, with the teacher overseeing the game and facilitating the moves. This activity promotes strategic thinking, problem-solving, and healthy competition. It also creates a sense of nostalgia and excitement, as students engage in familiar games adapted for the virtual environment.

“Virtual Classroom Olympics”:

The Virtual Classroom Olympics is a series of mini-games and challenges that students compete in during a Zoom session. Teachers can design a variety of activities such as timed quizzes, physical challenges, memory games, or creative tasks. Students earn points for each completed challenge, and the teacher keeps track of the scores. This activity promotes teamwork, resilience, and a positive competitive spirit. It also adds an element of fun and excitement, turning the virtual classroom into a dynamic Olympic arena.

“Zoom Charades Relay”:

Zoom Charades Relay adds a twist to the classic game of charades by turning it into a team competition. Divide students into teams and assign one student from each team as the “actor” for a round. The teacher privately sends the actor a word or phrase to act out, and they have to mime it to their team members on camera without speaking. The team members then type their guesses in the chatbox. The first team to correctly guess the word or phrase earns a point. This game promotes teamwork, communication, and creativity while adding an element of friendly competition to the virtual classroom.

“Virtual Storytelling”:

Virtual Storytelling allows students to unleash their imagination and storytelling skills. Each student takes turns being the storyteller and shares a short story, either original or adapted from a favorite book. They can use props, visual aids, or virtual backgrounds to enhance their storytelling. After each story, students can discuss the themes, characters, or lessons learned. This activity encourages creativity, public speaking, and active listening. It also builds a sense of community as students appreciate and support each other’s storytelling abilities.

“Zoom Showdown”:

Zoom Showdown is a fast-paced game that tests students’ reflexes and quick thinking. The teacher asks a series of rapid-fire questions, and the students must race to be the first to answer correctly. The student who responds with the correct answer first earns a point. This game promotes active listening, recall, and quick decision-making. It also adds an element of excitement and adrenaline to the virtual classroom as students eagerly compete to demonstrate their knowledge and win the Zoom Showdown.

“Virtual Museum”:

The Virtual Museum activity allows students to curate and present their own mini virtual museum exhibits. Each student selects a topic of interest and creates a presentation with images, videos, and descriptions of artifacts related to their chosen theme. They can use screen sharing or slide presentations to showcase their virtual museum exhibit on Zoom. After each presentation, students can ask questions and provide feedback. This activity encourages research skills, creativity, and presentation abilities. It also exposes students to different cultures, historical events, and areas of interest as they explore each other’s virtual museums.

“Zoom Art Battle”:

Zoom Art Battle is a creative activity that combines art and friendly competition. Students are given a specific theme or prompt and a limited time to create artwork based on that theme. They can use any art supplies they have at home, such as pencils, markers, or paints. After the time is up, students share their artwork on camera and explain the inspiration behind their creations. The class can then vote on their favorite artwork based on predetermined criteria, such as creativity or adherence to the theme. This activity encourages artistic expression, time management, and appreciation for different artistic styles.

Recommended:

• 22 Easy Educational Activities for Preschoolers
• 21 Fine Motor Skills Activities for Preschoolers
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Syeda Faryal

Syeda Faryal is an innovative Curriculum Specialist known for her impactful educational curriculum designs. With 8+ years of experience in teaching elementary students and a B.Ed from Allama Iqbal University , she prioritizes holistic development and meaningful learning experiences.

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Five Fun Virtual Activities for Students

Explore this list of fun virtual activities for students to create an engaging and insightful school year.

Another remote school year has teachers preparing online activities that engage, excite, and educate growing minds eager to absorb new information. However, an abundance of online activities makes finding the right activity for a remote classroom difficult.

Even though thousands of virtual activities claim to be accessible, fun, and entertaining, only some measure up. Not to mention, it's common to feel drained after rummaging through hundreds of search results for virtual activities. To spare you time, energy, and a potential headache, I'm sharing five fun virtual activities for students that promote learning. Let's get started!

National Geographic Kids

Take students on a virtual adventure exploring deep sea creatures, mammals, reptiles, and more with National Geographic Kids. This site includes slideshows, games, and videos that share weird and fascinating facts about different animals. Teachers can share their screen as the video plays to ensure everyone is watching, then have a pop quiz to review what was covered.

Virtual Read Aloud

Reading aloud is one of the simplest ways to educate, entertain, and bond with students. Teachers can pick a short book that corresponds with a lesson, find a place to read, then open the virtual call for students to slowly trickle in.

Keeping everyone's attention is trickier when remote amongst other things, so to remedy this, make sure every student has a hard copy of the book. This way, students can follow along and see the colorful illustrations on every page. You can add soft background music to amp up the mood and move around to add action as the story progresses. If the read-aloud is solely to educate students, you can always record yourself so they can consume the story at their own pace. You can edit the recording to include photos, supplemental material, and questions at the end to review the book.

Compare and Contrast Exercise

A virtual compare and contrast exercise can be used to test students knowledge on similar topics, while helping them develop arguments, ideas, and positions on their findings. After a lesson, students can break out into groups and virtually fill in a Venn Diagram while sharing their thoughts. A tool offering real-time collaboration, like Kapwing to fill in the diagram keeps everyone on the same page as the brainstorming progresses.

Virtual Map Challenge

Test your students geography knowledge with an interactive world map that works on all devices. With this online map, students choose from grades 1-6 then decide to play a game or start an activity to test their knowledge of the nations. There are timed challenges to sharpen their skills and multiple choice quizzes to develop a comprehensive understanding of continents, landmarks and more.

Virtual Bingo

Bring the bingo game to your virtual class with a free bingo card template . Have every student print off a bingo card and gather chips to use for the game. To make the game sweeter, you could suggest using candy, nuts, or dried fruit as markers. If a student doesn't have a printer, they can upload the template to Kapwing and mark off each number with a shape or GIF! Vocabulary, chemical elements, and states are examples of theme ideas to use for bingo games.

Bonus: Turkey in Disguise Project

The Turkey in Disguise project is a great way to bring holiday festivities to a virtual class preparing to leave for a break. Students can get crafty and share ideas with others while helping this innocent turkey escape from hungry guests. To kick this project off, teachers can read Turkey Trouble , the book that inspired this project, then use this free template to provide helpful instructions as they build a clever disguise.

In the end, I recommend creating a slideshow with pictures of each turkey, then following up with a group discussion to share the creative process behind each disguise.

If this article was helpful or you have a topic suggestion, feel free to each out Twitter and and subscribe to our YouTube channel for trendy tutorials! Check out the articles below for more back to school content.

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Keep students engaged with these virtual classroom activities

Virtual learning is here to stay through remote and hybrid classes. How do you keep students engaged in virtual instruction, though? Just like in-person learning, holding students’ attention in distance education is essential. It can be challenging, however, since there are more distractions. Whether it’s social media or their environment, learners can lose focus during virtual classroom activities. 

That’s why it’s important for teachers to have many strategies in their toolbox. Building community, encouraging students to participate and keeping them interested in the curriculum are all important. So how can teachers do that online? Try these virtual classroom activity ideas to keep learners engaged.

Virtual classroom activity ideas

Virtual museum trip.

Even when students aren’t learning in person, they can still take field trips to visit a museum. Many museums around the world offer virtual exhibits. Not only are they free to visit, but students can also view the exhibits from anywhere they’re learning. 

