Review games
20 Questions
The class asks up to 20 yes-or-no questions to figure out a secret person, place or thing.
By type
Brain Break Games
A brain break is a short game that resets attention between lessons. These take two to ten minutes, need no materials and end with students ready to work again.
- π² 33 games
- β Free
- π₯ Board-ready tools
Brain breaks
Balloon Keep It Up
The class works together to keep a balloon in the air, counting every tap.
Icebreakers
Beach Ball Icebreaker
Write questions all over a beach ball and toss it around the room.
Review games
Buzz
Students count around the room but say "Buzz" instead of any multiple of a chosen number.
Quiet games
Count to 20
The class counts to 20 one voice at a time without planning who goes next.
Indoor recess
Duck, Duck, Goose
One student walks around the circle tapping heads and saying "duck" until they pick a "goose" who chases them.
Brain breaks
Four Corners
Students tiptoe to one of four labeled corners while a caller with eyes closed picks a corner.
Brain breaks
Freeze Dance
Play music, students dance, and when the music stops everyone freezes.
Brain breaks
Guess My Number
Students guess a secret number and get clues like "higher" or "lower", or math clues like "it is a multiple of 4".
Review games
Hangman
Students guess letters to reveal a hidden word before the drawing is complete.
Review games
Hot Potato Review
Students pass an object around while music plays.
Quiet games
I Spy
Give a clue about something in the room and students guess what it is.
Quiet games
Kim's Game
Students study a tray of objects for one minute, then the tray is covered and one object is removed.
Quiet games
Mad Libs
Students supply nouns, verbs and adjectives without seeing the story, then read the silly result aloud.
Brain breaks
Make 24
Students use four numbers and any operations to make exactly 24.
Brain breaks
Mirror Game
Partners face each other.
Indoor recess
Musical Chairs
Students walk around a circle of chairs while music plays and race to sit when it stops.
Brain breaks
Ninja
Students stand in a circle in ninja poses and take turns making one swift move to tap another player's hand.
Review games
Odd One Out
Show four words, numbers or pictures and ask students which one does not belong and why.
Review games
Pumpkin Pass
A Halloween twist on hot potato: pass a small pumpkin around the circle while music plays, and whoever holds it when the music stops answers a question.
Indoor recess
Red Light, Green Light
Students move toward the caller on "green light" and freeze on "red light".
Brain breaks
Rock Paper Scissors Tournament
Students play rock paper scissors, and losers become the cheering section of the winner.
Quiet games
Silent Ball
Students toss a soft ball around the room without making a sound.
Brain breaks
Simon Says
Students follow commands only when they start with "Simon says".
Review games
Snowball Fight
Students write an answer or question on paper, crumple it up and throw it across the room.
Review games
Stand Up, Sit Down
Read a statement.
Quiet games
Statues
Students freeze like statues while the teacher tries to make them move or laugh.
Brain breaks
Stella Ella Ola
A circle clapping game: students pass a clap around while chanting, and whoever is clapped on the final count is out.
Icebreakers
This or That
A fast two-choice warm-up: pizza or tacos, summer or winter.
No prep
Word Chain
Each student says a word that starts with the last letter of the previous word: apple, egg, giraffe.
Quiet games
Word Ladder
Change one letter at a time to turn one word into another: CAT to COT to DOT to DOG.
Icebreakers
Would You Rather
Give students two choices and have them pick a side of the room, then explain their reasoning.
Brain breaks
Zip Zap Zop
Students pass "zip", "zap" and "zop" around a circle in order, faster and faster.
Quick picks
Top 5 to try first
- β 20 QuestionsThe class asks up to 20 yes-or-no questions to figure out a secret person, place or thing.
- π Balloon Keep It UpThe class works together to keep a balloon in the air, counting every tap.
- π Beach Ball IcebreakerWrite questions all over a beach ball and toss it around the room.
- π BuzzStudents count around the room but say "Buzz" instead of any multiple of a chosen number.
- π’ Count to 20The class counts to 20 one voice at a time without planning who goes next.
Play online
Online brain breaks games for the board
Quiz ShowKahoot-style questions with colors, a countdown and team points. No student devices.βΆ Play nowMemory MatchFlip two cards, find the pair. Words, facts or translations.βΆ Play nowGuess the WordWordle with your own spelling words, hints and team turns.βΆ Play nowMystery PictureAnswer questions to remove tiles. First team to guess the picture wins.βΆ Play nowPass the BombA hidden random fuse, a challenge and a ball to pass. Boom!βΆ Play nowWould You Rather VoteBig A vs B choices, count the votes, reveal the result.βΆ Play now
Board tools
Free tools for these games
Classroom TimerBig full-screen countdown with presets and an alarm.Open tool βRandom Name PickerPaste your class list and pick students fairly.Open tool βClassroom ScoreboardKeep team scores on the board for any game.Open tool βHangman for the ClassroomPlay hangman on the board with your own words.Open tool β
Questions teachers ask
Frequently asked questions
How long should a brain break be?
Two to five minutes is ideal for most classes. Use a visible timer so the break ends on time.
What are quick brain break games?
Simon Says, Zip Zap Zop, Count to 20, This or That and Rock Paper Scissors Tournament are all under five minutes.
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More classroom games
π§Έ Kindergarten (Kβ2)π Elementary Studentsπ Middle Schoolπ High Schoolβ Mathπ¬ ESLπ€ Vocabulary and Spelling Gamesπ§ͺ Scienceπ Review gamesβ‘ Brain breaksπ Icebreakersπ€ Team buildingπ No prepπ€« Quiet gamesπ§οΈ Indoor recessπ End of yearπ Back to schoolπ Halloweenπ¦ Thanksgivingπ Christmas & winterπ Valentine's Day