Rainy Day Recess: Indoor Balloon Activities

Moments before the recess bell rings, a flash of lightning streaks across the sky. Soon after, a mighty clap of thunder silences the room. The principal’s somber voice crackles over the speaker,

“Recess will be indoors today.”

Without a plan, such a scenario can be disappointing for both teachers and restless students. But all you need is a bag of balloons and a little creativity to turn it around. Read on for creative inspiration, with ideas from wilderdom.com. But first:

• · Keep balloon hygiene in mind. Assign one inflator per balloon (no shared inflations). To encourage cooperation and interdependence, allow students to help each other tie their inflated balloons.

• · Watch out for hyperventilation. This is CO2 depletion that can occur from the quick, full breaths used to inflate balloons. Make sure anyone feeling lightheaded takes a break and breaths slowly. As an alternative, pre-inflate the balloons. 

Catch the Balloon

Assemble the class in a circle and throw the balloon up in the air. The thrower calls a student’s name while the balloon is in the air, and the named student must catch the balloon before it hits the ground. Then, the catcher throws the balloon and calls out another name. To increase difficulty, spread students out, increasing the size of the circle.

Balloon Bop

This game is a slightly more intense version of Catch the Balloon. Assemble the same circular setup, but instead of catching the balloon, the named student must keep the balloon in the air. For even more of a challenge, instruct the student naming to also call out a body part which the named student has to use to keep the balloon in the air. 

Balloon Finger Balance

Give a balloon to each student and instruct them to balance the balloon on their finger for as long as they can. The balloon must stay stationary on the finger and not be tapped. For a competitive version, assign four balancers at a time to a balance-off in front of the rest of the class. Winners advance and balance against other group winners after everyone has had a turn. 

Balloon Juggle and Sort

After distributing one balloon per student, instruct the class to hit their balloon to keep it in the air. See how long the entire class can keep the balloons off the ground, and count off the time to the new record. After they get the hang of it, mix it up by instructing them to sort themselves based on balloon color, while bopping the balloons in the air.
Reverse Balloon Juggle and Sort

If your class gets too comfortable keeping the balloons off the ground, make them keep them off the ceiling! You will need helium for this exciting variation of balloon juggle. Also, make sure you have strings attached so you can fetch stray balloons from the ceiling. 

Balloon Ball Games

With balloons, your class can play indoor versions of the outdoor games they love. Volleyball and badminton are fun options, and with balloon ball, there is no need for a net. If the balloon touches the ground, the other student gets a point. To add a twist to this activity, spread the games throughout the classroom and intermittently announce, “slow motion!” Upon this announcement, all players must move in slow motion until another announcement is made.

Everyone else’s class may groan when indoor recess is announced, but not yours. After introducing students to the exciting possibilities of balloon games, you will be greeted with smiles and excitement the next time rain falls.

Additional Resources:

15 Fun Indoor Recess Games and Activates —National Board Certified Teacher Angela Watson provides this list of fun indoor recess options.

10 Indoor Recess Ideas — Multiple sources contribute to this inspiring list of indoor activities at scholastic.com