Fun Afterschool Activities for Elementary Students to Enhance Learning

Written by: Suzy Koontz

Published: September 9, 2025
Updated: September 17, 2025

Discover fun afterschool activities for elementary students that boost core skills. Make your afterschool program engaging and educational!

The school day might end with the final bell, but a child’s learning potential doesn’t stop there. For elementary students, afterschool time is a chance to unwind and engage in activities that support their development in low-pressure ways. With the right balance, afterschool activities can offer the relaxation kids need and the stimulation their minds crave.

And here’s the best part: “Fun” and “learning” don’t have to be mutually exclusive. In this article, we’ll explore a variety of afterschool activities for elementary students that blend recreation and purposeful academic practice.

The Benefits of Purposeful Play: Why Afterschool Activities Matter

One of the biggest advantages of afterschool activities is how they reinforce classroom concepts without the pressure of grades. Instead, afterschool programs enhance learning through hands-on, exploratory experiences. Children have the freedom to take risks, ask questions, and solve problems creatively.

Some of the benefits of afterschool program activities include:

Improved critical thinking and problem-solving: Activities like games, puzzles, and STEM challenges help children develop logic, reasoning, and confidence.

Time for social-emotional learning: Group-based afterschool programs build collaboration, communication, and empathy.

Exploration of personal interests: Children have the chance to explore what they’re excited about, from arts and crafts to robotics or gardening.

Prevention of learning loss: Keeping brains active and challenged after school can help maintain academic progress and avoid learning setbacks.

Physical activity and cognitive benefits: Movement isn’t just good for the body—it also boosts concentration, memory, and mood.

Transform Math and Literacy with Kinesthetic Learning

Ready to bring movement-based learning to your core subjects? Discover our Math and Literacy Kits, designed to ignite engagement and boost student achievement.

Our kits supplement your curriculum and provide comprehensive resources for:

Active Math Learning

Interactive Literacy Lessons

Fun Afterschool Activities That Teach Core Concepts: STEM

Incorporating science, technology, engineering, and math concepts into your afterschool activities allows elementary students to explore complex subjects in a fun way.

Engineering & Building Challenges

Hands-on afterschool activities like building and engineering projects are a great way to enhance learning, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

LEGO®/Block Mania – Try timed builds, competing in tallest tower contests, or developing structures strong enough to hold a book.

Recycled Creations – Use cardboard, plastic bottles, and tape to create robots, vehicles, castles, or inventions.

Bridge Building – Use straws or popsicle sticks to design and test bridges. See whose bridge can hold the most coins!

Marble Runs & Rube Goldberg Machines – Create pathways for marbles using tubes, blocks, or other everyday materials. Or, create a simple chain reaction machine to perform an easy task.

Simple Science Experiments

Science doesn’t have to be complicated to be exciting! These easy, low-prep afterschool activities help kids explore big ideas through everyday materials.

Kitchen Chemistry – Create baking soda and vinegar volcanoes, make slime or playdough, layer liquids (such as oil, water, or syrup) to explore density, or test which solids (such as salt, cocoa powder, and sand) dissolve in water.

Color Science – Use coffee filters or paper towels and washable markers for chromatography, or mix primary color paints to discover secondary ones.

Physics Fun – See static electricity in action by rubbing balloons on students’ hair. Explore buoyancy by testing if various items sink or float in a bucket of water. Build simple catapults with popsicle sticks and rubber bands.

Crystal Creations – Grow sugar or salt crystals in a jar and watch them form over a few days.

Introduction to Tech & Coding

These beginner-friendly tech and coding ideas help students build logical thinking, creativity, and confidence with technology.

Screen-Free Coding – Create obstacle courses where one child gives precise directional commands (forward, turn left) to another, or use coding board games.

Visual Coding Platforms – Try beginner-friendly apps and websites like ScratchJr ® or Code.org ®’s Hour of Code that use drag-and-drop blocks.

Design Thinking – Explore 3D design with free online tools like Tinkercad® where kids can create simple models.

Nature Observation & Exploration

Backyard/Park Safari – Hunt for bugs, identify local birds or trees, and collect different types of leaves or rocks.

Nature Art – Make collages from found items (like leaves, twigs, and petals) or create leaf and bark rubbings with crayons.

Mini-Gardening – Plant seeds like cress, sunflowers, or beans in small pots and track their growth.

Weather Watchers – Build a rain gauge from a plastic bottle, craft a windsock from paper or fabric, or keep a daily weather journal.

