The Ultimate Classroom Challenge: 17 Fun Mini Games for Pupils

• Citizenship
• Primary Education
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)

Introduction

Bring fresh energy into your classroom with The Ultimate Classroom Challenge! In this interactive lesson, pupils take on 17 fun and light-hearted mini games in a short amount of time. It’s perfect for boosting the classroom atmosphere, encouraging teamwork and improving pupils’ coordination and focus. Ideal for the end of the week, on a celebration day, sports day, or simply as an active, feel-good session together in class.

Instructions

Materials: toilet rolls, plastic cups, A4 sheets, ping pong balls, felt-tip pens, pencil.

Group set-up: start individually, then switch to pairs or trios depending on the activity.

Pace & motivation: each activity lasts exactly 1 minute — stick to a strict timer for a lively and well-paced session.

Activity Overview (17 quick challenges)

1. Toilet roll on your head – Balance and walk
2. Catch a ping pong ball – Using an A4 ‘chip bag’
3. Balance on one leg – With a toilet roll on your knee
4. Flip a cup – From the edge of the table
5. Wall sit – Hold a sitting position against the wall
6. Keep a ping pong ball in the air – Using a felt-tip pen and pencil
7. Draw a circle with your foot – Felt-tip pen between your toes
8. Pass a toilet roll – Switching hands
9. Hold up an A4 sheet – With two fingers, arm stretched out
10. Fold a paper plane – As quickly as possible
11. Write your name backwards – Using a felt-tip pen on A4
12. Leg stretch – Sit on a chair, stretch both legs forward
13. Throw a ball into a cup – In pairs
14. Kick a toilet roll up – Catch it with both hands
15. Build a tower – Using all available materials
16. Slide a toilet roll – Stop it on the table
17. Fit A4 sheets into a cup – Without any sticking out

De alleskunner

17 games

for in the classroom

The Ultimate Classroom

CHALLENGE!

De alleskunner

> Alleen of in tweetallen

> 17 spelletjes 

> 1 minuut per spel 

The rules

• Play alone, in pairs or as a trio
  
• 17 games
  
• 1 minute (60 seconds) per game

De alleskunner

> Alleen of in tweetallen

> 17 spelletjes 

> 1 minuut per spel 

Supplies

• Pencils
  
• Markers
  
• Ping-pong balls

• Plastic cups
  
• A4 sheets
• Toilet Rolls

De alleskunner

GO!

Everyone ready?...

De alleskunner

> Alleen of in tweetallen

> 17 spelletjes 

> 1 minuut per spel 

1: The Toilet Roll

• Make a trio. Grab three toilet rolls.
  
• All balance one toilet roll on your head
   and hold it there for a minute.
• Too easy?
   ...Stand up and walk around the classroom!

De alleskunner

> Alleen of in tweetallen

> 17 spelletjes 

> 1 minuut per spel 

2: Catch the Ball

• Make pairs.
  
• Take one A4 sheet and a ping-pong ball.
  
• Fold the A4 piece of paper into a shape you can catch with...
  
• One throws the ball...
• The other tries to catch it!

De alleskunner

> Alleen of in tweetallen

> 17 spelletjes 

> 1 minuut per spel 

3: On One Leg

• Grab a toilet roll.
• Put the toilet roll on your knee.
• Try to balance on one leg.

De alleskunner

> Alleen of in tweetallen

> 17 spelletjes 

> 1 minuut per spel 

4: Tipping cup

• Take three cups.
  
• Place the cups on the edge of the table
   (the right way up).
• With your hand, try to flip the cup over
   to the other side.

De alleskunner

> Alleen of in tweetallen

> 17 spelletjes 

> 1 minuut per spel 

5: Against the wall

• Find a free wall.
  
• Stand with your back against it and sink through
   your knees. Stand as if you were a chair.
• Stay like this for a minute.

De alleskunner

> Alleen of in tweetallen

> 17 spelletjes 

> 1 minuut per spel 

6: Keepy Up

• Grab a marker, pencil and ping-pong ball.
• You are going to try to use the marker and
   pencil to keep the ping-pong ball in the air
   for as long as possible.

De alleskunner

> Alleen of in tweetallen

> 17 spelletjes 

> 1 minuut per spel 

7: Drawing a circle

• Grab a marker and an A4 piece of paper.
  
• Take off your shoe.
  
• Put the marker between your feet.
  
• Use the marker to make a circle
   on the A4 piece of paper.

You don't have to use your feet for this - we have had just as funny results trying to do it with a pen held in your forearm or under the chin!

De alleskunner

> Alleen of in tweetallen

> 17 spelletjes 

> 1 minuut per spel 

8: Throw & Catch

• Grab a toilet roll.
  
• Stand up and toss the toilet roll from one hand to the other - how many can you do before you drop it?
• Too easy? Throw and catch with a partner

     swapping hands each time!

De alleskunner

> Alleen of in tweetallen

> 17 spelletjes 

> 1 minuut per spel 

9: Holding up paper

• Take the A4 with the circle on it.
• Hold the A4 at the top between your index
   and middle finger. Stretch your arm.
• Hold it for a minute.
  

De alleskunner

> Alleen of in tweetallen

> 17 spelletjes 

> 1 minuut per spel 

10: Folding a plane

• Take the same A4.
  
• Try to fold it into an aeroplane as fast
   as possible within a minute.

De alleskunner

> Alleen of in tweetallen

> 17 spelletjes 

> 1 minuut per spel 

11: Backwards

• Grab the marker and an A4.
• Write your name backwards.

De alleskunner

> Alleen of in tweetallen

> 17 spelletjes 

> 1 minuut per spel 

12: Stretching legs

• Sit straight on your chair with your legs
   stretched forward.
  
• Keep your legs held straight for a minute.

De alleskunner

> Alleen of in tweetallen

> 17 spelletjes 

> 1 minuut per spel 

13: Throwing

• Make pairs and both grab a cup and
   a ping-pong ball.
• Face each other and try to throw
   the ball into the other's cup.

De alleskunner

> Alleen of in tweetallen

> 17 spelletjes 

> 1 minuut per spel 

14: Kick up

• Make trios. Take three toilet rolls.
  
• Put the toilet roll on your foot.
  
• Kick the toilet roll up and try to catch
   the toilet roll with your hands.

De alleskunner

> Alleen of in tweetallen

> 17 spelletjes 

> 1 minuut per spel 

15: Build a tower

• Get all the material.
  
• In trios, try to build the highest possible
   tower with all the material.

De alleskunner

> Alleen of in tweetallen

> 17 spelletjes 

> 1 minuut per spel 

16: Toilet roll sliding

• Take the toilet roll and stand next to the table.
  
• Slide the toilet roll across the table and try to
   stop the toilet roll on the edge.

De alleskunner

> Alleen of in tweetallen

> 17 spelletjes 

> 1 minuut per spel 

17: Cup

• Make pairs.
  
• Take a cup and two A4 sheets.
  
• The A4's should go into the cup
   without sticking out.

De alleskunner

Well played!

You did it!