77 Exciting Classroom Games for Middle School Students

Are your middle school lessons feeling a bit stale? We’ve all been there. But what if we told you there’s a way to turn your classroom into a hub of fun and learning?

Imagine your students eagerly participating, laughing, and absorbing knowledge without even realizing it. That’s the power of classroom games.

This post shares 77 exciting classroom games designed for middle school students. These games will make your lessons more engaging and boost learning outcomes. Ready to transform your teaching?

Let’s jump in and find these fantastic games that will beg your students for more!

Classroom Games for Middle School Students

1. Four Corners

This is an elimination game where students run to one of the room’s four corners. The teacher selects a corner without looking, and students in the selected corner are out.

How To Play

• Label each corner of the room.
• Students move to a corner of their choice.
• The teacher randomly selects a corner.
• Students in that corner are eliminated.
• The last student standing wins.

2. Hangman

Hangman is a word-guessing game where students guess letters to complete a word. Incorrect guesses result in parts of a hangman being drawn.

How To Play

• Draw blanks for each letter of a word.
• Students guess letters one at a time.
• Add a part of the hangman for each incorrect guess.
• The game ends when the word is guessed, or the hangman is fully drawn.

3. 10 Questions

This game encourages critical thinking. One group asks up to 10 yes/no questions to guess an object the other group is thinking of.

How To Play

• Divide the class into two groups.
• One group selects an object.
• The other group asks ten yes/no questions.
• The group makes a final guess based on the answers.
• Points are awarded for correct guesses.

4. 101 And Out

It is a math game where students roll dice to reach 101 without exceeding it. Players can multiply or add dice rolls.

How To Play

• Divide students into teams.
• Each team rolls dice twice per turn.
• Teams choose to multiply or add their dice rolls.
• The goal is to reach exactly 101.
• The team closest to 101 wins.

5. Scrambled Eggs

A fun observation game where a student leaves the room, and the rest rearrange their seats. The returning student guesses who is missing.

How To Play

• Select a student to leave the room.
• Have another student hide.
• The rest of the students scramble their seating.
• The returning student guesses who is missing.

6. Pictionary

Students draw pictures to represent a word or concept, and the rest of the class guesses what the drawing represents.

How To Play

• Divide the class into teams.
• A student draws a word without speaking.
• The rest of the team guesses the word within a time limit.
• The team with the most correct guesses wins.

7. Geography Puzzles

This game helps students learn geography by filling in blank maps with the names of countries or states.

How To Play

• Divide students into groups.
• Provide blank maps to each group.
• Students fill in the names of countries or regions based on the lesson.
• The group with the most correct answers wins.

8. Ad Making

Students create and perform advertisements for common classroom items, practicing creative and critical thinking skills.

How To Play

• Divide students into teams.
• Assign each team a product (e.g., a pencil or notebook).
• Teams create an advertisement to “sell” the product.
• The most creative ad wins.

9. Minute to Win It Challenges

These are fast-paced games where students must complete small tasks within one minute. They encourage focus and quick thinking.

How To Play

• Set up simple tasks (e.g., stacking cups or tossing balls into a basket).
• Students have one minute to complete the task.
• The student or team that completes the most tasks wins.

10. Over the Electric Fence

This game involves teamwork to “cross” an imaginary electric fence by passing objects over it.

How To Play

• Set up a string at waist height.
• Divide students into teams.
• Teams must pass all members and objects over the string without touching it.
• The fastest team wins.

11. Minefield

In this game, students guide their blindfolded teammates through an obstacle course using only verbal directions.

How To Play

• Set up obstacles in a space.
• One student is blindfolded, and the other gives verbal directions.
• The blindfolded student must navigate the minefield without touching the obstacles.
• The team that completes the course fastest wins.

12. Freeze Tag

This is a classic game in which one student is “it” and tries to tag others. Tagged students freeze in place until another player unfreezes them.

How To Play

• Choose one student to be “it.”
• The student chases others and tries to tag them.
• Tagged students freeze until another player touches them.
• The game ends when all the students are frozen.