When it comes to afterschool activities for elementary students, it’s important to focus on the journey, not just the final result. Encourage kids to ask questions, try out ideas, and see what happens when things don’t go as planned. Afterschool programs are all about fostering natural curiosity and hands-on discovery.

Creative Afterschool Activities for Elementary Students (Arts, Crafts, Music, Drama)

Creative afterschool activities like art, music, crafts, and drama give students a fun way to express themselves and their imaginations.

Three-Dimensional Art & Sculpture

Sculpting and building in three dimensions provide students with a hands-on approach to concepts like shape, texture, and space.

Clay Creations – Beyond basic figures, try making pinch pots, coil pots, or clay relief tiles. Use air-dry clay.

Wire Sculptures – Using soft craft wire (and with supervision), bend and twist shapes to create simple figures or abstract designs. This activity is great for developing dexterity.

Nature Sculptures – Use twigs, stones, leaves, and mud to create temporary environmental art.

Assemblage Art – Combine various found objects (buttons, keys, old toy parts, natural items) into a unique sculpture or 3D collage.

Textile & Fibre Arts

Working with fabric, yarn, and other fibers lets students explore patterns, textures, and color.

Simple Weaving – Create a small loom from cardboard and weave with colourful wool, fabric strips, or even natural grasses.

Felt Fun – Cut shapes from felt to make finger puppets, simple stuffed creatures (with basic stitching), badges, or decorations for bags/clothes.

Pom-Pom Pals – Make fluffy pom-poms using wool and cardboard discs (or a pom-pom maker) and turn them into cute animals or characters.

Tie-Dye Creations – Transform plain white t-shirts or pillowcases with bright, swirling patterns.

Printmaking Techniques

Printmaking invites students to explore art through process and play, turning everyday materials into creative tools.

Mono-printing – Draw onto a surface covered in paint (like a plastic tray or foil) and then press paper onto it to transfer the image.

Gadget Printing – Dip everyday objects (bottle caps, forks, toy car wheels, LEGO® bricks) into paint and use them to create patterns and textures.

String Printing – Arrange glue-soaked string on cardboard, let it dry, then ink it up and press it on paper for fun abstract designs.

Storytelling & Performance Expansion

Focusing on drama, storytelling, and performance can help elementary students build confidence and practice communication.

Create a Mini-Movie/Animation – Use a tablet or phone app for simple stop-motion animation with toys or clay figures. Plan a simple story first.

Sound Stories – Create sound effects using voices, body percussion, or homemade instruments to accompany reading a story aloud.

Character Design – Invent a brand new character. Draw them, write their backstory, decide their personality, and maybe even make a costume element for them.

Write & Perform Songs/Raps – Make up simple songs or raps about their day, their favorite things, or even local life.

Mindful & Sensory Creativity

Afterschool activities that combine mindfulness with hands-on creativity can help elementary students unwind, reset, and reconnect with themselves after a busy school day.

Mandala Making – Create intricate circular designs using colored pens, pencils, or natural materials like petals and leaves.

Zentangle-Inspired Patterns – Fill shapes with structured, repetitive patterns. This is great for focus and fine motor precision.

Painting to Music – Play a variety of music genres (classical, jazz, pop, folk, etc.) and invite students to draw the feelings or colors the music evokes to them.

These afterschool activities for elementary students encourage kids to experiment and always celebrate their unique creations.

Literacy Afterschool Activities

Reading and writing afterschool activities do not have to be as formal as literacy lessons during the day. In fact, they can be active and game-like!

Interactive Reading & Story Exploration

Reading stories in hands-on, interactive ways helps elementary students deepen their comprehension, connect with characters, and develop a lifelong love of books.

Reader’s Theater – Find simple scripts online or adapt favorite picture books and short stories. Kids take turns reading parts aloud with expression. No sets or costumes required, just their voices and enthusiasm!

Audiobooks & Draw-Alongs – Listen to an engaging audiobook chapter or short story while children draw scenes, characters, or key moments they imagine as they listen.

Book-Themed Snacks/Crafts – Bring stories to life with simple snacks or crafts tied to the book. Make “Turkish Delight” for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (or a simple fruit version), or create a whimsical craft inspired by the book’s setting.

Compare Book vs. Movie – After reading a book with a film adaptation (like Charlotte’s Web, Matilda, or early Harry Potter titles), watch the movie together and discuss what was similar, what changed, and how each format told the story differently.

Creative Writing Prompts

Creative writing prompts give elementary students new ways to express their ideas, build language skills, and develop their own voice.

