18 Fun and Engaging Classroom Games for Kindergarteners

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Looking for fun and engaging classroom games for your kindergarteners? Check out this list of 18 games that will help your kiddos burn off energy and learn at the same time!

Kindergarteners have a lot of energy and it can be difficult to keep them engaged and focused in the classroom. That’s why it’s important to have a variety of fun and engaging classroom games that will help your kiddos burn off energy and learn at the same time. Here is a list of 18 kindergarten classroom games that are sure to keep your students entertained and learning.

kindergarten classroom games

1. Alphabet Soup

Alphabet Soup is a great game for teaching your students the alphabet. To play, you will need a large bowl of alphabet soup and a spoon for each student. The goal of the game is for each student to find all the letters of the alphabet in the soup. The student who finds all the letters first wins the game.



2. Simon Says

Simon Says is a classic game that is perfect for teaching your students how to follow directions. To play, one student will be the “Simon” and the other students will be the “followers”. The Simon will give directions such as “Simon says touch your nose” and the followers must do what the Simon says. If the Simon does not say “Simon says” before giving a direction, the followers must not do it.

3. Musical Chairs

Musical Chairs is a great game for teaching your students about taking turns and following directions. To play, you will need a group of chairs and some music. The students will walk around the chairs while the music is playing. When the music stops, the students must find a chair to sit in. The student who does not find a chair is out of the game.

4. Freeze Dance

Freeze Dance is a fun game that will help your students learn how to follow directions and take turns. To play, you will need some music and a large open space. The students will dance to the music until the music stops. When the music stops, the students must freeze in place. The last student to freeze is out of the game.

5. Duck, Duck, Goose

Duck, Duck, Goose is a classic game that is perfect for teaching your students about taking turns and following directions. To play, you will need a large open space. The students will sit in a circle and one student will be the “goose”. The goose will walk around the circle tapping each student on the head and saying “duck” until they tap a student and say “goose”. The student who is tapped must then chase the goose around the circle.

6. Hot Potato

Hot Potato is a great game for teaching your students about taking turns and following directions. To play, you will need a soft object such as a stuffed animal or a bean bag. The students will sit in a circle and pass the object around while the music is playing. When the music stops, the student who is holding the object is out of the game.

7. I Spy

I Spy is a great game for teaching your students about observation and problem-solving. To play, one student will be the “spy” and the other students will be the “seekers”. The spy will pick an object in the room and say “I spy with my little eye something…” and give a clue about the object. The seekers must then try to guess what the object is.

8. Red Light, Green Light

Red Light, Green Light is a great game for teaching your students about following directions and taking turns. To play, one student will be the “traffic light” and the other students will be the “drivers”. The traffic light will stand at one end of the room and the drivers will stand at the other end. The traffic light will say “green light” and the drivers must move towards the traffic light. When the traffic light says “red light”, the drivers must stop.

9. Memory

Memory is a great game for teaching your students about observation and problem-solving. To play, you will need a set of cards with pictures or words on them. The cards will be placed face down on the table. The students will take turns flipping over two cards. If the cards match, the student keeps the cards. The student with the most cards at the end of the game wins.

10. Charades

Charades is a great game for teaching your students about communication and problem-solving. To play, one student will be the “actor” and the other students will be the “guessers”. The actor will act out a word or phrase without speaking and the guessers must try to guess what the word or phrase is.

11. Hangman

Hangman is a great game for teaching your students about spelling and problem-solving. To play, one student will be the “hanger” and the other students will be the “guessers”. The hanger will think of a word and draw a blank line for each letter in the word. The guessers must then try to guess the word by guessing one letter at a time.

12. 20 Questions

20 Questions is a great game for teaching your students about communication and problem-solving. To play, one student will be the “answerer” and the other students will be the “guessers”. The answerer will think of an object and the guessers must try to guess what the object is by asking up to 20 yes or no questions.

13. Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger Hunt is a great game for teaching your students about observation and problem-solving. To play, you will need a list of items for the students to find. The students will then search the room for the items on the list. The student who finds all the items first wins the game.

14. Tag

Tag is a great game for teaching your students about following directions and taking turns. To play, one student will be “it” and the other students will be the “runners”. The student who is “it” must try to tag the other students. The student who is tagged becomes “it” and the game continues.

15. Hide and Seek

Hide and Seek is a great game for teaching your students about observation and problem-solving. To play, one student will be the “seeker” and the other students will be the “hiders”. The seeker will count to a certain number while the hiders hide. The seeker must then try to find the hiders. The last hider to be found is the winner.

16. Four Corners

Four Corners is a great game for teaching your students about following directions and taking turns. To play, you will need a large open space with four corners. The students will stand in the middle of the room and the teacher will call out a corner. The students must then run to the corner that was called. The last student to reach the corner is out of the game.

17. What Time Is It, Mr. Wolf?

What Time Is It, Mr. Wolf? is a great game for teaching your students about following directions and taking turns. To play, one student will be the “wolf” and the other students will be the “sheep”. The wolf will stand at one end of the room and the sheep will stand at the other end. The sheep will ask the wolf “What time is it, Mr. Wolf?” and the wolf will answer with a time such as “It’s one o’clock”. The sheep must then take that many steps towards the wolf.

18. Pass the Parcel

Pass the Parcel is a great game for teaching your students about taking turns and following directions. To play, you will need a parcel with a prize inside. The students will sit in a circle and pass the parcel around while the music is playing. When the music stops, the student who is holding the parcel gets to keep the prize.

Conclusion

These 18 kindergarten classroom games are sure to keep your students entertained and learning. From Alphabet Soup to Pass the Parcel, these games will help your kiddos burn off energy and learn at the same time. So, the next time you’re looking for a fun and engaging classroom game, try one of these!

FAQ

  • Q: What are some fun classroom games for kindergarteners?
    A: Some fun classroom games for kindergarteners include Alphabet Soup, Simon Says, Musical Chairs, Freeze Dance, Duck, Duck, Goose, Hot Potato, I Spy, Red Light, Green Light, Memory, Charades, Hangman, 20 Questions, Scavenger Hunt, Tag, Hide and Seek, Four Corners, What Time Is It, Mr. Wolf?, and Pass the Parcel.
  • Q: What are some educational games for kindergarteners?
    A: Some educational games for kindergarteners include Alphabet Soup, Simon Says, Memory, Charades, Hangman, 20 Questions, Scavenger Hunt, and What Time Is It, Mr. Wolf?.
  • Q: What are some games that help kindergarteners burn energy?
    A: Some games that help kindergarteners burn energy include Musical Chairs, Freeze Dance, Duck, Duck, Goose, Hot Potato, Red Light, Green Light, Tag, Hide and Seek, Four Corners, and Pass the Parcel.

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Game Skills Taught
Alphabet Soup Alphabet
Simon Says Following Directions
Musical Chairs Taking Turns
Freeze Dance Following Directions, Taking Turns
Duck, Duck, Goose Following Directions, Taking Turns
Hot Potato Taking Turns
I Spy Observation, Problem-Solving
Red Light, Green Light Following Directions, Taking Turns
Memory Observation, Problem-Solving
Charades Communication, Problem-Solving
Hangman Spelling, Problem-Solving