For example, in addition to in-person exhibits, The British Museum has online presentations, including 3D visuals of some of their most famous objects. Another example is the Google Arts & Culture tool. It gives learners online tours of historical sites and museums such as:

• The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
• Mus é e d’Orsay in Paris
• Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam
• J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles
• The National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City

Virtual gallery walk

Gallery walks work just as well virtually as they do in a physical classroom. They help build background knowledge or can spark excitement about the start of a lesson or unit. One way to create a virtual gallery walk is to add text excerpts or images in a slideshow presentation. 

Learners can then answer questions in a document or graphic organizer asynchronously or during a synchronous live session. You can also assign groups to discuss responses or hold a class discussion.

Engaging websites for learning

There are websites geared specifically to online K-12 learning that students love. These websites can be used for synchronous or asynchronous activities. They’re especially helpful for self-directed learning when students want to review or explore on their own. Here are some examples:

• Everyday Mysteries
• Khan Academy
• Smithsonian Learning Lab

Online formative assessments

Formative assessments can take many forms, and there are engaging online tools that teachers can use. These tools are fun and interactive and help you instantly gather data about what students understand. Examples include Kahoot , Flipgrid , Socrative   and Pear Deck . 

Digital polls

Use digital polls to help learners connect with your lesson or content. Ask students if they agree with a historical figure’s decision or tell them to make a prediction about a story. Use a survey or poll creation tool to take the poll before, during or after class. Then display the stats and have a short discussion about whether or not learners were surprised by the results. 

Holiday history

Every day there seems to be another national or international holiday . Think National Donut Day, National Bow Tie Day, National Video Game Day, World Smile Day or National Sock Day. 

For this virtual activity, assign each learner a fun or offbeat national holiday that occurs on a school weekday. On the day of their holiday, the student can share a short background and history of the day through a live online presentation or a video. Learners can get creative with this one!

Quote of the day

Teachers often write a quote of the day on the board in their classroom, but quotes can be shared online, too. In fact, why not ask students to share a quote of the day? Assign each learner a specific day and ask them to pick a quote that is meaningful to them. Once it’s their turn to share, they can explain the quote’s significance and why they chose it. 

Students can share verbally in the virtual classroom or create a short video. They can also share by writing on an online discussion board or in a Google Doc. 

Show your pet

Everyone enjoys looking at pet pictures and sharing stories about their pet. This activity takes place during a synchronous session. Students with pets will show the online class their cat, dog, hamster, lizard or fish and present a short anecdote about their pet. This is an enjoyable way for learners to get to know one another at the start of the school year. It can also be used to break up a longer live class session. 

Real-life expert

Engaging students in the virtual classroom should include giving students real-life learning experiences. One way to do that is by inviting an expert to speak to the class during a synchronous class session. You will need to get approval from your school administration first, so plan ahead. 

Have students prepare questions in advance. Or they can ask them out loud during the presentation or in the chat. An alternative is to ask the expert to film a video that the class can watch at any time. 

Daily online journal prompt

Journaling is a way for learners to reflect on new concepts, texts they’ve read or projects they’re working on. Ask learners to make a copy of a digital journal that you create or ask them to start their own. You can preload journal prompts in a document or give the class prompts day by day. Make sure the documents are shared with you so that you can give learners feedback in their journals. 

Self-assessment

Another way for learners to stay connected to virtual learning is through self-assessments. Have students periodically reflect on their learning, focus and participation in online activities. Over time, students will see their progress and start to take more control of their learning. Learners can write in a graphic organizer or respond through an online assessment tool.

Virtual classroom games

How do you keep students’ attention in a virtual classroom when they start to lose focus? You can use games as a fun way to engage students when they need an attention boost. Games are also a great way to build community and excitement for reviewing concepts.

Virtual scavenger hunt

Send learners on a virtual scavenger hunt to create enthusiasm. Compose a list of internet sites, images, links and more that students should find. Learners will then take a screenshot when they solve the clue and add it to their scavenger hunt document. This activity can help the class learn about a new topic or research a topic more deeply. 

Getting-to-know-you bingo

Many teachers use bingo games the first week of school or to start a new semester. It’s a fun way for students to get to know one another and for teachers to learn about their students. While it’s often done during an in-person class, it can also work virtually. 

Use a template or create your own and send a copy to students. During a synchronous class session, students can mark off or highlight their document when a square applies to them. They can also raise their hand on the live video as a visual cue to the class.

Online trivia

Learners love playing trivia games to review material before an assessment. This can easily be done virtually by creating a trivia presentation and sharing your screen. There are several free trivia templates online that K-12 teachers can use, such as Flippity and eQuizShow .

Improv games

Improv games are another example of activities to engage students in online learning . Improvisation helps learners think quickly and be creative. It may take some practice, but the process will be enjoyable nonetheless. 

One example is to create a story as a class. One learner begins with the first line of the story, and a second learner adds another line. Each student continues to add a line to the story until it’s complete. Go over guidelines with the class so that they stick to your goal. For example, you may want the story to follow a plot structure, retell an event in history or explain a scientific process. 

Vocabulary charades

Vocabulary charades are a way to engage students with a kinesthetic activity. Teachers in any subject can incorporate this game during a synchronous class session. Learners play by acting out a vocabulary word without sound. The rest of the class then tries to guess the word. You can also divide the class into teams and keep track of team points. Before learners begin, be sure to model how to play charades so they can see an example.

Virtual music, video and audio activities

How do you keep students engaged and motivated with visual and auditory learning styles? One way to do that is by using multimedia such as audio, music and video. You can connect to what students know and reach different learning styles. It personalizes learning, which means you’re more likely to engage your class. 

Virtual karaoke

Karaoke is an entertaining way for learners to practice reading skills and fluency. Create your own song list or ask learners for suggestions. Be sure to check the lyrics and approve any song suggestions in advance.

Once your song list is ready, search for the karaoke version on YouTube. The karaoke version includes music without primary vocals, and the lyrics are printed across the screen. Share the lyrics with the class so that all students can follow along. One or more students can volunteer to sing the lyrics, but feel free to have all students join in during the chorus. You can also take the activity further by having the class analyze themes, metaphors or other literary devices.

Video clip of the day or week

Sharing a video clip of the day or week is a fun way to connect with learners. Share a cute, silly or funny video clip to give learners a brain break and a chance to laugh. It can be a teacher’s favorite video clip, or learners can contribute their own favorite clips.

A podcast is a way to present a lesson using audio. Use a tool like Audacity , which is a free platform for recording audio. It’s easy to start recording, and you can make edits and add music and sound effects. Once your podcast is ready, download it and share with students. They can listen to the podcast during asynchronous learning. Unless the podcast is specific to a current event, once you create it, you can reuse it in years to come. 

Another way to present a lesson for asynchronous learning is to make a screencast. Instead of presenting live to students, you can record a presentation through a screencast of your computer screen . You can also record your voice as you present. Examples of tools include Screencastify and Loom .

Teachers can share a lesson, but learners can also create a screencast. Assign a screencast as an assessment or give students the choice to select screencasting for a project. You can also create a private YouTube playlist with screencasts so that learners can visit them at any time. 

A playlist of songs or videos is another way to involve students in the curriculum. Each student contributes a song or video they found on the internet, relating to the unit of study or lesson. The songs and videos can connect thematically, relate to a person or character, teach a concept or review math problems. You can then add them to a playlist, which learners can access anytime. It’s a way to create a deeper learning experience and help students connect to the topic. 

Virtual communication ideas

How do you keep students engaged with virtual learning, especially when some are more reluctant to participate in discussions? Communication is just as important in an online environment as it is in a face-to-face environment. Teachers should be intentional with communication so that virtual learners are clear about expectations and curriculum. To help, there are several communication tools teachers can use during online activities. 

