Group games give kids the opportunity to practice important social skills, like communication and cooperation. These types of games are part of communication and collaboration, two of the 6Cs at the heart of the Begin Approach to helping kids thrive.
We’ve curated 16 group games here, perfect for home or elementary school.
Group Games for Kids at Home
1) Three Props and a Play
What You’ll Need
- Five or more kids
- Props (e.g., hats, stuffed animals, books)
What to Do
- Pick three kids to be actors.
- The others choose three objects from the prop pile and give one to each actor.
- The actors make up and act out a play on the spot using the objects they’ve been given.
2) Cold Wind Blows
What You’ll Need
- Chairs (the same number of chairs as kids, minus one)
What to Do
- One child stands in the middle of a circle of chairs and the rest sit.
- The child in the middle says, “The cold wind blows for anyone who—” and completes the sentence with a descriptor like “has orange sneakers on” (at least two people should fit the description).
- Everyone wearing that item switches chairs, and the child in the middle tries to take a seat, too.
- Whoever is left standing goes to the middle. The game ends once everyone has had a chance in the middle.
3) Weasel in the Middle
What You’ll Need
- A small object (e.g., a ball, an eraser, a block)
What to Do
- Everyone sits in a circle.
- One child is the “weasel” in the middle.
- The kids pass around the hidden object behind their backs.
- The weasel guesses who has it by deciphering facial expressions.
- Once the weasel guesses correctly, they switch places.
4) Look at Me!
What You’ll Need
- Any space that can comfortably fit the kids standing in a circle
What to Do
- Everyone gets in a circle and starts by looking down at the ground.
- When you say, “Look up,” they look up at someone in the circle.
- If that person is looking at them, too, they’re both out.
- Then you say, “Look down,” and the kids look back down.
- This continues until only one pair remains.
5) Invent a Toy
What You’ll Need
- Building and/or craft materials (e.g., building blocks, construction paper, craft sticks, paper cups, pom-poms)
- Child-safe scissors
- Glue
- Tape
What to Do
- Ask kids to work together to invent and build a new toy or game (e.g., a monster, a rocket ship, a board game).
- When they’re done, have them name the toy and take turns telling you all about it and why kids would want it.
6) Freeze Dance
What You’ll Need
- Space to dance
- Music
What to Do
- When you start the music, the kids dance.
- When you stop it, they freeze.
- If someone moves, they’re out.
- Play until one kid is the Dancing Queen or King!
7) Splash Clash (codeSpark)
Does your kid like figuring out puzzles? Splash Clash is a multiplayer game that uses problem-solving and logical thinking skills to teach kids how to code.
What You’ll Need
- Begin’s codeSpark app
What to Do
- Download the app to become a member of codeSpark Academy.
- Create a profile for your child.
- Help them join a Splash Clash game and invite a friend.
- Start collaborating and coding!
Group Games for Kids at School
8) Caterpillar Race Party Game
What You’ll Need
- A field or other open space
What to Do
- Divide the class into two groups.
- Each group stands in a line facing the same direction, and everyone puts their hands on the person’s shoulders in front of them, turning the lines into two giant caterpillars.
- The caterpillars race to the finish line. If one of them breaks (the kids release their hands), the whole caterpillar goes back to the start and begins again.
9) Common Denominator
What You’ll Need
- Tables for the groups of kids to sit at
What to Do
- Divide the class into groups.
- Set a timer for five minutes, and instruct the groups to agree on one animated character they all like and discuss it.
- Expand this by adding a creative component where each group does a collaborative art piece depicting their character in a particular situation.
10) This or That
This is an especially great game to play at the beginning of the school year, when students may not know each other well.
What You’ll Need
- A classroom with chairs and desks moved out of the way
What to Do
- The kids stand in the middle of the room.
- You ask a “this or that” question, such as, “Would you rather go to the moon or go to the bottom of the ocean?” and point to one side of the room for the first choice and the other for the second.
- Each kid walks to the side of the room that matches their answer.
- Now that the kids are in two groups, alternate between members of each group so they can explain why they made the choice they did. Give kids of the opposing choice the opportunity to ask questions.
11) Copy Cats
What You’ll Need
- A classroom space big enough for the class to stand or sit in a circle
What to Do
- One child covers their eyes while the other kids form a circle.
- You point to a child in the circle and ask them to begin a movement that the other kids must imitate (e.g., clapping hands, jumping, marching). The leader should periodically change their movement.
- The child facing the wall uncovers their eyes and has three guesses to determine who the leader is.
- Everyone takes a turn being a leader and a guesser.
12) Group Together
What You’ll Need
- Any classroom space with room for the kids to stand in groups
What to Do
- Tell the kids you’re going to call out a number. When you do, they have to form groups consisting of that many people.
- Depending on the age of your students, you can use this game to reinforce math skills. For example, you might say, “Get into groups of 2+2.”
13) Spaghetti Tower
What You’ll Need
- Uncooked spaghetti
- Marshmallows
- String
- Tape
What to Do
- Divide the class into groups.
- Give each group the same building materials (spaghetti, marshmallows, string, and tape.)
- The groups work together to build a tower.
- The group with the highest freestanding tower wins.
14) Newspaper Costume Show
What You’ll Need
- Newspaper
- Child-safe scissors
- Tape
What to Do
- Divide the class into groups.
- Each group designs and creates a costume using only the newspaper, scissors, and tape. If you like, you can give a prompt such as “Make a dinosaur costume.”
- One kid in each group models the costume.
- The members of the group take turns explaining how they came up with the idea for the costume and how they worked together to create it.
15) Pipeline Challenge
What You’ll Need
- Empty paper towel rolls (one per child)
- Small rubber balls (one per group)
What to Do
- Divide the class into two or three groups (depending on class size).
- Give each kid a paper towel roll and each group one ball.
- The groups need to figure out a way to transport a ball from one end of the classroom to the other using only the paper towel rolls.
16) Picture Book Story Time
What You’ll Need
- Pictures of people, places, animals, or objects
What to Do
- Give one picture to each child.
- The first storyteller tells the beginning of the story, incorporating the object in their picture.
- The next storyteller continues, incorporating their picture.
- Go around the circle until everyone has added to the story.
Keep the Fun Going!
We believe in the power of play. That’s why Begin’s apps and hands-on activity kits are packed with fun and designed to support and celebrate kids’ personal growth and learning.
From social-emotional learning with Learn with Sesame Street to reading with HOMER to coding with codeSpark to world cultures and science with Little Passports, we have joyful experiences to share. So let the fun and games—and learning—Begin!
Frequently Asked Questions
What group games can be played in 10 minutes?
Try this fast and easy word search game in your classroom.
Give each child a piece of paper and a pencil.
Write a long word or short phrase (e.g., Happy Birthday) on the whiteboard.
Then set a timer and ask the kids to use the letters to make as many new words as they can.
What group games focus on math?
Many games can be adapted to focus on math. You can play Simon Says, for example, using only geometric shapes, saying “Simon Says point to a triangle you see.”
Why are group games important?
Group games encourage team-building and foster collaboration. When kids play group games together, they develop social skills such as turn-taking, sharing, communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution.
