After hours of talking and walking around the room, it is finally time for recess! That blessed time of the day when you can finally get a break to sit down. However, the weather has been unpredictable and you don’t know if it is going to rain or be sunny? Do you stay inside or go outside? Not to worry, we have created a list of rain or shine classroom activities your students can do!
Rain paint
This activity is unique in the sense that it has to be raining outside. Get a large bowl or individual cups and place them outside in the rain an hour before you plan to use them. If it is raining a lot outside, you can leave the cups outside for half an hour or so. While the cups are gathering rain, set out paper, paper towels, paint, and paintbrushes. By the time you finish setting up, your cups will be full of rainwater. Now students can paint beautiful pictures with their rainwater.
We highly recommend getting washable paint or watercolour as it will be easier to clean up. Why use rainwater instead of sinkwater? The answer to that is a sink uses twenty gallons of water per person a day, and that’s just in a regular household. By collecting rainwater, you are helping save gallons of water. Additionally, this is a great way to teach students about the water cycle and becoming economically friendly. It is also a fun alternative to regular water, and when they go home, they can say that they painted with the rain!
Play-doh
Play-Doh, fun to play with, not to eat, is a super entertaining activity and your students will love it! This activity is recommended as an indoor activity, but if you plan to use play-doh outside, be prepared to have it covered with dirt and gravel. What is Play-Doh? Play-Doh is an American toy modelling compound used for younger children for art, crafts, and projects. Yes, it is a toy but it could also be a learning tactic.
Teachers have noticed students who play with Play-Doh develop motor skills as they create different shapes and use tools to flatten, roll, and squish the dough. These motions are building strength in their hands. As well as enhances their hand-eye coordination as they use tools when modelling the dough. Play-Doh allows students to create anything they imagine and helps with their social skills as they want to tell you what they are making. There are also multiple recipes online, and you can make your own Play-Doh at home!
Balloon games
Balloon volleyball is a super fun indoor and outdoor game that all ages can enjoy. Start by creating two teams on either side of the “net” and hit the balloon back and forth without letting it hit the floor. For those playing inside, consider marking the floor with a piece of tape for the net and pushing the desks over to create more space. For those playing outdoors, consider making a line with chalk or lining sticks to symbolize the net. Another fun balloon game is to keep the balloon in the air. Similar to balloon volleyball, the students must keep the balloon in the air without letting it hit the ground. However, this game can be played individually for more introverted students to participate as well. This game can be played both indoors and outdoors, just make sure to pick up all the balloons when you’re finished!
Origami
Origami is a great activity for students to keep their hands busy and can be done both indoor and outdoor. Origami is the Japanese art of folding paper into decorative shapes and figures. It is proven to improve hand-eye coordination and meditation. All you need is a sheet of paper to do origami, making it one of the most accessible and convenient activities. Origami is a peaceful hobby, but for a beginner, it can be intimidating. Do not be discouraged, it will take some practice! Origami animals are a great start for a beginner, and it allows students to view animals in an abstract form.
Board games
Board games are the ultimate pastime and a must-have in your classroom! If you are teaching abroad, make sure you bring your favourite games from home because odds are your students may have never played or heard of it before. You can get board games super cheap at thrift stores but make sure all the pieces are there. The best part about board games is everyone is welcome to play! Board games will allow your students to build friendships and interact with new people. Students learn how to take turns and develop patience (some students develop patience faster than others).
Students gain confidence and create a happy environment. By playing board games at a young age, students quickly develop what kind of friends they want. If one student is cheating and being a bad sport, children are less likely to play with them and not want to be their friend. Whereas, if one student is playing by the rules and cheering on the other players, children are more likely to play with them again and want to be their friends. Teachers can also use board games to review lessons and engage their students.
Puzzles
Who doesn’t love a good puzzle? No matter what year you are teaching, it is always a great idea to have a puzzle or two in your classroom. Solving puzzles is a wonderful brain activity as it exercises both your right and left side of the brain. Puzzles allow children to develop an eye for detail which they take with them into adulthood. Children can improve their spatial reasoning, which is the ability to think about and manipulate objects in three dimensions. This skill is an essential part of art, math, physical education, and science. Puzzles help students improve their memory to reduce short-term memory. Students who spend twenty-five minutes on a puzzle daily can increase their IQ by four points. Puzzles can also promote teamwork if more than one student wants to do a puzzle. You can never go wrong with a puzzle!
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