Whether using Google Meet or another online platform, take advantage of the chat tool. This is a great way to formatively check for understanding during synchronous class time. Using the chat tool ensures that each learner has a chance to respond, rather than calling on one or two to answer. Students who are reluctant to chime in verbally are more likely to respond by typing a quick response in the chat. 

Once they respond to a question, you can quickly see which learners understand the material. You can also spot areas that you need to review. Be sure to explain class expectations for responding in the chat, though, to keep students focused on learning.

Breakout rooms

Collaborative learning can happen even during remote instruction. Students get a chance to use critical thinking skills when they discuss in groups or with partners. Online breakout rooms give learners voice during a lesson and allow teachers to differentiate instruction. 

It’s critical, though, to set expectations beforehand and revisit them when necessary. Ask groups to discuss a prompt, take notes in a shared Google Doc and report back to the class afterward. Periodically pop into breakout rooms to observe discussions or answer questions the groups may have.

Online discussion board 

Online discussion boards are a way to involve students in learning at any time. They also build community and teach students how to have meaningful conversations. Learners who are more reluctant to speak up in class may be more likely to engage in the virtual discussion.

On the discussion boards, encourage them to discuss class topics and give each other feedback. It’s important to communicate guidelines for the discussion and use of the platform. You can also work together with the class to create norms for using the discussion board. Decide on etiquette, such as ways to give constructive feedback and whether responses can include emojis. 

Google Docs discussions

Learners can also hold discussions through shared Google Docs, giving any student the chance to contribute ideas. Create a prompt or topic on a document and share it with a group or the whole class. Learners can then add their responses directly in the document. They can also develop a written assignment in a Google Doc and share it with others for feedback. Classmates can then leave comments or suggestions that the entire group can view. 

Office hours

Another way to keep learners engaged is by offering office hours. Whether it’s daily or weekly, set aside time for learners to meet with you when needed. You can work with students one-on-one or in small groups. It’s a time for them to ask you questions if they don’t understand a concept. Or you can give them personalized feedback, review standards or go over a recent assessment. 

Google Forms feedback

What’s the best way to keep students engaged online? Involve learners by directly asking them for feedback. Ask them what is working and what is not working for them during virtual learning. Create a short survey in Google Forms and have learners respond. Not only will this engage students further in their online learning experience, but you’ll also come away with new ideas and activities. 

The Hāpara Instructional Suite makes it easy to streamline virtual classroom activities for teachers and students. Sign up for a demo today!

Learn what to focus on when building a culture of digital citizenship, including conversation starters for learners and educators!

About the author, nicole bixler, you might also enjoy, pin it on pinterest.

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October 2, 2020

11 fun zoom games & activities for secondary students.

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Another fun game to play on Zoom with students (and co-workers) is the 9 Truths Game. In the game, players anonymously answer True/False questions on their laptop, phone, or tablet, and then guess how many of the other players also answered "True". Points are scored based on how close you are to the correct number, but the real fun of the game is the hilarious stories that go along with people's answers. And the best part is that it's free to play and there are no ads. 9 Truths Game - www.9Truths.com

Thank you! I'll be playing this with a few of my students today to loosen up before our counseling session!

Thanks, this is just what I need to arrange for a teen Zoom get-together!

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Additional Team Building Resources

Feb 16, 2022

17 Fun Virtual Team Building Activities for Students

Anecia Ascalon

Team Building Expert

Most people think about the workplace when they hear the term “virtual team building.” But, as all teachers know, virtual team building isn’t just for adults at work! It’s an essential part of learning as a student. Team building for students, no matter what age and grade is incredibly important for the learning process. Virtual team building activities teach students skills like effective communication, intentional listening, and creative thinking.

However, because so many classrooms have moved to remote learning, it’s made putting together team building activities a little more difficult. Teachers and leaders are having to think creatively on how to build this culture of team building virtually.

Table of Contents:

• Elementary School
• Middle School
• High School and College
• Virtual Team Building Benefits

There are tons of directions you can go in when planning a team building experience for your class. For older students, you might want to try challenging activities to really engage them and keep their attention. With younger students, you may want to choose team building activities that don’t take too long, since their attention spans aren’t very long.

Check out these virtual team building activities for students that may just be the perfect choice for your classroom and reap all of the team building benefits !

Virtual Team Building Games for Elementary Students

Teachers know how valuable it is to help students learn at an early age how to work together and build friendships. When planning these team building activities for elementary students, you may need to alter some details to work for your age group!

1. Smithsonian Virtual Tour

One of the most exciting parts of school is taking field trips! If you’ve got a remote classroom, you can still bring the joy of field trips to your students. The Smithsonian National Museum of History Virtual Tour allows groups to take self-guided tours through different exhibits either on a computer or mobile device. Your students will love getting to see the 11-ton elephant in the rotunda, the Hall of Fossils, and the Sant Ocean Hall with over 600 specimens!

2. Stand-Up And Sit-Down

Prepare a series of “yes or no” questions with only two options for answers. For example, “Do you like apples?” Students stand up if the answer is “yes” or sit down if the answer is “no.”

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A ready-set-go game to run at your next fully remote or hybrid meeting without the hassle or added pressure of developing a team-building exercise yourself. Get it here →

3. Once Upon A Time

One student begins the story with something like, “Once upon a time, a man was walking down the road. Just as he turned the corner, he saw…”

That student can then pick the next person to share, and so on. The story finishes once everyone has gotten a turn! With your students’ creative minds, who knows where the story will go!

4. Sixty-Second Sketch

Pick a topic and have students draw it for one minute. Or pause during reading time and ask them to draw a picture of something happening in the book!

5. Break The Ice

Compile a list of  icebreaker questions  for students to answer and number each of them. Students will use an  online dice roller  to roll the dice and answer the question it lands on. It’s a great opportunity for the students to learn a little bit more about each other and get their little minds thinking. 

6. Virtual Scavenger Hunt

It’s a good idea to communicate with parents in preparation for this one. Create a list of virtual scavenger hunt items for parents to place in easy-to-find spots around the house. Announce the first item and have the kids run to get it. Give each student the next item as they return. The first person to find all the items wins!

Virtual Team Building Games for Middle School Students

Middle school is tough enough in normal times. Throw a pandemic into the mix and teachers have an extra hurdle trying to help their students develop emotionally and relationally. Here are some team building activities for students to help them out of their shells and work together!

Share an online bingo board with your students and select themes that match a subject your class is learning.

Don’t forget a prize for the winners! Maybe they get no homework or their choice of the next group activity.

8. Detective

Pick a student to be the detective. This person closes their eyes and counts to thirty. While this happens, choose a student to be the spy.

The spy begins with an action (like waving their hand or tapping their nose), and all of the other students will follow along. Now the detective opens their eyes and observes their classmates.

The spy continues changing actions as the other students follow. The detective’s job is to figure out who the spy is!

9. Two Truths and a Fib

Have each student write down two true things about themselves and one fib. Each student will read theirs to the class and you can have the whole class vote on which they think is the fib. This is a fun game to get the creativity flowing as they have to think of a believable, yet fun fib. It’s also a great way for the students to get to know each other better as they may have not known the other truths about each other. 

10. Waffles or Pancakes 

This is a great game to engage all the students, even those who struggle to speak up in class. There are no right or wrong answers! Start with one student and ask “Which do you like more—waffles or pancakes?”

The student answers and gives an explanation why. Then using their answer, add a new option and ask another student. For example, “Which do you prefer, waffles or hot dogs?” The game continues this way!

