18 Virtual Classroom Games and Activities

Here is our list of fun virtual classroom games and activities.

Virtual classroom games are fun online activities or events teachers can organize for their students. Examples include Simon Says, Scavenger Hunts, and Hangman. The aim of these activities is to promote student interaction and make online lectures interesting.

Classroom games and activities are similar to virtual games for big groups, Zoom party games, and virtual minute to win it games.

This list includes:

• games to play during online classes
• virtual classroom activities
• interactive online games for students
• online activities for students on Zoom
• online teaching games

Here we go!

List of virtual classroom games & activities

From Charades to Find the Differences to Draw a Monster, here is a list of fun activities for virtual classrooms.

1. The Survival Game

The Survival Game is a thrilling game that promotes critical thinking and helps students build problem-solving skills.

To organize this activity:

1. Create a scenario where students must brainstorm solutions to survive. For example, ask students to explain how they would survive in the desert with one stick, a stone, and half a glass of water.
2. Each player must give realistic responses to the scenario.
3. The player with the best survival solution wins the game.

This exercise is one of the best games to play during online classes because it encourages students to brainstorm and think critically.

2. Name, Animal, Place, and Thing

Name, Animal, Place, and Thing is a fun word game where players come up with words in different categories.

To play:

1. Meet over a video call.
2. Choose an order in which to play.
3. The first player will choose a random letter from A to Z.
4. Set a timer for 20 seconds.
5. All the participants must write words starting with the chosen letter in each listed category. For example, if a player selects the letter B, then all the players must write a name, animal, place, and things starting with B.
6. The first player to complete all the categories before the timer runs out wins the round.
7. Repeat steps three through six until all the players have a turn picking a letter.

This game is a simple way to create a fun learning environment for students. The players may also get to learn exciting new words.

3. Draw a Monster

Draw a Monster is a simple drawing game that students can engage in during online classes.

To organize this activity:

1. Meet using video conferencing software, like Google Meet or Zoom.
2. Use the in-app collaborative whiteboard feature.
3. Invite the students to take turns drawing monsters following a set of prompts. The teacher may tell the students to draw the monster using specific numbers and shapes. For example, the teacher might ask the students to draw the monster using only circles and the number four.
4. The best drawing wins!

This game is a fun way to test scholars’ creativity and teach them to follow instructions. Participants can also play this game in teams to promote healthy competition. To play in groups, split the players into small teams, and players will take turns adding to the drawing until it is complete.

4. First Letter, Last Letter

First Letter, Last Letter is one of the best interactive online games for students. In this game, participants must think fast to remain in the game.

To play:

1. Meet on a video call.
2. Choose an order in which to play.
3. The teacher will choose a random letter.
4. The first player must find a word that starts with the given letter.
5. The next player must then find a word that starts with the last letter of the previous player’s word. For example, if the first player chooses Cat, then the next player must find a word that starts with the letter T.
6. Players must respond quickly. Any player who stalls or does not respond immediately is out of the game.

This fast-paced game is a simple way to promote laughter among students and create a fun learning environment where players must think on their feet.

5. Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger Hunts are fun activities where students race against time to find different objects. In this game, the teacher will give the players a list of items to find within sixty seconds and set a timer.

Participants must rush off to find these items and place them in front of the screen before the time runs out. Examples of objects to find include toothbrushes, red socks, and pink crayons. The first player to find all the given items wins the game. This exercise is an excellent way to keep students active and engaged.

6. Hangman

Hangman is a simple word game where players must guess the letters of a word to escape the hangman’s noose.

To play:

1. Meet using a video conferencing tool.
2. Split the players into groups of four or five.
3. Each group will nominate a player to think of a word.
4. The player will draw blank spaces for each letter in the word using the whiteboard feature.
5. Other members of the team must guess what the word is.
6. The player will write down every correct letter.
7. For every incorrect guess, the player will draw a stick figure body part from a noose.
8. If the player completes the drawing of the hanged man, then the team loses that round.
9. Each team gets a point for every correct guess.
10. The team with the highest points wins the game!

This activity is a great way to encourage teamwork and promote interaction between students online.

7. Find the Differences

Find the Differences is a fun and simple game that teaches students to pay attention to detail.

To play:

1. Meet on a video call.
2. Players will take a look at each participant’s space or environment.
3. Set a timer for 60 seconds.
4. Each player must turn off their cameras.
5. Participants will use this opportunity to remove, readjust, or add items to their space.
6. When the timer runs out, the players will turn on their cameras.
7. The students will take turns noting the differences in their classmates’ environments.
8. The players get a point for each correct guess.
9. The player with the highest point wins.

This exciting activity is an excellent way to help students develop good observation skills. To make this game even more challenging, players can change clothing, open windows, or remove their glasses to see which of their classmates will notice.

8. Charades

Charades is one of the best virtual classroom activities for students. This game promotes collaboration and teamwork.

To organize this activity:

1. Meet using a video conferencing tool.
2. Split the players into two opposing groups.
3. Each team will nominate a player to lead the game.
4. Team A will send a word to Team B’s designated player via the chat box.
5. Set a timer for 30 seconds.
6. The player will act out the given word while their team members try to guess it.
7. The team members must guess the word before the time runs out.
8. The team wins a point if they guess the word correctly.
9. The actor will then choose a word for Team A.
10. The game will continue in this fashion until each team gets several turns.

This activity is a great way to improve interaction among students online and encourage players to become friends.