13. Silent Ball

Students must pass a ball around the classroom silently. If they talk, drop the ball, or make a bad throw, they are out.

How To Play:

• Students sit or stand in a circle.
• Pass the ball around silently.
• If students talk, drop the ball, or throw poorly, they are out.
• The last student remaining wins.

14. Freeze Dance

Students dance when the music plays and freeze when it stops. Those who move after the music stops are eliminated.

How To Play:

• Play music for students to dance to.
• Pause the music at random intervals.
• Any student who moves after the music stops is out.
• The last dancer wins.

15. Heads Up, Seven Up

This guessing game involves seven students tapping classmates’ heads while others try to guess who tapped them.

How To Play:

• Select seven students to stand at the front of the class.
• The rest of the class puts their heads down.
• The seven students tap someone’s head.
• The tapped students guess who tapped them.

16. Tic-Tac-Toe (Human Version)

Students become the X’s and O’s in a giant game of Tic-Tac-Toe. Teams take turns filling in spots on the grid.

How To Play:

• Draw a large Tic-Tac-Toe grid on the floor.
• Divide students into two teams (X’s and O’s).
• Teams take turns placing members in spots on the grid.
• The first team to get three in a row wins.

17. Penny Pitch

A simple game where students toss pennies onto a target and answer questions based on where the penny lands.

How To Play:

• Draw or place a target on the floor with different sections labeled.
• Students toss pennies onto the target.
• Depending on where the penny lands, students answer a related question.
• The student with the most correct answers wins.

18. Beach Ball Toss

Students toss a beach ball with questions written on it. Wherever their hand touches, they must answer the question.

How To Play:

• Write questions on a beach ball.
• Students toss the ball to each other.
• The catcher must answer the question closest to their right thumb.
• Continue until all questions are answered.

19. Duck, Duck, Goose (Modified)

In this version of Duck, Duck, Goose, the leader assigns actions like hopping or clapping when they tag “Goose.”

How To Play:

• Students sit in a circle.
• One student walks around tapping heads, saying “Duck” or “Goose.”
• When “Goose” is tapped, the chase begins, and a special action (e.g., hopping) is required.

20. Blind Square

Students are blindfolded and must work together to form a perfect square while holding a rope, testing teamwork and communication skills.

How To Play:

• Blindfold students and give them a long piece of rope.
• Instruct them to form a square while holding the rope.
• The team that creates the most accurate square wins.

21. Odd One Out

This game involves identifying the item or concept that doesn’t fit in a given list. It helps with critical thinking and pattern recognition.

How To Play:

• Provide a list of items, words, or concepts.
• Students identify the item that doesn’t belong.
• Discuss the reasoning behind their choices.
• Award points for correct answers.

22. Simon Says (Classroom Version)

In this version of Simon Says, students follow the teacher’s commands only if the phrase begins with “Simon says,” testing listening skills.

How To Play:

• The teacher gives commands starting with “Simon says” (e.g., “Simon says touch your head”).
• Students follow the commands.
• If the command doesn’t start with “Simon says,” students must remain still.
• Those who act on incorrect commands are out.

23. Memorize Objects

Students study a group of objects and then try to recall as many as possible after the objects are hidden.

How To Play:

• Place 10–15 objects on a table.
• Allow students to study the objects for one minute.
• Cover the objects and ask students to write down as many as they can remember.
• The student with the most correct answers wins.

24. Finish the Sentence

Students take turns adding to an ongoing sentence, building both memory and creativity.

How To Play:

• Start with an incomplete sentence (e.g., “Yesterday, I went to…”).
• The first student adds a word or phrase to the sentence.
• Each following student repeats the sentence and adds another word or phrase.
• Continue until the sentence becomes too long or complex to remember.

25. Replace the Number

Students replace a specific number with a word or sound in a counting sequence, challenging their concentration.

