Command Games for Classroom Management

Command games are a playful way for teachers to position themselves as an authority figure with large groups of children who may be reluctant to take direction from adults.

Command games can also be useful for teachers to practice giving loud, concise orders. Command games can be simple or complex, played indoors or outdoors, but the overall goal is to practice orienting children to your voice commands so you have some assurance they will comply with recall routines and follow your instructions in less formal learning environments, like an outdoor classroom.

Examples of Command Games

Ship To Shore

This command game can be modified and co-created with your learners. Check out this example.

Go Go Stop

This command game can use a voice or whistle or combination. A good game for training children to freeze at your command if you teach in an area with any wildlife hazards. Here is an example of a class learning how to play:

Marco Jumpo

A call and response version of the popular swimming pool game:

What Time is it Mr. Wolf?

This command game can be led by a student, but I recommend the teacher play the wolf to start if you are still orienting children to your voice commands.

The Reaction Game

This command game is played the style of Simon Says:

Streets and Alleys

This command game is more complex and requires cooperation from all players:

The Floor is Lava

This is my FAVOURITE command game with young learners, especially those first few weeks of kindergarten, and especially when you are transitioning to teaching outdoors. I wouldn’t show this video to the class, but I might play the song with a good speaker system to guide the first attempts to play the game. Scatter gym mats, benches, beanbags, frisbees… anything you have that kids can step on from your gym storage areas all over the gym floor. When the countdown starts, kids have to get off the floor. Each time you get back on the floor you can move in a new way: hopping, skipping, dancing, moving like animals… this can be totally responsive to other learning happening in your room (dance like a firefighter, crawl like a caterpillar etc). Children must be listening to your commands and countdown to play successfully, and this game works really well to start to align really wiggly younger kids to your voice. When you take the game outside, you can ask for prompts from the kids on how to move next and then they must listen for your voice to catch the countdown. Kids can climb up on rocks and logs in your outdoor learning spaces. I’d keep this off the playground to improve the ability of the group to stay cohesive and imaginative in how they get off the floor. Have fun!

There are hundreds of command games to play with your learners! Have fun and let me know if you have a favourite that is not listed here!