Getting kids excited about school activities can be a challenge, but with the right games, it becomes a breeze! Minute to Win It games are the perfect solution. These games are not only fun and engaging but also quick and easy to set up.
Whether you’re a teacher looking to spice up your classroom activities or a parent organizing a school event, this guide is for you. Let’s dive into 23 fantastic Minute to Win It games that will bring a wave of excitement to any school setting.
These games are fantastic for developing teamwork and problem-solving skills while ensuring that kids have a blast. Ready to bring some fun into the school day? Let’s get started!
23 Minute to Win It Games for Kids at School
1. Cookie Face
What You Need: Cookies
How to Play: Place a cookie on each player’s forehead. Using only their facial muscles, players must move the cookie to their mouth without using their hands. This game is a hilarious way to start the fun!
Watching kids contort their faces and concentrate hard on moving the cookie is always a crowd-pleaser. It’s a great way to break the ice and get everyone laughing.
2. Stack Attack
What You Need: Plastic cups
How to Play: Players have one minute to stack a pyramid of 36 plastic cups and then take it down, restacking the cups into a single stack. It’s a race against the clock that requires speed and precision.
This game is great for testing coordination and speed. Plus, the sound of cups crashing down is sure to get everyone laughing! It’s also an excellent way to practice fine motor skills and patience.
3. Junk in the Trunk
What You Need: Empty tissue box, ping pong balls, belt
How to Play: Attach the empty tissue box to a belt and fill it with ping pong balls. Strap the box to a player’s waist with the box at the back. The goal is to shake all the balls out of the box using only their body movements. Laughter is guaranteed!
Kids love this game because it’s silly and energetic. It’s also a fantastic way to get everyone moving and shaking off any nerves. The sheer hilarity of watching someone try to shake ping pong balls out of a tissue box is unforgettable.
4. Noodle Pick Up
What You Need: Uncooked spaghetti, penne pasta
How to Play: Using a piece of uncooked spaghetti held in their mouth, players must pick up penne pasta by threading it onto the spaghetti. The trick is to do it without using hands and as quickly as possible.
This game requires patience and steady hands. It’s a fun way to challenge coordination skills in a lighthearted manner. The tension builds as kids try to balance the spaghetti and penne without breaking the spaghetti!
5. Defying Gravity
What You Need: Balloons
How to Play: Players must keep three balloons in the air for one minute. They can only use their hands and must keep the balloons off the ground. It’s harder than it looks!
This game is perfect for building concentration and quick reflexes. Plus, the sight of colorful balloons floating around is always a hit with kids. The challenge increases as the balloons start to drift apart, making it harder to keep them all in the air.
6. Penny Tower
What You Need: Pennies
How to Play: Players have one minute to stack as many pennies as possible with one hand. This game tests both patience and dexterity.
Penny Tower is a simple yet challenging game that requires a steady hand. It’s a great way to encourage focus and precision. The excitement builds as the tower gets higher and more unstable!
7. Chopstick Race
What You Need: Chopsticks, small objects (like marshmallows or cotton balls), bowls
How to Play: Players use chopsticks to transfer small objects from one bowl to another within a minute. It’s a fun way to challenge coordination skills.
This game introduces a cultural twist while testing fine motor skills. It’s always a fun challenge for kids to master the use of chopsticks. It’s also a great way to introduce a bit of cultural learning into the fun.
8. Paper Dragon
What You Need: Rolls of streamers
How to Play: Players unroll a streamer using only their hands and arms. The goal is to unravel the entire roll in under a minute.
This game is all about speed and agility. The sight of streamers flying around adds to the excitement. It’s also a visually appealing game that adds a festive atmosphere to the event.
9. Elephant March
What You Need: Pantyhose, tennis ball, bottles
How to Play: Place a tennis ball in a pantyhose leg and put it on a player’s head like an elephant trunk. Using head movements, players must knock over a series of bottles lined up on the floor. This game is sure to get everyone moving and laughing.
Elephant March is a hilarious game that encourages big movements and lots of laughter. It’s a great way to break the ice and get kids comfortable. The challenge is in coordinating the head movements to knock over the bottles without losing balance.
10. Ping Pong Bounce
What You Need: Ping pong balls, plastic cups
How to Play: Set up a row of plastic cups and give each player a set of ping pong balls. Players must bounce the balls into the cups, aiming to get as many balls in as possible within a minute.
This game tests hand-eye coordination and precision. The sound of ping pong balls bouncing around adds to the fun. It’s also a great way to teach kids about angles and force.
11. Mummy Wrap
What You Need: Toilet paper
How to Play: Teams of two work together where one player wraps the other in toilet paper to create a mummy. The team that wraps their mummy the quickest wins.
Mummy Wrap is a team-building game that promotes cooperation and speed. It’s also a great opportunity for some creative wrapping! The challenge is to wrap quickly without tearing the paper too much.