Virtual Team Building Activities for High School and College Students

One of the best parts of teaching high school and college-aged students is that you can give them unique, challenging projects and watch them rise to the occasion! Check out some of these options your class is sure to enjoy!

11. Virtual Escape Room

At Team Building Hub , we’ve put a lot of thought into how to make an epic online team building activity for students and a virtual escape room is a fantastic option. Your students can play a real escape room using a live camera feed. Each room has a Game Guide actually in the room who acts as your eyes, ears, hands, and feet. Along with the Game Guide, students progress through the room using their digital dashboards, 360 room scans, and an inventory system. Find a list of virtual escape room options here.

12. Online Mystery Game

If you have a bigger class, an online mystery game is also a great option. Your students will be broken into teams of 5–7 secret agents who race to solve a crime before the other teams. You can raise the stakes here and offer extra credit for the winning team. Or maybe even offer a pass on some homework!

It’s simple and there are so many options out there for virtual trivia games . You can use tools like Kahoot! to make the game engaging! Maybe pick a theme that goes along with your class, or rather than quizzing on a particular topic, have a trivia game instead! Your students will have a blast getting out of the normal routine! Whatever you choose to do, trivia is a low-impact, simple thing to add to your schedule.

14. Map Challenges

Use a world map of your choosing, break students into groups and give them a certain amount of time to list as many states, cities, countries, etc. as they can in that map. If you’re a geography teacher, this would be an especially fantastic team building activity for your class!

15. Story Telling

Provide students with four or five different images. The students arrange them however they want and create a story that connects them together. It’s fun to see what direction students will take! Some will come up with funny stories, while others will go for the drama. Any time we can encourage students to tap into their creative, collaborative sides, we’re setting them up for success!

16. Typing Speed Test

Do you have some competitive students? There are so many online options for typing tests that you can challenge your students to. See who has the quickest typing fingers in the class!

17. Shark Tank 

Chances are, you’re familiar with the show Shark Tank. In this activity, you’ll split your class into teams where they have to come up with a product or service to pitch to the sharks. This could be a fun opportunity to bring in some guests to the class to serve as the panel of sharks.

They’ll have to work together to come up with a logo, product, marketing strategy, etc. This activity will also help them grow in their public speaking skills! After everyone has presented, your sharks can vote on the best presentation.

Benefits Of Team Building Activities For Students

This has been an interesting year for teachers, parents, and students as everyone navigates the complexities of virtual and hybrid learning. Teachers have had to create innovative opportunities for socialization in their online classrooms. But educators know that dedicating time to online team building activities for students enables them to gain the following skills!

1. Creativity

According to Psychology Today, “creativity is the thinking that fuels innovation,” and “creativity is or is related to 9 of the top 10 skills that global executives say is essential for 2020 and beyond.”

It’s important in the academic years to show students that there are many different ways to be creative!

Online team building activities are an opportunity to make space for creative thinking, and equip students for success.

2. Collaboration

While students learn alongside peers, they often work on schoolwork by themselves. While independence and individual learning are important, it’s also necessary for students to learn how to work together and navigate group situations.

Choosing a virtual team building activity that requires groups to find solutions together is a great way to develop that collaboration muscle. 

3. Communication

Because of remote learning, students are missing the opportunities to socialize that are normally a part of school. It’s a challenge to get kids to build relationships online organically. Team building activities are a great way to spend some time learning those communication skills and making friends!

Remote learning isn’t often viewed as “fun.” But taking a break from the routine and participating in virtual team building activities is a great way to just have some fun and engage with your class! Students will want to engage in the work more readily when they’re not feeling burnt out by the constant computer time. 

Anecia is a Nashville-based writer who believes in the power of team building. She writes a variety of content focused on creative corporate team building ideas, to help teams become more dynamic, unified, and successful.

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40 Fun Games for Online Students on Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet

Crazy Good Kickstarter Tech Projects From March 2015

Teachers are always looking for unique ways to engage students in virtual classrooms in the ever-changing education world. The transition to online platforms like Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet has sparked innovation in transforming classroom exercises into enjoyable experiences. This collection of fun games for students gives instructors activities to keep them involved in their online learning journey. 

Table of Contents

How COVID Changed Education

As schools wrestled with the requirement of physical closures to contain the COVID-19 spread, the education world quickly shifted to virtual learning options. In this era of distance learning, educators are adapting to a digital landscape that demands technological acumen.

One of the effects of COVID-19 on education has been the increased use of digital tools in remote environments. Traditional classrooms gave way to virtual classrooms overnight, with instructors using video conferencing and mobile devices applications like Zoom meetings, Microsoft Teams app to deliver classes remotely. 

The challenge resulted in the discovery of the best Zoom games and the implementation of fun activities that transcended the boundaries of the classroom. Educators began finding new techniques such as finding the best games for adaptive learning. For educators venturing into the virtual realm, platforms like Google Classroom became essential components of the teaching toolkit. 

The Google Meet platform, coupled with Google Hangouts and other tools, provided a versatile space for educators to conduct classes in both large groups and small groups. These academic games added an element of fun to the virtual learning experience. 

The integration of fun Zoom games not only addressed the need for engagement but also became favorite games among students. There was a rising realization of the best way for education to be more adaptive. The challenges propel educators and older students towards a digital frontier.  

Through the incorporation of the best Google Meet games, Zoom activities, and an educational game tailored for online classes, the education community embraced a fun way of learning. 

Problems with Remote Learning

Remote environments have regularly created obstacles for instructors and students. Not all have equal access to suitable mobile devices and internet connection, which exacerbates inequities. This disparity affects many or a small group of students’ capacity to attend virtual classrooms. 

In distance learning, students’ excitement might wane without face-to-face contact and fun activities. Technical faults also complicate the remote learning experience. Furthermore, the transition to online learning has raised worries about social isolation. Some features of a conventional class meeting are a bit challenging in virtual classes. 

To address challenges in remote learning, educators are exploring unique ways to foster connections in virtual team building games through a video call. Incorporating an interactive game and icebreaker games, such as in Microsoft icebreakers, can turn a routine zoom call into a fun activity that builds a sense of community. 

Utilizing the “Together Mode” in Microsoft Teams meetings to incorporate team-building games can create a more interactive way and engaging experience. For Zoom classes, exploring a great way to integrate activities can also contribute to an interactive environment. Teachers can utilize Zoom breakout rooms and collaborative projects to foster cooperation. 

Considering the prevalence of computers or a mobile device, instructors can explore online energizers and activity ideas that students can participate in. Implementing board games for online platforms is one of the best ways to infuse a lot of fun into smaller groups within the Zoom room. By employing this good idea, educators can create a more enriching educational experience.

Keeping Students Engaged

Keeping students engaged in a remote learning environment is the best part for instructors looking to deliver a successful learning environment. One popular method is the incorporation of virtual games. These icebreaker games serve as tools to break up the monotony of online meetings and encourage an engagement level among students.

Using online games and collaborative games on video conferencing applications like Zoom meeting, Microsoft Teams app, and Google Classroom grab students’ attention and make learning pleasurable. These interactive games also hone problem-solving skills. 

In addition, introducing the best games allows instructors to measure student progress in real-time. Using a fun Zoom game and interactive games generates a feeling of camaraderie. A virtual board game can also promote cooperation and friendly competition.  

Instructors can also explore the best Microsoft Teams games and Zoom games that involve breakout rooms. These virtual games add a fun addition to an online meeting. Utilizing Zoom breakout rooms or the equivalent feature in MS Teams can develop problem-solving skills within small groups.

