WOULD YOU LIKE ACCESS TO ALL THE FREEBIES FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS? ➔

Jumpstart Your Classroom Organization with this Freebie

Indoor Recess Ideas for Elementary Teachers in 2024

Here in the northeast, we are in the depths of “indoor recess season.” It stinks. Those kids need to get their wiggles out, but cold temperatures often keep them inside. Anyone else in the same boat? There isn’t a lot of time for recess. As a result, it is important to have systems in place that allow the kids to quickly set up and clean up the recess materials. As a classroom teacher, you have a lot of things to organize and store in your classroom. It’s hard to find storage solutions for your teaching essentials, never mind wondering “how to store indoor and outdoor recess equipment”. In this post, I’ll also share tips and ideas for storing, organizing, and managing indoor and outdoor recess materials and equipment. Check it all out below!

5 Indoor Recess Tips and Ideas

Below are indoor recess ideas for elementary teachers to use in their classroom.

1. Stock Up on Board Games

When selecting items to use for indoor recess keep the allotted time frame in mind. Your students won’t have time to complete a game of Monopoly. Instead, you want to stock up on games that are quick. Connect Four and  Guess Who are good options.

2. Collect Puzzles

Puzzles are good for students to do collaboratively or on their own. I always put the pieces into a bag and discard the original packaging. This saves a ton of space as many puzzles can then be stored in a plastic shoe box.

3. Store Indoor Recess Materials Together

Keeping all of the recess materials in one cupboard or bin will make it easier for the students to set them up and put them away. I use small trash cans to hold pattern blocks, wooden blocks and Legos. These can quickly be grabbed and taken to an area for a few friends to play with together. The open top makes for a fast cleanup and allows pieces that are found later to be put away easily.

4. Assign “Recess Helper” as a Classroom Job

Assigning a couple of students the classroom job of “recess helper” assists in making sure things get set up and put away efficiently. I strongly suggest picking students who are a good fit for such a role, train them well and have them do the job throughout the year.

In my classroom, two girls are in charge of removing the containers of manipulatives, puzzles, and games from the cabinet where they are stored. They place them onto a nearby table for the students to grab. The students then clean up the activity they were using and return it to the table for the girls to put in the cabinet. This ensures that the materials are always put away neatly in their labeled spots and are ready for the next day.

5. Offer Community Art Supplies

The last on this list of indoor recess ideas is to offer community art supplies. Although my students have their own art supply bags in my classroom, I find it is better to use community supplies if they choose to draw and color during recess. I have baskets of crayons, markers and colored pencils dedicated to recess and choice times.

5 Outdoor Recess Tips and Ideas

The outdoor recess equipment you have will vary depending on your school rules and how much outdoor space your school has available. Below are outdoor recess ideas for elementary teachers..

1. Don’t Store Outdoor Recess Equipment in Your Classroom

It’s important for your students to have quick and easy access to appropriate outdoor equipment and that there is a safe and practical way to store things like jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, balls, hula hoops and more. Try to find a way to get the recess equipment stored somewhere other than your classroom. Many schools now use community equipment. You could write a DonorsChoose request or ask your PTA to fund something like this.

2. Store Chalk in a Closed Container

If your students use sidewalk chalk you’ll want to store that in a container that has a lid. This will keep moisture out which will preserve the chalk. It will also prevent chalk dust from taking over your classroom.

3. Utilize Plastic Laundry Baskets

Plastic laundry baskets are a great option for holding larger items like balls. I like them because you can easily stack multiple baskets into each other when not in use. Also, because recess items have a tendency to get dirty it is nice to have a container that can be hosed down or wiped easily.

4. Containerize Containers

You can keep all your outdoor resource equipment in one large container, but consider having smaller containers within the large container. For example, baskets with handles work well for jump ropes. The handle makes it easier for students to carry it to and from the playground. Containerizing prevents equipment from getting broken or tangled.

5. Establish Clear Recess Procedures and Routines

Establish procedures and routines for getting the equipment to and from the playground. Consider making this one of your classroom jobs. Having consistent expectations will result in quick classroom transitions, which are essential for maximizing their recess time as well as learning time in the classroom. An example of a procedure and routine to plan for is what to do when students bring a ball from home. In my classroom, I have them keep the ball with their coats and other personal belongings.

buy now button

In closing, we hope you found these outdoor and indoor recess ideas for organizing and storing your materials and equipment helpful. If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

Indoor recess can get a little crazy on a rainy day! Make sure you are ready with simple free choice activities and strong classroom organization by checking out these simple strategies and ideas in this blog post.

Share it:

Email
Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter

Get Your Classroom Decor FREEBIE!

classroom decor guide
This classroom decor guide includes helpful tips and ideas for decorating your classroom.