Gift Game

Directions: 

1. Write every child's name on a piece of paper and put them in a bowl. 

2. Each person picks a name and has 2-3 minutes to ask their partner questions to get to know them better.

   • What do you like to do for fun?

   • What's your favorite color? 

   • Do you like video games? 

   • Do you have a bike? 

3. The only rule is you can't ask, "What gift would you want?" 

4. After a couple of minutes, everyone shares what gift they would get their partner that they think their partner would appreciate.  

Sharing is Caring

Directions: 

1. Pick one student to start the connection. This student will stand with one hand on their hip and say a statement about themselves (it can be anything positive...) 

   • I like soccer

   • I have a brother 

   • My favorite superhero is Spiderman

2. Any student who shares the same statement will link their arm with that student creating a chain. 

3. Next, the last student on the chain will make a statement and so on, until everyone is standing in a line connected by the arm. 

Draw My Picture

Materials: 

• Pencil 

• Paper

Directions: 

1. Students will need to be in pairs and sitting back to back. 

2. One student will be drawing and the other directing the drawing without looking. 

3. The students who are directing in each pair will go to the teacher to be down what the artist is supposed to draw. Examples:

   • Elephant 

   • Flower 

   • House

4. Rules: the director cannot tell the artist what they are drawing, they can only direct them. Example: 

   • Draw a square

   • At the bottom of the square, draw a smaller rectangle inside 

   • Draw a triangle on top of it

5. At the end of a set amount of time, the team whose drawing is closest to the acutal item wins. 

Directions: Have all students draw a picture of an object that holds emotional significance to them and share its story with the class. 

Helpful tip - set a timer for each student during their share time or allow students to share throughout the day/week. 

Walrus

***Best for upper elementary

Directions: 

1. One person is "It" and is sent out of the room.

2. The others in the room decide upon one action or activity such as biking, eating, sleeping, dancing, reading and so on.

3. Then they will replace that word with "Walrus".

4. Whoever is "it" comes back in and asks questions to guess what the word is, and the players in the room have to answer by replacing the word with the substitute word. For example, if the word is biking:

Q: When do you do this activity?

A: I walrus every day to school and whenever I feel like.

Q: Do you walrus at night?

A: No

Q: Do you walrus at home?

A: Yes

Rock Rock Game

***Best for upper elementary

Materials: a small object (rock, eraser, etc.)

Directions: Click the video above to learn how to play.

Two Truths and a Lie

Directions:

1.  Have students sit in a circle. 

2. One at a time, each student will tell two truths and one lie about themselves. 

3. The group has to guess which is the lie. 

Helpful tip - To make it faster, you could also do this in small groups or even with partners. 

Directions: 

1. Students sit in a circle 

2. Students take turns complimenting the person to their left, focusing on positive qualities and actions they admire. 

Materials: a piece of paper, clipboard, pencil, timer

Directions: 

1. Have students sit in a circle.

2. Explain that you all are going to make one drawing together. 

3. Teacher or a student will start by drawing whatever they want on the paper (set timer for 10-15 seconds)

4. After the timer goes off, the student has to stop, even if they aren't finished, and give the pencil and clipboard to the student to their left. 

5. The next student will continue adding to the drawing of the first. 

6. Continue until everyone has added to the drawing. 

Directions: 

1. Have students stand in a circle or around the room. 

2. This game is just like Simon Says except nobody gets out and the commands are acts of kindness and connection: 

   • Give a high five 

   • Give a compliment 

   • Talk to someone you don't know

   • Make up a handshake with someone next to you

***Best for upper elementary

Materials: each student needs a sheet of paper and a pencil.  

Directions: 

1. Have students quickly write a compliment on a sheet of paper. 

2. Show this VIDEO so students can learn how to fold a paper airplane. 

3. Have studnets stand in a circle or around the room and on your count, they get to throw their airplane. 

4. Everyone grabs an airplane and reads the compliment.

Leprechaun Says
Game

Directions: 

1. Same rules as 'Simon Says'

2. Let kids take turns being "it" 

4 White Horses
Game

***Clapping game best for upper elementary

Click the video to see how to play or read the directions and lyrics HERE

People to People
Game

Dum Dum Dah Dah
Game

Double This,
Double That
Game

Let's Get the Rhythm
Rhythm

Mosquito
Rhythm

Teemo the Monkey Rhythm

Surface Pressure
Rhythm

Robot Round
Rhythm

Happy
Rhythm

Yellow Submarine
Rhythm

Let It Go
Rhythm

Blast Off
Rhythm

Bully Song
Sing Along

The Magic of Friendship Snow
Read Aloud