Many educators have risen to the challenge of transitioning their lessons to accommodate virtual education, and Playworks has been helping educators ensure play remains in every child’s day, even online.
Kids prioritize play, and with our support educators are leveraging play when teaching virtually in order to keep kids engaged, active, and to build community. Through play, kids relieve stress, build community, release extra energy, and practice social-emotional skills. By including quick games throughout the school day, kids can come back to lessons refocused and ready to learn.
After several months of distance learning, our Playworks Coaches have created a list of their favorite games and brain breaks that translate simply and smoothly to a virtual environment. These activities are easily modified for kids, and adults, to play together via video calls. Use these games now to keep kids engaged and ensure every kid can experience safe and healthy play every day.
Top 6 Games to Play Virtually
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Dance Freeze
How to play:
Extra tips for virtual delivery: Play music in the slide for better sound quality. If Wifi isn’t strong enough to stream, music can also be played from within the leader’s home and picked up by the computer’s microphone. -
Tomato
How to play:
Works best with: 2nd-5th grade, best with less than 20 participants
Extra tips for virtual delivery: If the person answering questions with “tomato” smiles or laughs, they must balance something on their head for the remainder of the game/next round. Objects like toilet paper roll, bowl, big spoon, book, etc., make the game extra funny! -
My DVD Player
How to play:
Extra tips for virtual delivery: All motions happen ‘standing’ in place. Empower kids to think of buttons and actions to add to the remote for additional challenges. -
Blizzard
How to play:
Works best with: 2nd-5th grades, any group size, can be played alone
Extra tips for virtual delivery: Rather than just trying to catch the snowflakes each time, have kids do a different motion after they throw up the snowflakes and before they try to catch them, such as: spin around once, do two jumping jacks, do two star jumps, touch your toes, touch something blue, etc. You can also switch out what object it is that you’re trying to catch to make the game easier or more difficult. Some ideas are: pieces of paper, rolled up pairs of socks, plastic bags, etc. -
What Changed
How to play:
Extra tips for virtual delivery: Have the person who’s changing something about themselves turn off their camera while they change it. Ensure that kids know they must raise their hand to be called on for a guess rather than shouting out ideas. -
Night at the Museum
Works best with: K-3rd grade, any group size of 2+
Extra tips for virtual delivery: You can change the theme based on the year, which helps make the game fresh, fun, and festive. For example, around Halloween try “ghost busters” and in the winter season, kids can be snow people that must freeze in place.
Interested in more games and Brain Breaks like these that work with virtual delivery? Subscribe to Keep Playing and receive weekly emails with curated content to help incorporate play in your school days.