9. Virtual Trivia

Virtual Trivia is a great game for students. This activity allows players to learn new facts on a wide range of topics.

To play:

1. Create trivia questions on topics such as science, history, geography, and literature.
2. Meet via video call.
3. Split players into teams of three or four.
4. Ask students questions and give each team 30 seconds to answer correctly.
5. Each team gets one point for every correct answer.
6. The team with the highest points wins.

This activity is a great opportunity for teachers to quiz students on previously taught topics or assignments. Trivia questions also help improve cognitive skills and brain performance.

10. Simon Says

Simon Says is an engaging game that tests how well students listen to instructions.

To play:

1. Meet using video conferencing software.
2. The teacher will assume the role of Simon.
3. The teacher will say “Simon Says,” followed by any prompt. For example, Simon says close your eyes.
4. Each participant must close their eyes.
5. Players who do not do as Simon says immediately are out of the game.
6. If the teacher says a prompt without the words “Simon Says,” then any player who follows the prompt is out of the game.
7. The game will continue this way until only one player remains.
8. The last player standing wins.

This simple and interactive game can be the perfect icebreaker activity for online classes. Students can play this game at the start of their online lectures to lighten the mood.

11. Doctor Who

Doctor Who is a fun science game where students guess the name of doctors and scientists in different fields. For example, the teacher may ask, “What do you call a doctor who takes care of children?” The answer is a pediatrician.

This game is one of the best online teaching games because it helps children recognize several scientific fields and appreciate doctors who handle different health-related issues. To make this activity even more engaging, you can give bonus points to students who can spell these words correctly.

12. The Lottery

The Lottery is an interesting game that speaks to players’ characters. In this game, the teacher will inform students that they have won the biggest lottery ever.

The players will get three options, including:

• give half of the money to charity
• buy the best cars and houses in the world
• build hospitals to save lives

The players can only choose one answer and cannot change their options after choosing. You may give players different options to test their wits, character, and courage. You may also create imaginary emergencies to test if players are willing to part with their newfound wealth to help those around them.

13. Virtual Show and Tell

Virtual Show and Tell is a fun activity where students share items with great sentimental value. For this activity, participants will meet on any video conferencing platform. The students will then take turns showing off items, gifts, pets, or stories that mean a lot to them and why. Students can also share their favorite books, poems, songs, or movies and tell classmates why they like them.

This activity is a great opportunity for students to get to know each other better, share interests, and build good relationships.

14. Virtual Mannequin Challenge

Virtual Mannequin Challenge is a fun game where players have to freeze mid-action when a particular song plays. This game is an imitation of the viral mannequin challenge.

To play:

1. Create a playlist of trendy songs.
2. Meet on a video call.
3. Students will pick a specific song as their “freeze song.” Whenever their freeze song plays, the participants must pause mid-action.
4. Play the songs in the playlist in no particular order.
5. Have students move around and dance.
6. Play the freeze song randomly.
7. Any student who does not freeze is out of the game.
8. Students who move or shake while the freeze song plays are also out.
9. Players can move freely and dance when other songs in the playlist come on.
10. Switch to the freeze song at random times when other songs play.

This game will test students’ endurance and patience. This activity is also a great chance for students to listen to and enjoy their favorite music.

15. Funny Days

Funny Days is a hilarious activity where students attend online classes dressed in funny costumes to match a chosen theme.

To organize this activity:

1. Set a theme for different days of the week. For example, funny beard day or weird shirt day.
2. Meet on Zoom.
3. Students will attend class dressed to match the day’s theme.
4. Classmates will then vote for the funniest outfit.

This activity is one of the easiest online activities for students on Zoom.

16. Online Talent Show

Online Talent Shows are fun activities where students can show their best creative performances. For example, participants can paint, dance, or sing.

To organize this activity:

1. Meet on a video call.
2. Choose an order in which to perform.
3. The students will take turns showing off their best talents.
4. The best performance wins!

Talent Shows are great ways to nurture students’ creativity and encourage scholars to pursue what they enjoy.

17. Complete the Lyrics

Complete the Lyrics is a fun musical game where players must finish the lyrics of a song.

To play:

1. Curate a playlist of trendy songs.
2. Meet using any video conferencing tool.
3. Play a song and pause it at random.
4. The player must complete the lyrics from where the music stopped.
5. If the player fails, then the next participant must complete the lyrics.

Complete the Lyrics is an easy way to check how well students know their favorite songs and boost engagement between scholars.

18. Countries, Capitals, and One Word

Countries, Capitals, and One Word is a fun and educational game for students to learn about different parts of the world and their cultures.

To organize this activity:

1. Create a list of countries.
2. Meet using any video conferencing software.
3. The teacher will name different countries, an students will take turns sharing the capital of these countries. For example, Ethiopia’s capital is Addis Ababa.
4. The student must then share one word or a few words that best describe the Ethiopian people, culture, or land.
5. Students who identify with these countries may share stories about their culture, tradition, and foods.

The students may name local dishes or the colors of the country’s flag. This activity teaches students about diversity and is a great way for attendees to embrace other cultures.

Conclusion

Virtual Classroom games and activities are fun activities that promote learning, boost student interaction, and improve communication between students in online classes. These games keep students entertained and help create a fun learning environment.

Teachers can use these activities as a chance to get to know their students better and also give students a chance to build good relationships.

For more fun ideas for the classroom, check out our lists of virtual group tours and online field trip ideas.