How To Play:

• Choose a number to replace (e.g., replace “3” with “buzz”).
• Students take turns counting, replacing the chosen number with the new word.
• Any student who says the number instead of the word is out.

26. Charades

Students act out a word or concept while the rest of the class tries to guess it. It promotes creativity and non-verbal communication.

How To Play:

• Divide students into teams.
• One student from a team acts out a word without speaking.
• The rest of the team guesses the word within a time limit.
• The team with the most correct guesses wins.

27. Jeopardy (Classroom Version)

Jeopardy is a team-based quiz game where students answer questions from different categories for points.

How To Play:

• Prepare a set of questions in various categories.
• Teams take turns selecting a category and point value.
• The team answers the question for points.
• The team with the most points at the end wins.

28. Connect Through Stories

In this game, students share personal anecdotes or situations that connect to the lesson or topic being discussed.

How To Play:

• Students sit in a circle.
• One student starts by sharing a personal story related to the lesson.
• They pass an object (e.g., a ball of yarn) to the next student, who shares their own story.
• Continue until all students have shared.

29. Bingo

A simple game where students mark off squares on their bingo cards based on the teacher’s prompts. This can be used for reviewing vocabulary or facts.

How To Play:

• Create bingo cards with vocabulary words or lesson content.
• Call out definitions or facts related to the words.
• Students mark off the corresponding square if they have it.
• The first student to mark off a full row wins.

30. Studying Contest

This game is designed to review lesson material quickly. Students compete in teams to decide whether statements are true or false.

How To Play:

• Draw two circles labeled “Yes” and “No.”
• Read a statement related to the lesson.
• Teams send a representative to tap the correct circle.
• The first team to tap the correct answer earns a point.

31. Find the Clues

Students work in teams to give clues without using certain key words. It helps improve vocabulary and communication.

How To Play:

• Write terms on pieces of paper.
• One student gives clues to their team without saying the word.
• The team has 60 seconds to guess as many terms as possible.
• The team with the most correct guesses wins.

32. Find the Object or Image

Students search for hidden objects or images related to the lesson, practicing research and observation skills.

How To Play:

• Hide objects or images around the classroom.
• Provide a list of objects or clues for students to find.
• Students search within a set time limit.
• The student who finds the most items wins.

33. Category Contest

This game helps students think critically by finding words that fit into a specific category and start with a given letter.

How To Play:

• Provide a category (e.g., fruits, countries).
• Assign a letter of the alphabet.
• Students or teams list as many words as possible that fit the category and start with the letter.
• The team with the most correct words wins.

34. Scavenger Hunt

Students search for items or information based on a list, working individually or in teams to complete the hunt.

How To Play:

• Create a list of items or facts for students to find.
• Students search the classroom or school for the items.
• The first student or team to find all items wins.

35. Flashcard Duel

Students test each other’s knowledge using flashcards. Correct answers allow students to keep the card.

How To Play:

• Pair up students.
• Each pair has a set of flashcards with questions or vocabulary.
• One student shows a card, and the other answers.
• If the answer is correct, the student keeps the card.
• The student with the most cards at the end wins.

36. Jenga (Educational Version)

Students pull blocks from a Jenga tower, but before each turn, they must answer a question related to the lesson.

How To Play:

• Set up a Jenga tower.
• Write questions on each block or ask verbal questions before a student pulls a block.
• The student answers the question and pulls a block.
• The game continues until the tower falls.

37. Bozo Buckets

38. Bob Ball

A fast-paced game where students toss a ball around the classroom, answering questions or solving problems as they catch it.

How To Play:

• Write questions or problems on the ball.
• Toss the ball to a student.
• The student answers the question or solves the problem they catch.
• Continue tossing until all questions are answered.

39. Chicken Evolution

Students form teams and try to “evolve” from an egg to a chicken by winning rock-paper-scissors matches.

How To Play:

• All students start as “eggs.”
• Students challenge each other to rock-paper-scissors.
• Winners “evolve” to the next stage (chick, hen, etc.).
• The first student to evolve into a chicken wins.

