Here are some energizers for your classroom to keep the learning active!

1. What & Where!

This game involves the teacher calling out a color and a body part. Students must find an object in the room that is that color and then touch the selected body part to that object. For example, if the teacher calls out a pink thumb, then students need to find an object that is pink and touch it with their thumb. The teacher continues calling colors and body parts.

To make this into game students that are too slow in completing the instruction can be asked to sit down. The last student remaining is the winner.

I have used this game with every class I have ever taught and they have all loved it. This gets students moving around the room and using all parts of their bodies, a great energizer.

2. Copy-cats

This is simply a game of copycat. The teacher uses a combination of clapping and sounds to make a pattern. Students need to copy what the teacher says/does. This can start with a simple pattern of only 2-3 and can extend to add more. To make it even more challenging complete the pattern quicker and see how many students are able to keep up and remember all the parts. An example pattern could be: clap, slap, snap, click, and yell.

3. Hear Hear

This game is an extension of the one above. This time students need to keep their eyes closed and use their ears to listen to the pattern and then copy.

4. Compete with the Teacher

This is probably my favorite game to play in the classroom. Essentially it is the class against the teacher.

The students must copy four-beat patterns that the teacher claps, except for one. The teacher claps the forbidden pattern to the students at the start so they know which one not to copy. For instance, the pattern not to copy is: ta, ta, ti-ti, ta. The teacher then claps various four-beat patterns that students must copy. At a random time, the teacher claps the forbidden pattern. If even one student copies this, then the teacher wins 1 point. If no students copy, then the class scores 1 point. The first to 5 is the winner.

This is another game that I have done with every class….and I think I’ve only ever been beaten a couple of times ?

5. Chop-chop sticks

For this game, your students will need access to chopsticks. This can be completed in a couple of ways. Firstly the teacher can say different patterns, and then the students copy by using the chopsticks. For instance, the teacher may say ti-ti, ti-ti, ta, ta, then the students would clap this out with the chopsticks.

Alternatively, the teacher can clap out a pattern on the chopsticks, and the students copy. The teacher can make the patterns progressively harder, faster, and longer until the students find it too difficult to keep up and follow the pattern correctly.

6. Racing with Rhythm

This is a race between 2 students. The teacher claps out a rhythm using some common patterns, such as ti-ti, ti-ti, ti-ti, ta. Students run to the board and then write the rhythm clapped by the teacher. The first student to write the correct pattern is the winner. The winner can stay in and a new challenger is selected.