Another great game idea is incorporating virtual backgrounds to make the experience enjoyable. By encouraging students to use creative backgrounds during a video chat or Zoom meeting, instructors can add an element of fun to the classroom. Additionally, a simple game with a time limit, such as an easy game or short video games, can be an effective way to maintain engagement during sessions.

Educators can also leverage platforms like Google Meet and incorporate Google Meet activities. The use of Google Doc allows students to work together in real-time. Features that use breakout rooms and free games, such as Heads Up, allow for a more interactive experience. 

In conclusion, an engaging game presents a viable solution to the greatest challenge of keeping students engaged in a remote environment. 

Online Class Games

Teachers have discovered inventive methods such as incorporating a list of virtual classroom games to keep students interested on popular platforms such as Zoom, Teams, and Google Hangouts. These academic games introduce a mix of new games and virtual tours alongside a familiar game that keeps the classroom engaging. 

From fun Zoom games for online students to the best Google Meet games, these free games provide a dynamic alternative to the traditional lecture style. This reimagining of a classic game fosters student friendship, an easy way to convert the online classroom into an arena of shared learning. Below is a list of games you can incorporate in your online classes. 

Kahoot is a famous quiz platform that makes learning fun and one of the most favorite games by students. Teachers may construct personalized tests on various topics, and students can compete in real-time to answer questions correctly. It is the perfect virtual game tailored to various topics and ability levels, promoting a dynamic and engaging online learning environment.

#2 Balderdash

Balderdash is one of the best fun word games that rewards creativity and rapid thinking. Students take turns devising fictitious meanings for cryptic terms while others attempt to identify the true meaning. This creative game improves vocabulary and makes players laugh as they come up with amusing definitions.

#3 The A-Z Game

The A-Z Game is a fast-paced exercise and can be one of the best Zoom games to incorporate in your class. Participants take turns identifying objects that begin with each alphabet letter within a given category. This fun alphabet game is readily adaptable to other themes, making it a flexible and pleasant word challenge alternative for virtual classes. 

#4 Compound Word Quiz

The Compound Word Quiz is an instructive word game where students mix words to produce a word. As students work together to understand complex phrases, this simple game develops language and collaborative learning. 

I Spy is the perfect game that connects well to virtual classrooms. One player chooses an item from their surroundings and delivers the first letter, leading others to guess what it is. As students share peeks into their virtual backgrounds, this game enhances attention and foster connections. 

#6 Logo Quiz

The Logo Quiz is a perfect game that challenges students to recognize iconic logos from diverse brands. This easy game improves visual identification as well as general brand awareness. Participants may exhibit logos, while others can guess the brand names. 

#7 Virtual Scavenger Hunts

Virtual Scavenger Hunts are an engaging approach to engage students online. Teachers might give students a list of things or hints to discover and show on their cameras. This game encourages problem-solving skills and active engagement, providing a playful aspect to the Zoom room.

To organize a virtual scavenger hunt, teachers can create a curated list of items related to the subject matter. By incorporating scavenger hunts into Zoom classes, educators can create an opportunity for students to actively participate in a hands-on, easy way. The adaptability of the virtual scavenger hunt makes them a versatile tool for fostering a dynamic learning environment.

#8 Guess the Sound

Guess the Sound is an auditory challenge in which students listen to different sounds and attempt to identify them. The main object of the game is to improve listening abilities and expose students to sounds from their classmates’ surroundings. 

#9 What’s the Question?

What’s the Question is a great game that flips the script on typical quiz forms. Participants are given replies rather than answers; their objective is to develop the appropriate questions. This creative game enables players to think critically, improve their questioning abilities, and better grasp diverse subjects. 

#10 Rock, Paper, Scissors

This virtual recreation of the ancient hand game lends a sense of spontaneity to online classes. Students may choose using emojis and a simple set of criteria selects the winner. The Rock Paper Scissors game is simple to play and it is a fun game that can fill the online classroom with laughter and excitement. 

#11 Finish The Story Game

The Finish The Story Game is a collaborative and perfect virtual game in which each player contributes a phrase to create a tale. This interactive game not only encourages creativity but also improves narrative and writing abilities. Students take turns contributing to the story, building on their classmates’ ideas. 

#12 Tic-Tac-Toe

Tic-Tac-Toe is a traditional game readily adaptable to Zoom activities, Teams, and Google Meet platform. Students may take turns putting their Xs and Os on the virtual whiteboard or using annotation tools to obtain a three-in-a-row triumph. This classic game stimulates strategic thinking and pleasant rivalry in a familiar and approachable style for online learning.

#13 Mad Libs

Mad Libs is a humorous and one of the best interactive language arts games that perfectly converts to virtual platforms. Participants take turns filling in the spaces of a pre-written tale using nouns, verbs, etc. The Mad Libs game encourages creativity and adds a surprise aspect by reading the finished tales aloud. 

#14 Odd One Out

Odd One Out is an excellent observational and deductive brain teaser for virtual classrooms. Teachers may offer a group of things or ideas, and students must determine which one does not belong. This game enables students to clarify their reasoning skills. 

#15 Charades

Charades is a popular traditional game that connects to virtual learning settings. While others attempt to guess, students act out a word or phrase without speaking. Virtual charades may be enabled through motions on camera, providing a funny and participatory component to online lessons. 

#16 The Name Game

The Name Game is a fantastic game in virtual classrooms to improve memory and friendship. Participants take turns pronouncing a name, and the person who comes next must come up with a new name that begins with the last letter of the previous one. This memory game adds a fun factor when kids find similar hobbies or learn new names. 

#17 Jeopardy

A popular game, Jeopardy, may be converted to virtual classrooms utilizing presentation tools. Teachers may construct personalized Jeopardy game boards with varied difficulty levels. As students compete alone or in large groups to answer questions correctly, this word game promotes information retention and friendly competitiveness. 

#18 GeoGuessr

GeoGuessr is a compelling geography game that uses Google Maps to send students to random places throughout the globe. It is an immersive and informative choice for virtual classrooms, offering virtual tours that piques students’ interest and encourages them to explore.

#19 Pictionary

Pictionary is the best way to encourage collaboration and friendly competition in virtual classes. To enhance the virtual Pictionary experience, teachers can make use of the whiteboard feature available in online platforms. 

Additionally, incorporating a quick draw round where participants have a limited time to guess adds an excitement to the fun activity. Teachers can also extend the benefits of Pictionary by transforming it into a collaborative art project. 

Boggle is a fun word game that seamlessly moves to virtual platforms. Teachers may display a grid of letters and give students a time limit to discover as many words as possible by linking neighboring letters. This game helps with vocabulary, pattern identification, and time management. 

#21 20 Questions

20 Questions is a traditional guessing game in which students must determine an item or idea from a succession of yes/no and a list of questions. This game improves logical reasoning, critical thinking, and questioning techniques. 

Top 5, like Family Feud, is a fun icebreaker game where students take turns naming their top five favorite list of items from a specified category. It might be anything from favorite movies to fantasy holiday spots. It is a simple method to break the ice and create a friendly environment in virtual classes.

#23 Two Truths and a Lie

Two Truths and a Lie is a traditional get-to-know-you game that works incredibly well in virtual classes. Each person gives three claims about themselves, two of which are true and one false, and the others must determine which is untrue. 

This fun game motivates kids to think imaginatively about how they deliver information. The utilization of a piece of paper or sheet of paper also allows for a tactile aspect, as students can physically write down their statements. 

#24 Countdown

The countdown is a challenging game in which students complete arithmetic problems or unscramble words against time. Teachers may ask a list of questions, and students compete to be the first to enter the proper answers. 

