20 Enjoyable Zoom Video games for Youngsters

The move to online learning can be a big change, but just like in-person school, it can't be all work and no play! Here are 20 fun zoom games for kids that can help you take a break from the traditional curriculum and keep kids busy.

1. Would you rather (Kid Version)

With two equally absurd decisions, children have to choose between options. Hilarious and insightful, your students will love a quick round of this game.

2. Freeze dance

This is more of a fun activity than a game, but it gets kids moving (and groove!). It's perfect for following a block of instructions. Make fun music and encourage the kids to show off their best dance moves. When the music stops, everyone freezes. Anyone who is still dancing is outside and sits down to watch their classmates.

3. First letter, last letter

This is a fun word game that will improve your spelling and vocabulary skills. Select a category, e.g. B. Animals. The first player names an animal. For example dog. The next player has to name an animal starting with the last letter of the dog - like a giraffe. The next player must name an animal that begins with the last letter of the giraffe and so on.

4. Mad Libs

As well as being a fun way to tell crazy stories, Mad Libs are a great way to practice parts of the language. Have students fill out one of these online versions and then share it with the class!

5. I'm spying

Test your students' observation skills with a short round of I Spy. Select an object from your screen background. For example: "I see something green." The students take turns guessing what the object is. You can also choose something from someone else's background. For example, "I see something in Taylor's background that looks soft."

6. Person, place or thing

In this fun alphabet game, students practice recognizing and naming nouns. Player 1 begins with the letter A and has to name a person, place or thing that begins with the letter A (note: "Person" can be expanded to include any living being if desired). The next player has to say a noun that starts with the letter B, and so on. The game continues and it is each student's turn until you reach Z.

7. Detective

This fun guessing game gives kids a chance to solve some of their problems. Select one student to be a "detective" and ask them to mute the microphone, close their eyes, and count to thirty. Choose a different student as "It". The player who is "It" begins an action, e.g. B. patting yourself on the head. All the other students follow suit and pat their heads. When the detective is done counting, they open their eyes and watch the group. If "It" thinks the detective is looking at someone else, he changes the action; B. he claps his hands. All other students also change their actions. The detective is given three guesses to catch the player who is "It".

8. Memory

Prepare a chalkboard with random items like a paintbrush, pencil, spool of thread, etc. Tell your students to give them 20 (or whatever you think is appropriate) seconds to memorize the objects they see. Students cannot write down a list of items or take a screenshot. You just have to remember by seeing. Move the board out of sight and take away an item. Show the board again on the screen and see who can name the missing item the fastest.

9. Blind Drawing Challenge

This silly activity only lasts a few minutes and is sure to make your group giggle. Name an object, for example a tree or a lion. Each student must turn their whiteboard (or a piece of paper on a book) upside down and draw the named object. When you think you have finished, remove your drawings and show them to the group.

10. Rock, paper, scissors

Another quick challenge. The aim of this version of the famous game is not to win, but to see how many rounds you can stay in the game against the teacher. The game starts with one, two, three shots. Everyone makes their choice and ensures that others can see their choice on screen. If the choice of teacher exceeds yours, you are out. If not, keep playing.

11. Mystery bag

Choose an item from your area and put it in a brown paper bag. Provide a clue of what's in the bag. For example "The object is red". Have three students guess. If no one gets it right, give another clue. Keep going until someone gets right.

12. Mystery person

Many teachers start the school year by having their students fill out an interest inventory. Here is an example. Email the inventory to each student and have it filled out and returned to you (ask them to put an asterisk next to anything they'd rather not share). After getting all the inventories, you are ready to play the game. Share three answers from a student's inventory and give students a chance to guess who you're talking about. If no one can, give another hint. Continue until someone suspects or reveals themselves to the group.

13. Story chain

Start a story with an appealing hook. For example: “One day I was walking through a shady forest. I thought I was alone, but suddenly ... ”Have students raise their hands when they want to tell the next part of the story. Pick a student to continue the story (just a line or two) and in the same way, have them pick the next storyteller. Continue until everyone who wishes has had a chance to contribute. Feel free to jump back and end the story if it shakes.

14. Mystery sound

This is a fun activity that tests students' powers of perception. Make a sound with something that the camera can't see. For example, crumple a piece of paper, hit a spoon on the edge of a glass, or snap your fingers. Have students take turns guessing what they are hearing.

15. 20 questions

This classic road trip game is perfect for online learning. Pick a topic that will be of interest to your students - an animal, an event, something you are currently studying. Each student can only ask one question and make one guess per round. Don't let students blurt out the answer - they'll have to wait their turn. Ask a student to keep track of how many questions have been asked so that you can keep track.

16. Simon says

Even though the Simon Says game has always existed, kids still love it! Let everyone stand in front of their computer and start the game with actions. As they alight, have students sit until there is only one student left.

17. 5 Second rule

This fun game gives students 5 seconds to name 3 things that fit into a certain category, e.g. B. "Name 3 Fiction Books" or "Name 3 Insects". Sounds easy, but five seconds is not much time! Buy the board game Five Second Rule Jr. or get flashcards from Quizlet online for free.

18. Last word

This game works best with a small group of students. Before playing, determine who goes first, second, etc. Enter the order in the chat field so that students can keep track. Choose a subject and a letter of the alphabet. For example, snacks that start with the letter P. Set a timer and have each student list one item in order. Continue until the timer runs out. The last person to name something before the buzzer sounds wins the round. Create your own Last Word playing cards or buy the board game here.

19. Categories

This game is a more advanced version of the above game and is similar to the Scattergories board game. But instead of each student round-robin naming something, each person fills in the blank for a series of categories that begin with a specific letter. Try this online version, which automatically generates laps for free.

20. Taboo

This game really challenges a person's communication skills. For the game you use clue cards with the clue word at the top of the card and the taboo words listed below. The object of the game is for a player to ask a teammate to guess as many clue words as possible in 60 seconds without saying any of the taboo words listed below. This version of the board game features both kid-friendly and more challenging cards. Or try this free online version that automatically generates maps.

Also a few tools that help:

Word generators

These two websites automatically generate words and phrases for games like Pictionary, Charades, Catchphrase, and more: The Game Gal and RandomWordGenerator.

Name generator

Most teachers have a preferred method of randomly picking names so that every student has a chance to participate. Wheel of Names is a fun online tool that turns a wheel (aka the Wheel of Fortune) to decide who's next. Just take entire student names and swirl it.

What are your favorite fun zoom games to play with kids? Share our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Also download our free printable scavenger hunts for kids.