Family Activities
Family Activities
Here are a few suggestions of activities you can complete together as a family. We’d love to see how you get on with them - please take photos and send us an email to let us see what you’re getting up to - if you're happy for it to be tweeted then please confirm this!
Here are a few suggestions of activities you can complete together as a family. We’d love to see how you get on with them - please take photos and send us an email to let us see what you’re getting up to - if you're happy for it to be tweeted then please confirm this!
1. Create a ‘Boredom Buster’ jar
1. Create a ‘Boredom Buster’ jar
Take a large jar and lots of squares of paper. On each one, write an activity everyone can do – play a board game, make a milkshake, etc. Ask everyone in the family to put in some suggestions. Whenever anyone says “I’m bored”, you pick an activity from the jar. The only rule is you all have to do it before you pick another.
Take a large jar and lots of squares of paper. On each one, write an activity everyone can do – play a board game, make a milkshake, etc. Ask everyone in the family to put in some suggestions. Whenever anyone says “I’m bored”, you pick an activity from the jar. The only rule is you all have to do it before you pick another.
To add an element of trepidation, slip some chores into the jar: clean your room, empty the dishwasher. That way, the jar won’t be empty by the end of day two, and the house might not look as if a bomb has hit it!
To add an element of trepidation, slip some chores into the jar: clean your room, empty the dishwasher. That way, the jar won’t be empty by the end of day two, and the house might not look as if a bomb has hit it!
2. Create an Easter Garden
2. Create an Easter Garden
As a family, create an Easter Garden in your own garden. You can use rocks, soil, twigs and plants to create the Easter scene of the three crosses on the hill and the tomb that Jesus was buried in afterwards. Photos sent to
As a family, create an Easter Garden in your own garden. You can use rocks, soil, twigs and plants to create the Easter scene of the three crosses on the hill and the tomb that Jesus was buried in afterwards. Photos sent to
3. Create a Time Capsule
3. Create a Time Capsule
The situation we are facing is unprecedented - we are creating history. It would be brilliant if your family could create its own record of events to store in a time capsule. This could be done in a huge variety of ways:
The situation we are facing is unprecedented - we are creating history. It would be brilliant if your family could create its own record of events to store in a time capsule. This could be done in a huge variety of ways:
Draw a picture of the family as it is now - what is everyone doing? Take some pictures of today, print them out, write the date on the back and brief details about what the photos are of, who is in them, etc.
Draw a picture of the family as it is now - what is everyone doing? Take some pictures of today, print them out, write the date on the back and brief details about what the photos are of, who is in them, etc.
Each family member writes a letter to themselves - tell their ages, what their job is, who their friends are, favourite TV show, favourite song, etc. Write about what’s going on in their own words. Tell their future self about how they are feeling and what their hopes are for the future.
Each family member writes a letter to themselves - tell their ages, what their job is, who their friends are, favourite TV show, favourite song, etc. Write about what’s going on in their own words. Tell their future self about how they are feeling and what their hopes are for the future.
If it’s safe to do so, get a newspaper and cut out articles which you, as a family, think would be important to yourselves. Alternatively print off the articles online.
If it’s safe to do so, get a newspaper and cut out articles which you, as a family, think would be important to yourselves. Alternatively print off the articles online.
Put all the information together in a scrapbook or a lunchbox, etc, and stick it up in the attic or somewhere you won't get at for years to come.
Put all the information together in a scrapbook or a lunchbox, etc, and stick it up in the attic or somewhere you won't get at for years to come.
4. Number games - (Year 5 and Year 6)
4. Number games - (Year 5 and Year 6)
In the Distance Learning Maths classroom, there are some resources for number games to play with your family - they involve using dice or cards. Have fun and keep your brain active!
In the Distance Learning Maths classroom, there are some resources for number games to play with your family - they involve using dice or cards. Have fun and keep your brain active!
5. Family Talent Show
5. Family Talent Show
Each member of the family takes a turn to sing a song, do a dance, play an instrument, tell a joke or any other suitable talent.