#25 Quizizz

Quizizz is an interactive trivia games platform that makes learning fun. Teachers may construct quizzes on various subjects, and students compete in real-time to answer questions correctly. This adaptable virtual trivia platform allows customization to meet various topics and ability levels. 

#26 Zoomed In Picture Game

The Zoomed In Picture Game is a visual challenge in which players estimate the identity of a list of things based on a close-up photograph. This fantastic game improves visual perception while adding interest and intrigue to virtual classrooms. It is an adaptable and engaging game that can be tailored to various topics and themes. 

#27 Continue the Story

This game is one of the most collaborative and interactive language arts games in which each player adds a last word or phrase to an expanding tale. Students contribute to the tale, resulting in a shared narrative journey. 

#28 Mad Gab

Mad Gab is a vibrant and fun word game in which students must interpret statements from apparently incomprehensible syllables. In the rules of the game, participants engage in a turn-taking activity where they read aloud a set of words, collectively forming a well-known phrase or saying when spoken rapidly. 

#29 Follow the Letters

Follow the Letters is an instructive game in which kids use a given word’s letters to create new phrases or sentences. It is an adaptable exercise tailored to various topics and skill levels. To add a variation, teachers can introduce the greatest challenge like focusing on the first letter or last letter of each word. 

Mafia is a social deduction game that may be played in virtual environments. Participants play several roles, including mafia members and townspeople. This game improves critical thinking, communication, and collaboration abilities. To ensure a smooth experience, it is essential to establish the rules of the game clearly. 

Gimkit is a configurable quiz game for online learning settings. Teachers may construct quizzes with a variety of questions, and students get bonus points for accurately answering questions. Gimkit’s money system enables students to spend and invest their profits intelligently. 

Memory is a traditional concentration card game that adapts well to virtual platforms. Players take turns flipping cards and attempting to locate matching pairs. This memory game improves focus and adds a pleasant competitive aspect to virtual settings. A card game is a simple yet effective method for engaging students and reinforcing learning ideas. 

#33 Interest Inventory

Interest Inventory is an engaging and informative virtual classroom game that allows students to discover and discuss their interests. Teachers might construct a questionnaire or conversation questions to learn about students’ interests, passions, and preferences. 

#34 Hit It in Five

Hit It in Five is a time-limited game in which students have five minutes to study and deliver a subject. As students compete to convey crucial ideas within a time limit, this game improves critical thinking skills. To have fun addition, teachers can introduce bonus points for creativity or additional relevant information in the presentations for the highest score. 

#35 Pyramid

Pyramid is a word-guessing game that works well on virtual platforms. Participants work in pairs, one supplying hints or virtual trivia to their companion to assist them in identifying a specific word or phrase and get the highest score. The problem is that the clues get more difficult with each round. 

Taboo is an interactive word-guessing game that smoothly adapts to the online version. While others guess the target word, participants take turns defining a word without using particular “taboo” words. Word games like this game are an excellent alternative for boosting online interaction. 

Bingo is a popular game that connects well to virtual classrooms. Teachers may make digital bingo cards with the lesson’s phrases, ideas, or visuals. This familiar game reinforces learning and adds excitement to virtual courses. For a twist, teachers can utilize game boards such as Microsoft Teams Bingo to create an interactive experience. 

#38 Math True or False

Math True or False is an interesting game in which students judge the correctness of mathematical problems. Students must assess whether a set of math questions teachers present are true or untrue. This game fosters speedy decision-making and teaches mathematical fundamentals. 

#39 Ambassadors

Ambassadors is one of the best world play games that promotes collaboration and communication in virtual classrooms. Students act as “ambassadors” for a certain subject and convey it to the class. World play games such as this emphasizes leadership among students.  

#40 The Survival Game

The Survival Game is an interesting game in which students must work together to solve a fictional survival crisis. This game is a great way to improve problem-solving abilities and stimulates creativity and cooperation in a virtual setting.

Whether you are a teacher working with kids online or in a classroom, our team has the best ideas and lists for you! Check out other ideas in these articles:

• 20 Fun Online Sight Word Games For Kindergarten Students
• 35 Fun Music Games For 1st Grade Through 4th Grade (Classroom or Home)
• 50 Fun Puzzles and Puzzle Games for Preschoolers

Kiezela Quiz once whizzed through clouds as a flight attendant, but her love for books and penning down thoughts lured her back to solid ground. Now, she is a full-time writer, and every week she dishes out articles on education, gaming, and pretty much anything that sparkles under the sun.

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5 digital resources to inspire curiosity and engage students

Educators can look to digital resources to spark students' curiosity and motivate them to engage with instruction.

Key points:

• Student engagement is among today’s biggest classroom challenges
• Enhancing classroom learning with interactive maps 
• 3 things to consider when designing digital learning experiences
• For more news on digital resources, visit eSN’s Digital Learning hub

I have had the pleasure to serve as an educator in Wisconsin’s Verona Area School District for over 30 years. During that time, I have enjoyed working with the staff, students, parents, and community members to thoughtfully integrate technology into the classrooms. In 1995, I became the Educational Technology Coach for the Verona Area High School.

As the Educational Technology Coach, I support the classroom teachers I serve by modeling innovative technology strategies, co-planning lessons, co-teaching, curating research and resources, analyzing student usage data, and many other strategies.  Often, my colleagues will come to me with requests for resources to overcome a certain classroom issue, and like in many school systems, among the biggest issues right now is a lack of student engagement.

Post-pandemic, educators in my district and those I connect with as both an Apple Distinguished Educator and as a Discovery Educator Network STAR report that there has been a decline in student engagement. As educators, it is incumbent upon us to spark students’ curiosity so that they will engage with instruction. When colleagues ask me the best tools for inspiring curiosity and engaging students:

NASA : The NASA website is an invaluable resource, gaining attention recently due to the excitement surrounding events like the solar eclipse. Offering an extensive array of lesson plans, activities, and educational materials, NASA covers a diverse range of STEM topics including space exploration, earth science, and aeronautics. Moreover, it provides an abundance of opportunities to engage and ignite student curiosity. And as an educator, if you love to tweet and share information on social media, you might be interested in the program NASA offers called “ NASA Social ” (formerly known as NASA Tweetup) where social media users, including educators, can apply to attend and cover NASA events, including space launches, through various social media platforms such as Twitter.  

Discovery Education : Through the Discovery Education Experience product, Discovery Education offers hundreds of ready-made lessons, quizzes, activity calendars, and ready-to-use resources that use features such as closed captioning, immersive reader, and self-paced activities. Teachers love these resources and rely on the components of the activities to build background knowledge, provide accessible content, and spark curiosity. Students love them because they are interesting and engaging. A standout feature is their virtual field trips, partnering with iconic companies worldwide to provide behind-the-scenes access to fascinating locations. The Amazon Robotics: Fulfillment Center Virtual Career Tour is my favorite . You go behind the scenes to learn how Amazon picks, packs, and ships orders from their fulfillment centers. I was so impressed with this virtual field trip that I scheduled a tour at a local fulfillment center. It was incredible. Another fantastic virtual field trip is “Build the Change – Lego Virtual Field Trip.” After watching this VFT, our 3rd grade students teamed up with our high school robotics class to learn, play, and have some fun. When the classes got together, the 3rd grade students were ready to play and be inspired as high school students shared how they build robots, cars, rockets, and more. 

