The Opinion Game
*Best for upper elementary 

Directions: 

1. Divide the class in half and designate one side as the "yes side" and the other as the "no side"

2. Give them a divisive (age appropriate) topic: 

   • Students should be allowed to use phones in school. 

   • Pizza should be served every day at lunch. 

   • All grades should have to take a nap every day. 

   • Recess should be an hour long. 

   • Social media age should be lowered to 10. 

   • Students should get to make the school rules. 

   • We should have 8 different choices for lunch instead of 2. 

   • Students should never have homework. 

Secret Person - Partners
*Best for upper elementary 

Directions for 1st way: 

1. Give every student a piece or paper or notecard. 

2. Have them write a fact about themselves that they want to share (they don't write their name) 

   • ex: something not a lot of people know, something they are good at, a secret talent, a hobby, etc. 

3. Mix up the cards and hand them back out so everyone gets somebody else's card. 

4. Have them walk around the room looking for the person whose card they have. 

5. When they find their person, they need to get more information from them about the skill they wrote. 

   • Example - If their person wrote that they play piano, they could ask questions like, "How long have you played? Do you take lessons? What songs do you know?" 

Secret Person - Class
*Best for upper elementary 

Directions for 2nd way: 

1. Give every student a piece or paper or notecard. 

2. Have them write a fact about themselves that they want to share (since only the teacher sees, the could write their name) 

   • ex: something not a lot of people know, something they are good at, a secret talent, a hobby, etc. 

3. Mix up the cards and then draw one and read to the class. 

4. The class gets 3 chances to correctly guess the person who wrote the card. 

5. After the person is correctly guessed or after 3 incorrect guesses, the secret person stands up and can call on 2-3 people to ask questions about the fact they wrote about themselves.

BASTA!
*Best for upper elementary 

Directions:

1. Put students in pairs or small groups. 

2. Give each group a sheet or paper and have them write 1,2,3,4. 

3. You can call out a letter or use something like this Letter Wheel.

4. They have to write a name, place, animal, and thing that starts with that letter. 

5. The first group to get all 4 written down has to yell, "BASTA!" 

1, 2, 3 

Directions: 

1. Designate someone to start the game by saying 1. 

2. Students have to take turns counting on, BUT only one person can say the next number. If more than one person says the next number, that round is over. 

   • Example: Teacher says 1. Joey says 2. Suzy says 3. Jose and Amaya say 4 at the same time.... that round is over. 

3. See how far you all can count without planning or talking!

4. For an extra challenge - everyone can close their eyes!

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

*Similar to Boom, Clap, Snatch*

Directions: 

1. Pair students and have them stand and face each other. 

2. Place an item in between each pair (ball, marker, something soft, bandana, etc,) 

3. Call out a different combination of head, shoulders, knees, and toes. When you are ready for them to grab the item, call out "Grab!" 

Magoo

Directions: 

1. Put students into pairs. 

2. One student will be Mr./Ms. Magoo and the other student is the car. 

3. Magoo has to  stand behind their partner (car) and gently place their hands on their shoulders.

4. The person who is the car will close their eyes and TRUST their Magoo...

5. Teacher sets a timer for one minute.

6. Then Magoo will SLOWLY "drive" the car around the classroom without talking and WITHOUT bumping into anyone or anything.

7. If they bump into anyone or anything, the pair has to sit down until the next round. 

8. Switch roles after one minute. 

9. You can witch up partners for a longer game or only do one partner set for a shorter game. 

Mario - Rhythm 

• Rhythm is essential for self-regulation!

• Don't worry about the notes, follow the rhythm!

• Students can use their hands, pencils, solo cups, rhythm sticks, popsicle sticks, or anything else to follow the rhythm.

Monster Moves - Rhythm 

• Rhythm is essential for self-regulation!

• Don't worry about the notes, follow the rhythm!

• Students can use their hands, pencils, solo cups, rhythm sticks, popsicle sticks, or anything else to follow the rhythm.

Spooky Scary Skeletons - Rhythm 

• Rhythm is essential for self-regulation!

• Don't worry about the notes, follow the rhythm!

• Students can use their hands, pencils, solo cups, rhythm sticks, popsicle sticks, or anything else to follow the rhythm.

Halloween Rap - Rhythm 

• Rhythm is essential for self-regulation!

• Don't worry about the notes, follow the rhythm!

• Students can use their hands, pencils, solo cups, rhythm sticks, popsicle sticks, or anything else to follow the rhythm.

Minecraft - Rhythm 

• Rhythm is essential for self-regulation!

• Don't worry about the notes, follow the rhythm!

• Students can use their hands, pencils, solo cups, rhythm sticks, popsicle sticks, or anything else to follow the rhythm.

Pokemon - Rhythm 

• Rhythm is essential for self-regulation!

• Don't worry about the notes, follow the rhythm!

• Students can use their hands, pencils, solo cups, rhythm sticks, popsicle sticks, or anything else to follow the rhythm.

Encanto - Rhythm 

• Rhythm is essential for self-regulation!

• Don't worry about the notes, follow the rhythm!

• Students can use their hands, pencils, solo cups, rhythm sticks, popsicle sticks, or anything else to follow the rhythm.

Avengers - Rhythm 

• Rhythm is essential for self-regulation!

• Don't worry about the notes, follow the rhythm!

• Students can use their hands, pencils, solo cups, rhythm sticks, popsicle sticks, or anything else to follow the rhythm.

"It's Corn" - Rhythm 

• Rhythm is essential for self-regulation!

• Don't worry about the notes, follow the rhythm!

• Students can use their hands, pencils, solo cups, rhythm sticks, popsicle sticks, or anything else to follow the rhythm.

Crossover Song

*Best for lower elementary*

• Crossing the midline requires both sides of the brain to communicate and is important for overall development!

Heartbeat - Rhythm 

*Best for lower elementary*

• Rhythm is essential for self-regulation!

• Students can use their hands, pencils, solo cups, rhythm sticks, popsicle sticks, or anything else to follow the rhythm.