12. Oreo Stack
What You Need: Oreo cookies
How to Play: Players stack as many Oreo cookies as possible in one minute. The catch is that they can only use one hand. Who will create the tallest tower without it toppling over?
This game is a sweet challenge that requires a steady hand and a bit of strategy. Plus, there’s a tasty treat involved! The thrill of balancing the cookies adds an extra layer of fun.
13. Suck It Up
What You Need: Straws, small candies (like M&Ms), bowls
How to Play: Using a straw, players suck up small candies and transfer them from one bowl to another. The player with the most candies transferred in a minute wins.
Suck It Up is a fun game that tests lung capacity and precision. It’s a great way to add a bit of sweet competition to the mix. The challenge lies in transferring the candies quickly without dropping them.
14. Balloon Pop
What You Need: Balloons
How to Play: Players must pop as many balloons as they can in one minute by sitting on them. It’s a game of speed and strategy!
Balloon Pop is an energetic game that encourages quick movements and strategic thinking. The sound of popping balloons always adds excitement. The key is to find the best way to pop the balloons quickly.
15. Water Bottle Flip
What You Need: Water bottles
How to Play: Players attempt to flip a partially filled water bottle and have it land upright on a table. The player with the most successful flips within a minute wins.
Water Bottle Flip is a popular game that tests precision and patience. It’s a great way to keep kids engaged and focused. The challenge is in getting the right amount of force and angle for the perfect flip.
16. Speed Eraser
What You Need: Pencils, cups
How to Play: Players bounce pencils eraser-side down on a table, attempting to land them in a series of cups. It’s a game that tests hand-eye coordination and patience.
Speed Eraser is a challenging game that requires a steady hand and quick reflexes. It’s always a hit with kids looking for a fun challenge. The excitement builds as players try to perfect their bouncing technique.
17. Marshmallow Toss
What You Need: Marshmallows, small cups
How to Play: Players toss marshmallows into small cups from a distance. The goal is to get as many marshmallows into the cups as possible within one minute.
Marshmallow Toss is a sweet game that tests aim and coordination. It’s a fun way to add some lighthearted competition to any event. The challenge is in finding the right distance and force for the perfect toss.
18. Nose Dive
What You Need: Cotton balls, bowls, petroleum jelly
How to Play: Players dip their nose in petroleum jelly and use it to pick up cotton balls from one bowl and transfer them to another. No hands allowed!
Nose Dive is a hilarious game that encourages creative problem-solving and lots of laughs. It’s always a crowd-pleaser. The challenge is in balancing the cotton balls on the nose without dropping them.
19. Cup Blow
What You Need: Plastic cups, table
How to Play: Players blow into a plastic cup to move it from one end of a table to the other. The first to reach the end wins.
Cup Blow is a simple yet challenging game that tests lung power and control. It’s a great way to get kids cheering each other on. The challenge is in controlling the breath to move the cup steadily without knocking it over.
20. Penny Stack
What You Need: Pennies, ice cube tray
How to Play: Players
stack pennies in the small compartments of an ice cube tray. The goal is to fill as many compartments as possible in one minute.
Penny Stack is a fun game that tests precision and focus. It’s a great way to encourage patience and steady hands. The excitement builds as players try to balance the pennies perfectly.
21. Cup Pyramid
What You Need: Plastic cups
How to Play: Players build a pyramid out of plastic cups and then take it down in reverse order, restacking the cups into a single stack. Speed and precision are key!
Cup Pyramid is a classic game that encourages quick thinking and steady hands. It’s always a hit with kids looking for a fun challenge. The thrill of building and then deconstructing the pyramid adds to the excitement.
22. Spoon Frog
What You Need: Spoons, small objects (like marbles or small balls)
How to Play: Players use a spoon to flick small objects into a bowl or target area. The goal is to get as many objects into the target as possible within a minute.
Spoon Frog is a fun game that tests aim and control. It’s a great way to add some lighthearted competition to any event. The challenge is in getting the right flicking technique to land the objects perfectly.
23. Stack It Up
What You Need: Blocks or cups
How to Play: Players stack blocks or cups into the tallest tower they can build within one minute. Steady hands and focus are essential!
Stack It Up is a simple yet challenging game that encourages precision and patience. It’s a great way to keep kids engaged and focused. The excitement builds as the tower gets taller and more unstable!
Wrapping It Up
There you have it – 23 Minute to Win It games that are perfect for kids at school! These games are not only incredibly fun but also promote teamwork, problem-solving, and a bit of friendly competition. They’re easy to set up and can be played with minimal materials, making them ideal for any school event or classroom activity.
Remember, the key to a successful game session is clear instructions and lots of encouragement. Celebrate every win and laugh off the mishaps – after all, the goal is to have fun!
So, the next time you’re planning an activity for kids, give these Minute to Win It games a try. You’ll be amazed at how much excitement and laughter they bring to the room. Ready, set, play!