Each member of the family takes a turn to sing a song, do a dance, play an instrument, tell a joke or any other suitable talent.
6. Learn a card game
6. Learn a card game
Have a look at this website for some ideas or teach each other a game you already know. Choose a game the whole family can play.
Have a look at this website for some ideas or teach each other a game you already know. Choose a game the whole family can play.
7. Twenty Questions
7. Twenty Questions
It's a classic! One player thinks of an object, letting the others know only whether it is animal, vegetable, or mineral. Then the other players ask questions that can be answered only with yes or no. For instance, if the object is a car (mostly mineral), the players will ask, “Is it bigger than a laptop computer?” or “Can it move?” The object: Guess the answer in fewer than 20 questions.
It's a classic! One player thinks of an object, letting the others know only whether it is animal, vegetable, or mineral. Then the other players ask questions that can be answered only with yes or no. For instance, if the object is a car (mostly mineral), the players will ask, “Is it bigger than a laptop computer?” or “Can it move?” The object: Guess the answer in fewer than 20 questions.
8. Charades
8. Charades
Another classic! Divide the family into two teams and each member writes a phrase on a slip of paper, folds it up and places it in their team’s bowl. A player picks a paper from the opposing team’s bowl and acts out individual words, syllables, and other hints to depict the phrase.
Another classic! Divide the family into two teams and each member writes a phrase on a slip of paper, folds it up and places it in their team’s bowl. A player picks a paper from the opposing team’s bowl and acts out individual words, syllables, and other hints to depict the phrase.
This pantomime play hones communication skills as each player provides nonverbal clues to help teammates guess the right phrase within an agreed-upon time limit. The game has some formal conventions—for instance, gestures that describe what type of phrase is being guessed, such as making quote marks with your fingers for a quotation or placing hands together then opening them to signal a book title. But you can adapt the format in many ways.
This pantomime play hones communication skills as each player provides nonverbal clues to help teammates guess the right phrase within an agreed-upon time limit. The game has some formal conventions—for instance, gestures that describe what type of phrase is being guessed, such as making quote marks with your fingers for a quotation or placing hands together then opening them to signal a book title. But you can adapt the format in many ways.
9. I packed my Grandmother’s trunk
9. I packed my Grandmother’s trunk
Each player starts off with the same sentence: “I packed my grandmother’s trunk and in it I put ___.” The player completes the sentence with a word that begins with the letter A. For instance, “I packed my grandmother’s trunk and in it I put an alligator.”
Each player starts off with the same sentence: “I packed my grandmother’s trunk and in it I put ___.” The player completes the sentence with a word that begins with the letter A. For instance, “I packed my grandmother’s trunk and in it I put an alligator.”
The next player repeats the previous sentence and must add a B word. “I packed my grandmother’s trunk and in it I put an alligator and a banana.” In turn, each player has to remember what the past players have said and add an item that starts with the next letter of the alphabet.
The next player repeats the previous sentence and must add a B word. “I packed my grandmother’s trunk and in it I put an alligator and a banana.” In turn, each player has to remember what the past players have said and add an item that starts with the next letter of the alphabet.
Apologies in advance, and behalf of everyone, to all Grandmothers.
Apologies in advance, and behalf of everyone, to all Grandmothers.
10. Categories
10. Categories
One player states a “category” and the other players take turns naming items that belong in that group. The category can be as broad as “animals,” or as narrow as “types of dogs.”
One player states a “category” and the other players take turns naming items that belong in that group. The category can be as broad as “animals,” or as narrow as “types of dogs.”
Traditionally, a clapping rhythm keeps up the pace so players won’t take forever to come up with a response. The category chosen determines how difficult or easy the game is. The game continues until players run out of ideas for the category.
Traditionally, a clapping rhythm keeps up the pace so players won’t take forever to come up with a response. The category chosen determines how difficult or easy the game is. The game continues until players run out of ideas for the category.