40. Kahoot!

An online quiz platform that allows students to answer multiple-choice questions in a fun, competitive format.

How To Play:

• Create a quiz on Kahoot! based on lesson material.
• Students join the game using a unique code.
• Students answer multiple-choice questions in real-time.
• Points are awarded for correct and fast answers.

41. Can You Hear Me Now?

This game requires clear communication. One student gives directions to a blindfolded partner to draw a specific image without seeing it.

How To Play:

• Blindfold one student.
• The partner describes an image that the blindfolded student must draw.
• The blindfolded student follows the instructions to complete the drawing.
• The team with the most accurate drawing wins.

42. Team Member ID Card Creation

Students create ID cards showcasing their strengths and teamwork abilities. This helps build self-awareness and collaboration skills.

How To Play:

• Provide students with templates for ID cards.
• Students fill out their cards with information like strengths, preferred roles in group work, and fun facts.
• Display the cards to encourage teamwork.

43. Musical Chairs (Discussion Version)

In this variation, students answer questions or discuss topics when the music stops, promoting both movement and academic discussion.

How To Play:

• Play music and have students walk around the room.
• When the music stops, students pair up and answer a question or discuss a topic.
• After the discussion, the music resumes, and the game continues.

44. Hot Potato (Pronoun Practice)

A fast, engaging classroom game that helps students practice pronouns while the pressure of passing around an object keeps them alert and focused.

How To Play:

• Students sit or stand in a circle
• Play upbeat music as students pass an object (like a small softball or beanbag)

When the music stops, the student holding the object must:

• Complete a pronoun sentence shown by the teacher (e.g., “Sarah and Tom went to the store. ____ bought ice cream.”)
• Replace a noun in a given sentence with the correct pronoun (e.g., “The cat chased the mouse” → “It chased it”)
• Create a new sentence using specific pronouns provided by the teacher

45. Create a Playlist

Students create a playlist representing their goals, future aspirations, or favorite subjects, combining music with reflection.

How To Play:

• Have students choose songs that reflect their future aspirations or interests.
• Students present their playlist to the class and explain why they chose each song.
• Encourage creativity in linking music to personal or academic goals.

46. Compose a Melody

A collaborative music-making activity where students create their own melodies using basic musical concepts.

How To Play:

• Students form small groups of 3-4
• Each group receives A set of note cards (showing different musical notes and rests),A blank staff paper, Simple percussion instruments (optional)

Students take turns:

• Placing one note card on their staff paper
• Singing or playing their growing melody
• Adding musical elements like tempo or dynamics

47. Eraser Tag

In this fast-paced game, students must chase each other around the classroom and tag others using erasers.

How To Play:

• Choose one student to be “it.”
• The “it” student chases others around the room, attempting to tag them with an eraser.
• Once tagged, students become “it” and continue the game.

48. Zip Zap Zoom!

This is a quick-paced verbal game where students pass a signal around the room by saying “zip,” “zap,” or “zoom.”

How To Play:

• Students stand in a circle.
• One student starts by saying “zip” and pointing to someone else.
• The next student says “zap” and points to another.
• Continue with “zoom.” Any hesitation or mistakes result in elimination.

49. Balloons Volleyball

Students play a modified version of volleyball using a balloon, keeping the game light and engaging while encouraging teamwork.

How To Play:

• Divide students into two teams.
• Use a balloon instead of a volleyball.
• Teams try to hit the balloon over a net (or imaginary line) without letting it touch the ground.
• The team that reaches a set number of points first wins.

50. Build a Tower Challenge

Students compete to build the tallest tower using everyday materials like straws, paper, or blocks, fostering problem-solving skills.

How To Play:

• Provide students with materials like straws, paper, or blocks.
• Give them a set time to build the tallest tower they can.
• The team with the tallest, most stable tower wins.

51. Paper Plane Contest

In this creative competition, students design and fly paper planes to see whose design flies the farthest or longest.