Google Arts and Culture : I have been a fan of Google Arts and Culture for years. With over 1,600 experiments and counting, what is not to love about this free site? In addition to the extensive collection of artworks and cultural artifacts, it offers some pretty cool immersive experiences. Some of my favorites include Blob Opera, a fun and creative tool where you can experiment and create music while learning how AI generates and synthesizes vocals. There’s also 3D Pottery, where you can virtually recreate pottery from different cultures and time periods. With Kandinsky Music, you can explore art while experimenting with color and emotions. Lastly, with the Art Coloring Book, you get to pick a famous piece of artwork and color it using the colors of your choice. Coloring can be a really fun, creative, and relaxing activity. When finished, you can download and share your artwork on social media or print it. These are just a few of my favorites. Now, there are over 1,500 more experiments waiting for you and your students to explore, along with a wide variety of other resources.

Canva for Education : Canva is a graphic design platform that offers a special version for educators and students. It provides templates and tools for creating visually appealing presentations, posters, infographics, and other visual materials for classroom projects and assignments. Canva is all the craze if you are looking for fun, easy, and creative ways to engage students with digital media. With over 420,000 templates, 75 million stock images, 3,000 fonts, and now access to over half a million popular song tracks, it is easy to get creative with posters, flyers, infographics, presentations, newsletters, videos, and social media posts, to name a few.  Any educator or students can have access to the full version of Canva for free.  After creating your account, you can go to Canva.com/education to verify your account.

Everyone Can Create : The free curriculum by Apple provides teachers and students with inspiration, allowing them to explore creativity in various ways. The downloadable books cover a range of projects, offering examples and tutorials using apps and tools that enable anyone to explore their creative side. Additionally, there are teacher guides and student guides available to assist in getting started. Some of the key apps featured in the curriculum include: GarageBand, a music creation app where you can compose, record, and edit your own music tracks; iMovie, a video editing app where you can edit movies and trailers using video clips, photos, music, and special effects; Clips, a video editing and social media app that allows you to create short video clips with animated captions, stickers, filters, and music; and Swift Playgrounds, an app that teaches the fundamentals of coding through interactive puzzles and challenges. Projects range from recording a podcast, publishing a storybook, and creating green screen effects. One of my favorite projects from the curriculum is creating pop art with the photo app. It’s a fun and easy way to encourage students to be creative with photos they take. You’ll be amazed at how engaged your students will be when provided with opportunities from this curriculum.

These are just a few of the great edtech resources available to educators today.  While there are many more possible resources to consider, the general availability of these resources to educators nationwide make these among the simplest to integrate into learning. They are easy to use, and your students will truly be excited to begin to use these. Give them a try today!

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Rita Mortenson is the Educational Technology Coach for Verona Area High School, in Verona, Wisconsin.She is an ISTE Certified Educator, Discovery Education Leadership Council Member, Apple Distinguished Educator, Google Certified Innovator, and is a National Board Certified Teacher. She enjoys working and collaborating with staff and students to create opportunities for all.

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27 Classroom Games Students Will Want To Play Again and Again

Practice important skills … and have fun!

The classroom games you choose to play with students may become their favorite memories. (I still remember playing Heads Up, Seven Up in Mrs. Merar’s first grade class!) Classroom games are a great way to build collaboration and community and practice important skills. Plus, they’re fun!

Benefits of Classroom Games

Classroom games capture what kids are naturally good at—playing—to improve other skills. Games support kids’ executive functioning skills , things like planning, organization, turn-taking, and problem-solving are all skills that students need to be successful. Playing games, from Memory to Monopoly, gives kids experience in focus and concentration, working memory, and flexibility in safe spaces where they can grow and stretch these skills. Plus, they’re a fun way to learn more about how your students think and work together.

In addition to all the classroom games listed below, check out our lists of most loved educational board games and best board games for 6-to-12-year-olds .

Here are our favorite classroom games that you can use to teach, reteach, and engage students.

Games for Practicing Academic Skills

Classroom games can help students practice things that they need to know—like multiplication tables, vocabulary words, and science facts. They’re great ways to do a quick review or practice for a quiz.

Math (or Fact) Baseball

Divide the class into two teams. One team is “at bat” and scores runs by answering questions that are worth one, two, or three bases. You “pitch” the questions using flash cards. If the at-bat team answers correctly, they move around the baseball field and rack up runs. If the at-bat team does not answer correctly, the defending team can respond correctly to earn an out. Once the at-bat team has three outs, they switch.

You can also put students into pairs and have them play a partner version.

Why we love it:  This game is great for upper elementary students who are able to follow the game and will love the strategy of earning runs.

Beach Ball Toss

Write questions on the sides of a plastic beach ball. You can write questions about a story (plot, theme, setting, characters, structure), about math (write numbers 1 through 6 on the beach ball and students have to select a math problem based on the number they choose), or simply silly questions that students can answer. As students catch the ball, they answer the question. When they’ve answered, they throw the ball to the next player. If you’re working with material that may be new for some kids, you can give each kid one “pass” and they can share the problem-solving with another student.

Why we love it: It’s flexible and works with students’ eye-hand coordination.

Buy it: Beach Balls at Amazon

Learn more: More Than Elementary

Create a list of topics that students can visualize (think: science concepts, vocabulary words). Students work either in two teams for the entire class or in small groups that are divided into two. One student selects a card and has to draw an image that the other team uses to guess the word. The rest of the group guesses the term that’s being drawn. Add a timer for an added challenge. Provide additional differentiation by allowing students to provide one, two, or more letters in the word as well.

Why we love it: Kids who have strengths in drawing and thinking outside the box can really shine.

Learn more: Differentiation Daily

There’s the Simon Says you know from the playground and the Simon Says classroom game. In this Simon Says, tell students to do something that lets them show off what they’ve learned or practices a skill. So you might say, Simon Says spell “conundrum.” Or Simon Says solve this equation. Play either as a whole class with you as Simon or in small groups with cards of prompts that students can use when they take turns being Simon.

Why we love it: In addition to practicing skills, students also practice listening and impulse control.

20 Questions

Prepare cards with related words or topics. Group students into teams of two to four students. One at a time, students choose a card and the others have to try to guess what the card is by asking questions that can only be answered with a yes or no. Keep track of how many questions are asked, because you’re only allowed 20 questions to get to the answer. Have students put aside the cards they didn’t get for review.

Why we love it: Students practice working memory as they add new information to what they already know.

Also, Guess in 10 is a great 20 Questions–style game played around various topics, including animals, countries, and cities.

Buy it: Guess in 10 at Amazon

Memory is a game that students can do with any content—vocabulary words paired with their definitions, chemistry terms paired with images that depict them, or text structures paired with graphic organizers. First, have students create card pairs. Shuffle the cards and put them on the table. Take turns flipping cards over and finding the matching pairs.

Why we love it: Memory is so versatile you can use this game with anything from procedures to vocabulary to history facts.

Buy it: Blank Memory Cards at Amazon

In charades, students choose a card and act out the information on the card. For a unit on weather, you may have the words cloud , tornado , or hurricane for example. Scaffold this game with three rounds. In the first round, students can explain the topics using a few words. Then, in the second round, they can only use one word to describe what they are acting out. And in the third round, they have to be completely silent, using only their bodies to act out each word.

Why we love it: This game gets students up and moving around and thinking creatively about how to show what they know.

Learn more: Savvy Apple

Put students in the hot seat to review the plot points of a story, practice answering questions, or review for a science test. First, choose vocabulary to review. Then, select a student to sit in the hot seat. The other students ask questions about the topic or information. The student in the hot seat must answer as quickly as possible. If their answer is correct, they stay in the hot seat. If they get a wrong answer, they can pass the seat to someone else. (You can take the pressure out of this game, which can make some students nervous, by removing the timed aspect.)

