As a camp counsellor turned Kindergarten teacher, I use “back pocket games” to build a variety of skills and maximize engagement for my students. Staying active and connected is one of the best ways to focus on ours and our children’s mental health, but has been harder to do while staying home. In an age of virtual learning, family visits, playdates, etc. It is important to quickly adapt and to allow our creativity to flow. The following is a list of adaptations for some fun and easy games to play for varying ages. All of these games have been adapted to be played virtually. Feel free to try these out with your students or young learners at home or even the next time family or friends want to participate in a video call.
Games for Virtual Learning:
Pictionary (ages 3+)
Pictionary is a classic drawing game that is fun for all ages!
Materials: Paper, writing tools OR a digital whiteboard (Zoom has this feature built in)
How to Play: One person is the “artist” while the other individual or group becomes the “guessers.” The artist has one minute to draw whatever they choose using no words. Once the minute is up the group takes turns guessing what the drawing is. Each person in the group takes turns being the drawer. You can even add a theme if you want i.e.: Disney characters, 3D shapes, outer space etc.
Tips: Depending on the ages you are playing with you may want to have a list of pre-determined things to draw.
Skills: Fine motor development, turn-taking, following instructions, critical thinking, verbal and non-verbal communication.
What time is it Mr. Wolf (ages 4+)
A fun time telling game involving physical activity! Bonus: a great game if you are learning about telling time!
Materials: none!
How to Play: Decide on who is going to be the wolf. Go over the numbers on a clock and explain the wolf can choose any number between 1-12. The group asks “what time is it Mr./Mrs. Wolf.” The wolf announces the number they have chosen. The group does jumping jacks based on the number. This continues until the wolf announces “LUNCHTIME.” Once lunchtime is announced the group has to hide out of view from their camera. If you are the last one to hide out of the wolfs view you become the wolf next. Turning your video off does not count, you must hide with your video still on. Find an example below.
Group: “What time is it Mr. Wolf!?”
Mr. Wolf: “4 o’clock!”
Group: *4 jumping jacks* “what time is it Mr. Wolf!?” etc.
Tips: Make sure you have your video chat in gallery mode so that you can see everyone. Change up the wolf to follow a fun theme. For example Mr. Snowman.
Skills: Turn taking, following instructions, introduction to telling time, gross motor development, co-operative play, etc.
Build-a-Car (ages 4+)
Build-a-Car is a spin on the classic but outdated game “Hangman.” You can choose anything you’d like to draw so long as it can be made of parts. I also use robot, person and train regularly.
Materials: Paper, writing tools OR a digital whiteboard (Zoom has this feature built in)
How to Play: One person decides on a word and draws a line for each letter in the word. Each person takes turns guessing a letter. If the letter is not in the word cross it out and move on to the next player. If the letter belongs in the word, add it and then everyone playing can draw one part to their car. Take turns between choosing the word and guessing the word.
Tips: Write the alphabet on a separate sheet for those who are just becoming familiar with their letters. You can also use pre-determined words or themes to help if it’s hard to come up with words.
Red Light, Green Light (ages 3+)
Red Light, Green Light is a great way to add physical activity into your routine and can easily be adapted to the abilities of those playing as well as can follow many different themes.
Materials: none! Bonus: You can spice things up by adding a fun way to display the colours as you call them out.
How to Play: One person is chosen to be the “traffic controller.” The “traffic controller” has the choice to call out red light, yellow light or red light. If green light is called out then the group needs to do a cardio exercise until a new colour is called out (i.e.: running on the spot, jumping jacks, spinning.) If yellow light is called the group has to do their chosen move in slow motion until another colour is called out. If red light is called the group has to stop and strike a pose until another colour is called out. Take turns being the traffic controller vs a participant.
Tips: Having a visual cue for the traffic light colour can make this extra fun and also make it more accessible. You can also change this up based on different themes/curriculums.
Wax Museum (ages 5+)
Wax museum is a camp classic which challenges the participants to stay as still as a wax figure when the security guard comes by.
Materials: none!
How to Play: One person is the “Security Guard.” The security guard closes their eyes and counts to 10. The group has 10 seconds to get into a pose and stay as still as possible. Then the security guard opens their eyes and looks at each person on the screen. If the security guard catches someone moving then they are out for the duration of the game but can have a chance to be the security guard in the next round. You can also just end the round as soon as one person is caught. Take turns being the security guard or a participant in the wax museum.
Tips: Ensure your video chat is in gallery mode so that you can see everyone at once. This is also easy to adapt to other themes.
Simon Says (ages 3+)
A fun an easy game for everyone!
Materials: none!
How to Play: One person is the leader and calls out the actions. Everyone else must follow the leader and do the action, but only when Simon says. For example, Simon says, touch your toes. If you do the action without the leader saying Simon says first, then you are out of the game.
Tips: change up the names or themes if you want.
Alphabet Fitness (ages 3+)
Fitness fun for all ages!
Materials: none!
How to Play: Choose a movement that starts with the letters of the alphabet starting at A. For example, A= arm stretches B= balance on one foot C= calf raises.
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