How To Play:

• Provide students with paper to design their planes.
• Let students test their designs by flying the planes across the room.
• Measure distance and flight time to determine the winner.

52. Pass the Parcel (with Questions)

Students pass a parcel while music plays. The student holding the parcel must answer a question when the music stops.

How To Play:

• Wrap a parcel in layers of paper.
• Inside each layer, place a question or prompt.
• Play music and have students pass the parcel.
• When the music stops, the student holding the parcel unwraps a layer and answers the question.

53. What’s Missing?

This memory game challenges students to identify which objects have been removed from a group after studying them briefly.

How To Play:

• Place several objects on a table.
• Allow students to study them for a short time.
• Cover the objects and remove one.
• Ask students to identify which object is missing.

54. Art Relay

Teams of students take turns adding to a drawing, racing to complete a picture in a limited time.

How To Play:

• Divide students into teams.
• Each team member takes a turn adding to a drawing.
• The goal is to complete a coherent picture within a set time.
• The team with the best drawing wins.

55. Who Am I? (Guessing Game)

Students wear cards on their foreheads with names of famous people or concepts. They ask yes/no questions to guess their identity.

How To Play:

• Write names or concepts on cards.
• Tape the cards to students’ foreheads without them seeing.
• Students ask yes/no questions to figure out who or what they are.
• The first to guess correctly wins.

56. Word Association

Students quickly name words related to a given topic in rapid succession. This game sharpens quick thinking and vocabulary.

How To Play:

• Choose a topic (e.g., animals).
• Students take turns saying a word related to the topic.
• Any hesitation or repeated words result in elimination.
• The last student standing wins.

57. Telephone Game

Students pass a whispered message down a line, and the final student says the message aloud to see how much it changed.

How To Play:

• Line up students.
• Whisper a message to the first student.
• Each student whispers the message to the next.
• The final student says the message aloud, and the class compares it to the original.

58. Quick Draw

Students compete to draw a specific concept or object as quickly as possible while their classmates try to guess what it is.

How To Play:

• Divide students into teams.
• One student from each team draws an object or concept.
• The rest of the team guesses the drawing within a time limit.
• The team with the most correct guesses wins.

59. The Great Debate

Students are divided into teams and given a topic to debate, fostering critical thinking and public speaking skills.

How To Play:

• Divide students into two teams.
• Assign each team a side of a debate topic.
• Give teams time to prepare their arguments.
• Teams take turns presenting their arguments, followed by rebuttals.

60. Math Baseball

In this math-based version of baseball, students “hit” by answering math questions correctly and move around the bases accordingly.

How To Play:

• Divide the class into two teams.
• Ask math questions worth one, two, or three bases.
• A correct answer allows the team to move a player around the bases.
• The team with the most runs wins.

61. Problem-Solving Relay

Teams work together to solve a series of puzzles or problems as quickly as possible in a relay format.

How To Play:

• Prepare several puzzles or problems for students to solve.
• Divide the class into teams.
• Each team member solves one problem before passing the relay to the next teammate.
• The team that solves all problems first wins.

62. Mystery Bag

Students reach into a bag and try to guess what object they feel based on touch alone, encouraging sensory perception.

How To Play:

• Place different objects in a bag.
• One student at a time reaches into the bag without looking.
• The student describes the object they feel and makes a guess.
• Reveal the object after each guess.

63. True or False?

In this game, students must decide whether a statement is true or false. It’s a great way to review facts in a fun, competitive manner.

How To Play:

• Prepare a list of statements based on the lesson.
• Read each statement aloud.
• Students raise their hands for true or false.
• Award points for correct answers.

64. Build the Longest Chain

Teams compete to build the longest chain using paper, tape, or other materials, fostering creativity and collaboration.

How To Play:

• Provide teams with materials like paper and tape.
• Set a time limit for them to build the longest chain possible.
• The team with the longest and strongest chain wins.

65. Reaction Race

This game tests students’ reflexes as they race to react to a signal by performing a specific action, like touching their heads or jumping.

