5 Simple-to-Play Indoor Classroom Games

When winter arrives and outdoor time is limited, students’ energy often skyrockets while attention spans plummet. I used to dread those weeks when the playground was too icy or the rain poured nonstop, because the combination of cabin fever and fluorescent lights could make even the calmest classroom feel chaotic. But over the years, I learned that the right indoor classroom games can transform a day of pent-up energy into one filled with laughter, movement, and focus—creating calm during the winter months when it’s needed most.

5 INDOOR GAMES

These are my favorite indoor classroom games to help students shake out their energy and get back to learning when we can’t get outside during long Canadian winters.

1. The Floor Is Lava. This quick movement game is active, silly, and safe. My niece first taught me this game at home one frigid December day, and it turned out to be a big hit with my students.

To set it up, I place a few “islands” around the room using rug squares, painter’s tape shapes, or floor dots—just enough for small groups to share. When students need a break, I have them walk slowly around the room while calm music plays. Then I call out, “The floor is lava!” and they have five seconds to find an island and stand on it. Once everyone is safe, I add a quick challenge like “Balance on one foot,” “Freeze like a statue,” or “Make a silly face while you stretch your arms.” After about 10 seconds, I say, “The lava has cooled!” and students can move again.

It only takes a few minutes, but it always brings laughter, focus, and a renewed sense of energy. Even my older students can’t resist playing along, and I love seeing how creatively they find ways to balance, stretch, and move safely in our small classroom space.

2. Slow-Motion Relay Races. Traditional relay races are great for burning energy, but in a classroom setting, they can quickly become chaotic. My solution? Slow-motion relay races.

Here’s how it works. I set up a few “stations” around the room using classroom furniture—nothing fancy, just a clear pathway between desks. The challenge is to move through each station as slowly as possible while maintaining balance, control, and silence. For example, students might walk heel-to-toe across a line of tape, do three slow squats while balancing a pencil on their head, crawl carefully under a desk, or hold a superhero pose before tagging the next player.

The slower they move, the more fun it becomes. Students giggle, trying to stay balanced, and often encourage each other to go even slower. This game works beautifully as a brain break between lessons or during indoor recess. It combines movement with mindfulness and self-control, and students love challenging themselves to beat their own “slow record.”

Teacher tip: Add a timer and call it the “Minute of Mindful Motion.” It reframes the game as a focus exercise rather than just play.

3. Vocabulary Moves. I love using this language development activity because it blends movement with learning. It’s quick and fun, and keeps everyone engaged.

To play, I call out a vocabulary word, and students have to act it out silently using their bodies, basically a fast-paced game of charades. If I say “orbit,” they spin in slow circles; “eruption” has them crouching down and then bursting upward; “balance” means standing on one foot with arms stretched wide. Sometimes I reverse the game and have students act out a motion while classmates guess the word.

The beauty of Vocabulary Moves is that it takes zero prep and can last anywhere from two to 20 minutes. It’s one of those indoor classroom games that double as a learning tool, keeping bodies moving and brains engaged.

You can extend this activity by letting students take turns being the caller. They enjoy devising ways to express words, and it strengthens their understanding through movement and embodiment.

4. Mirror, Mirror. Whenever the classroom energy starts to scatter, this indoor classroom game never fails me. It’s simple, quiet, and surprisingly powerful for building focus and connection.

Students pair up and face each other. One becomes the leader, and the other has to mirror every movement exactly—slow, smooth, and silent. They can wave, stretch, dance, or make funny faces (within reason). After about 30 seconds, they switch roles. The goal is to move slowly and stay perfectly in sync, which is trickier than it sounds.

Sometimes I play calm instrumental music in the background to help them move rhythmically. The result is a calm, connected classroom where every child feels seen and engaged.

To deepen this activity, you can use it as a prewriting warm-up by asking students afterward to describe what it felt like to lead versus follow. It’s a great social and emotional learning tie-in for empathy and self-awareness.

5. Shape It! This game is an instant-engagement activity that works for any age. When students need a quiet way to move and reset, this always does the trick.

To play, I call out a simple challenge, like “Make a triangle with your body,” “Show me the letter S,” or “Form a square with your group,” and students perform the action. Sometimes they work alone, sometimes in pairs or small groups. They have to use their arms, legs, and positioning to form the shape as clearly as possible.

This game is rich in learning-in-disguise moments. It reinforces geometry, teamwork, and spatial reasoning while maintaining a light and fun atmosphere. Plus, it encourages everyone to stretch, bend, and work together to solve problems. It’s one of those indoor classroom games that are simple to start and hard to stop.

You can make the activity more challenging for older students with prompts like “Create a shape that looks like a mountain” or “Show me symmetry with your body.”

Why Indoor Classroom Games Work

When students can’t get outside, they don’t just miss exercise; they also miss connection, movement, and joy. Simple indoor classroom games fill that gap, helping kids refocus, laugh, and reconnect with one another. Even five minutes of play can shift the mood of the entire day.