Why we love it: Hot Seat is a great way to get students to practice information they need to have right at the tip of their tongue.

Scattergories

Scattergories can be played for academics or for fun. It also helps students improve their creative thinking. You’ll need a list of at least 10 categories—mix serious topics with silly ones. Then, select a letter of the alphabet. Have students brainstorm words to go with each category that starts with that letter. So, if the categories you have are Weather, Bees, and Favorite Places, and the letter is H, students might write: hurricane, hive, Hawaii. Give a set amount of time for students to complete their own brainstorm, then share out. Students can rack up points for the number of categories that they complete. And sharing out helps them connect their brainstorming with everyone else’s.

Why we love it: The boundaries that kids have to work in when playing Scattergories is ideal for inspiring creativity.

Get printable Scattergories sheets on Pinterest.

Fix It Relay Race

Divide the class into teams of four to six students, and prepare sentences that each have an error—it could be a factual error for content classes or grammar or spelling mistakes for language classes. Arrange students in a line, with students standing a few feet apart. The first student in each team must correct one mistake in the sentence they are given. Then, they pass the card to the next teammate. The next student corrects another mistake. This continues until each team member has seen the card and they think all the errors are corrected. Then they run the card to the front to complete the relay.

Why we love it: Teams work together to complete each task.

Buy it: Fix It Sentences at Teachers Pay Teachers

This is another classic game that can be adapted to any academic content. Each student gets a card that is taped to their back or their forehead. The card has a name of a person you’re studying or a topic on it. Then, the students circulate and ask questions of other people to try to figure out who or what is taped to them.

Why we love it: This game is easily differentiated by providing students with personalities that you know they are familiar with, and by providing them with questions to ask or a checklist of personalities that they can be thinking about as they figure out who everyone is.

Word Scramble

Each student or group has a word. The goal is to pull as many words out of the original word as possible within the time limit.

Why we love it: Word Scramble encourages flexibility, and students may be surprised at what they see in each game.

Stickyball Bingo

Create a bingo board on your whiteboard with the words that you want students to work with or the math problems you want them to do. Then, have students throw a sticky ball at the board to select their game.

Why we love it: When their aim is poor, students may have to answer questions that push them out of their comfort zone.

Musical Chairs

Prepare a list of discussion questions or prompts. Students choose a card, then walk around the room while music plays. When the music stops, they find a partner and work on the questions they see on the card. You can prepare cards with math or science problems, questions from social studies, getting-to-know-you questions, or silly questions. Changing the type of questions that students are working with keeps this game fresh.

Why we love it: Musical chairs really gets students up and moving, and if you remove the loss of a chair each time, all students can stay in the game.

Check out these school-appropriate songs kids love .

Flashcard Duel

Students each have a set of flash cards and use them to “duel.” In pairs, students show each other a flash card one at a time. If they answer the card right, they get to keep the card. If they don’t, their partner keeps the card.

Why we love it: It’s fast-paced and easy for students to pick up and play during a few minutes of downtime.

Classroom Games for Communication

Games that require students to talk and listen to each other are great ways to encourage communication.

Yes, No, Stand Up

Have a list of sentences prepared. When you read a sentence, students stand if their response is yes and stay seated if it’s no.

Why we love it: Students practice listening skills and inhibition by standing or not in response to your questions.

Blind Square

Use a long rope and blindfolds. Have students stand in groups of four, then put the blindfolds on and hold the rope between them so it creates a square. They have to work together to put the rope down on the floor in front of them.

Why we love it: This game is great for middle schoolers to learn to work together.

Odd One Out

Prepare this game with a set of words or phrases written on slips of paper. Have students work in pairs or small groups to categorize the words or phrases as they relate to each other. Students have completed the game when they find the odd one out. So, students may have a group of four people from the Revolutionary War but only three who were presidents, so the one who is not a president is the odd one out.

Why we love it: Odd One Out requires students to use critical thinking and working memory as they come to each answer.

Can You Hear Me Now?

This is a fun warm-up or cool-down for the day. It’s also a great classroom game to play if you’re teaching virtually. Play as a class or in groups. Each student takes a turn describing an item for the others to draw one step at a time. For example, if the object were “cat,” the description might be: Draw a circle. Draw two triangles on top of the circle. And so on until a cat is drawn. It’ll surprise students how their directions are interpreted, and how hard it is to get people to follow their directions.

Why we love it: This is a humorous way to reinforce that students need to be clear in their directions and listen to yours.

Classroom Games for Collaboration and Team Building

Games that require teamwork are ideal for helping kids practice collaboration in short bursts and around a common, if silly, goal.

Minute To Win It

Challenge your class to compete in tasks that can take under a minute. You could:

• Speed-stack paper cups.
• Roll a coin between fork tongs.
• Transfer pom-poms with chopsticks.
• Build a tower out of marshmallows and toothpicks.
• Pass a balloon from one person to another without using your hands.
• Put together a puzzle.

Why we love it: It’s a quick way to engage students and shift students into a positive frame of mind.

Learn more: Fun and Easy Minute To Win It Games

Over the Electric Fence

Put two chairs in a row, and tell students that they are connected by a wire that is 3 feet high. Even better, string a rope 3 feet high. Students have to imagine that this is an electric fence and if they touch it they are dead. They’ll help everyone get over the fence and work together to do so. Make it even more challenging by telling students that they have to hold hands while moving everyone from one side of the fence to the other.

Why we love it: Students will have to slow down and figure out exactly how to solve the problem.

Create a square in your classroom using tape. Then, place plastic cups or cones around the inside of the square. This area is the minefield. Break students into pairs. One student is blindfolded and the other leads them. The students have to cross the minefield without touching or knocking down the plastic cups. The non-blindfolded student gives directions and the blindfolded student must follow them to cross the minefield without blowing up a “mine” or knocking over a cone.

Why we love it: Students will get out of their comfort level while playing this game.

Start with general everyday scenes (eating dinner, brushing teeth). Have two people act out a scene while everyone else watches. After a time, stop the scene and have someone swap out for a new player. Then, they have to change how the scene is being done. They could, for example, turn eating dinner into taking care of a pet. Once students are familiar with the game, make it more challenging with prompts from the book you’re reading or history scenarios (e.g., Washington crossing the Delaware turns into the French Revolution).

Why we love it: This game gives older students the opportunity to work with a variety of people and get creative connecting scene to scene.

Check out more team-building activities for kids and cooperative games for kids .

Classroom Games for Fun

Sometimes you need classroom games that simply let students have fun and blow off steam!

Freeze Dance

This is a great brain break. Put on music and dance (challenge kids to a Floss-off or the Macarena to get everyone moving). Then, pause the music and any student who unfreezes before the music starts again is out.

Why we love it: You’ll see some students come out of their shells once the music starts.

Heads Up, Seven Up

Why we love it: This is a classroom game we remember from our elementary school years, and now we’re passing it along!

Tic-Tac-Toe

Use a version of tic-tac-toe during the dreaded indoor recess or as a brain break.

Tic-tac-toe with Hula-Hoops:

Human Tic-Tac-Toe:

Why we love it: Whichever version you choose, tic-tac-toe is a quick game that’s always a winner.

Place a number of objects (up to 20) on a table (or post on a slide with 20 words or pictures) and have students take one minute to try to memorize as many as they can. Then, cover the objects or hide the slide and have students write down as many as they can remember. Play this game once a week or so and see how students improve their memory strategies.

Why we love it: Students will sharpen their focus and memory skills trying to remember as many objects as possible.

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