How To Play:

• Stand students in a line.
• Call out different commands (e.g., “touch your head,” “jump”).
• The last student to perform the action is out.
• The last student standing wins.

66. Speedy Spelling

In this fast-paced spelling challenge, students race to spell words correctly on the board as quickly as possible.

How To Play:

• Divide students into two teams.
• Call out a word, and one student from each team races to the board to spell it.
• The first to spell the word correctly earns a point for their team.

67. Memory Challenge

This game tests students’ memories as they try to recall information or images they’ve just seen or learned.

How To Play:

• Show students a list of words or images.
• Give them a minute to memorize the items.
• After removing the list, ask students to recall as many items as they can.
• The student with the most correct items wins.

68. Role Play Scenarios

Students act out real-life scenarios based on a lesson, practicing problem-solving and decision-making skills.

How To Play:

• Assign different roles to students.
• Give them a scenario related to the lesson (e.g., conflict resolution).
• Students act out the scenario and present possible solutions.
• Discuss each group’s approach after the performance.

69. Classroom Debate Tournament

A tournament-style debate where students take turns arguing for or against different topics, promoting critical thinking and argumentation.

How To Play:

• Divide students into pairs or teams.
• Assign debate topics and positions (for or against).
• Hold multiple rounds of debates.
• Judge each debate and advance winners to the next round.

70. Balloon Pop (with Questions Inside)

Students pop balloons to reveal questions inside, which they must answer to score points.

How To Play:

• Write questions on slips of paper and place them inside balloons.
• Students take turns popping balloons.
• After popping, they must answer the question inside.
• Points are awarded for correct answers.

71. Shape Sorters

In this game, students sort different shapes or objects based on various characteristics like size, color, or type.

How To Play:

• Provide students with different shapes or objects.
• Instruct them to sort the objects by a characteristic (e.g., size, color, shape).
• The student who sorts the objects fastest and most accurately wins.

72. Vocabulary Bingo

Students play bingo using vocabulary words from the lesson, marking off words as they are called out.

How To Play:

• Create bingo cards with vocabulary words.
• Call out definitions or descriptions of the words.
• Students mark off the corresponding word on their cards.
• The first to complete a row wins.

73. Story Chain

Students take turns adding to a story, building a collaborative narrative while practicing creativity and language skills.

How To Play:

• Start with a sentence or prompt.
• Each student adds one sentence to the story.
• Continue until every student has contributed.
• Read the final story aloud to the class.

74. Sentence Scramble

Students work together to unscramble words and form a complete, coherent sentence.

How To Play:

• Write a scrambled sentence on the board.
• Teams work to unscramble the words and form a proper sentence.
• The team that unscrambles the sentence correctly first wins.

75. Spot the Difference

This game sharpens observation skills as students compare two pictures and find differences between them.

How To Play:

• Provide students with two similar pictures.
• Ask them to spot the differences between the pictures.
• The student who finds the most differences wins.

76. Pass the Message

In this game, students whisper a message to each other, and the final student reveals how much the message has changed.

How To Play:

• Line up students.
• Whisper a message to the first student.
• Each student whispers the message to the next.
• The final student says the message aloud.
• Compare the final message with the original.

77. Interactive Puzzle Solving

Students work in teams to solve puzzles related to the lesson, practicing critical thinking and teamwork.

How To Play:

• Provide students with puzzles or problems to solve.
• Divide them into teams to work together.
• The first team to solve the puzzle correctly wins.

Conclusion

We’ve explored 77 fun games to liven up your middle school classroom. These activities aren’t just about entertainment – they’re powerful tools for learning.

By mixing play with education, we can create an environment where students are excited to participate and absorb knowledge.

Remember, choosing games that fit your lesson goals and your students’ needs is the key. Start small, maybe with one or two weekly games, and see how your class responds.

These games offer more than just a break from routine. They help build social skills, enhance critical thinking, and make learning enjoyable. As teachers, we can turn our classrooms into spaces where education feels like an adventure.