3 Low-Prep Online Tools You Can Use for Indoor Recess Tomorrow
Jan 27, 2024
Running out of ideas to get the wiggles out during indoor recess?
As you know, recess and brain breaks are crucial for helping your students concentrate on your lesson. So, when the snow just won’t seem to melt or the rain hasn’t stopped all week, how can you give your students the activity time they need to stay focused without doing the same thing day after day? Turning online might seem counterintuitive, but there are plenty of free, low-prep resources available to help you get your students moving and their brains resting.
Here are three free and easy online tools your students will love that are perfect for your next indoor recess.
Get all of your students on their feet with GoNoodle. They offer a variety of activities to help kids of all ages get some energy out at any time of the day, but they’re especially great for when you’re stuck inside for recess and need something quick. With anything from guided dances and beginner-friendly workouts to breathing exercises and stretches, you can easily find something interesting for all of your students—and with no prep required!
Check out this guided dance video in partnership with Nickelodeon! Your students can dance along with That Girl Lay Lay to push away the bad vibes and catch the good.
Some days (like Mondays) it’s better to keep everyone in their chairs. Interactive games students can play on their devices are a great way to offer a brain break and time to chat while preventing your classroom from becoming a full-blown, three-ring circus, elephants included.
Kahoot! is a fun question-based game for students of all ages that will keep them engaged while you, hopefully, take a minute for yourself. You can either create your own Kahoot! game ahead of time with topics relevant to your class, or you can choose from their extensive collection of student-approved, ready-to-go games.
For your little ones needing a little SEL reinforcement, try out this Kahoot! game created by Disney. Or, for the animal lovers in your class, explore the Ranger Rick Kahoot! Collection.
Check out our Free Indoor Recess Library!
A list of curated resources created for teachers, by teachers!
If you combined Kahoot! and Among Us, you would get Gimkit. Students play through the different game modes by answering questions to help their team and earn money for power ups. Free modes like Capture the Flag and Trust No One are bound to entertain everyone as they compete against their classmates to win. While Gimkit is available for free, the upgraded membership may be worth purchasing to gain access to even more ways to play, including Farmchain, where your students work together to, well, work a farm.
If you use PearDeck, you can even import your own flashcards into Gimkit for seamless integration with the lessons you’re already teaching.
BONUS: Buddha Belly Kids Yoga
Former educators Erin Bracco and Meg Reckley teamed up to help kids move and play mindfully through Buddha Belly. With Buddha Belly On-Demand, you can access a full library of breathing, yoga, and movement videos for your students.
As a special bonus, all educators2educators members now have free access to a sampler of Buddha Belly Kids Yoga On-Demand! If you’re not a member of e2e, you can sign up today for a free 30-day trial with no commitments to unlock access to this resource and many more.
Looking to keep it offline? Here are some great, FREE resources from TeachersPayTeachers!
Indoor Recess Stations by Alice Liddell
Dr. Recess Indoor Recess Games & Actvities by Dr. Recess
Indoor Recess Scavenger Hunt by GRRade A Lessons
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