“What If?” Scenarios – Kick off stories with open-ended prompts like “What if pets could talk for a day?” or “What if you found a hidden door in your room?” These prompts spark creative thinking and help children dive into storytelling without the pressure of starting from scratch.

Point-of-View Switches – Invite kids to rewrite a well-known tale from a different perspective, like the Wolf’s side of Little Red Riding Hood or the Giant’s view in Jack and the Beanstalk. It’s a great way to stretch empathy and narrative skills.

Write a Recipe/Instructions – Have students create silly recipes (like “Recipe for a Perfect Snow Day”) or simple how-tos for their favorite activities or games.

Blackout Poetry – Using old magazine or newspaper pages, kids can black out most of the text and leave behind select words to create unique poems.

Songwriting/Parodies – Encourage students to write playful lyrics to familiar tunes, like “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”. Parodies help build rhyming skills, rhythm, and memory, all while having a good laugh.

Word Games & Puzzles

Word play is a powerful way to boost literacy skills while providing playful challenges that elementary students genuinely enjoy.

Mad Libs® Mania – Give students a timeless favorite that helps them learn parts of speech without even realizing it. Just grab a pencil and get ready to laugh!

DIY Word Puzzles – Let kids create their own word searches or crosswords using vocabulary words, spelling lists, or fun themes like favorite foods, sports, or animals.

Bananagrams® or Letter Tiles – Play a A fast-paced, hands-on game where students race to build interlocking words.

Category Brainstorm – Choose a category (like “Things at the beach” or “Foods that are red”), then challenge kids to list as many related words as they can within a set time.

Code Cracking – Introduce simple ciphers like A=1, B=2, or basic letter shifts. Kids can write and decode secret messages in a fun mix of literacy and logic!

Making & Doing with Words

These afterschool activities combine literacy with art, movement, and collaboration.

Story Stones – Collect smooth stones and paint simple images on them, like a sun, a dog, or a tree. Pull a few from a bag and use them as storytelling prompts, building a collaborative story one picture at a time.

Personalized Dictionary/Glossary – Create an illustrated dictionary of new or interesting words students encounter while reading or learning.

Mini Magazine (‘Zine’) Creation – Fold paper into a small booklet and fill it with original content, including short stories, comics, drawings, jokes, recipes, puzzles, and reviews—anything that excites student authors.

Greeting Card Workshop – Write and design homemade cards for upcoming holidays, birthdays, or just because.

Afterschool programs should focus on playfulness and participation. When kids associate reading and writing with fun activities like games, storytelling, and creative expression, they build a positive connection that can last a lifetime.

Movement & Learning: Getting Active to Boost Brainpower

Did you know that only 1 in 4 children in the US meet the daily recommendation for 60 minutes of physical activity? In fact, elementary students spend an average of 8.5 hours sitting every day. Afterschool programs are the perfect time to incorporate more exercise into students’ routines.

Movement enhances learning, too. Physical activity increases blood flow and oxygen levels in the brain, which fuels it to function optimally for learning. Movement also triggers the release of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), a protein that helps develop neural pathways. In this state, the brain is ready to absorb and process new information.

Educators can use this biological boost to their advantage in afterschool activities for elementary students. Kinesthetic learning, or movement-based learning, involves using physical activity or interaction to teach new concepts.

A kinesthetic approach helps students understand ideas on a deeper level. Students learn by doing, rather than passively absorbing information. Movement-based strategies engage different learning styles and make abstract concepts concrete.

Here are several ways to harness the power of movement in your afterschool activities.

Educational Scavenger Hunts

Get students on their feet during your afterschool program by having them participate in scavenger hunts.

Math Fact Hunts – Find items around the classroom, school, or playground that add up to a specific number.

Shape Identification Hunts – Locate objects that are a specific shape (e.g., squares, cylinders).

Vocabulary Word Hunts – Find objects that relate to a new vocabulary word.

Active Math Games

Physically active math games make tricky concepts more approachable and enjoyable.

Hopscotch Math – Draw hopscotch courses on the blacktop or sidewalk with chalk. Incorporate relevant skip counting patterns, multiplication facts, or fractions into the square.
- Bonus: Consider the Doubles Hopscotch floor mat for basic addition practice indoors with minimal prep.

Hopscotch Math – Draw hopscotch courses on the blacktop or sidewalk with chalk. Incorporate relevant skip counting patterns, multiplication facts, or fractions into the square.
- Bonus: Consider the Doubles Hopscotch floor mat for basic addition practice indoors with minimal prep.

Counting Jumps – Count aloud together while jumping rope, doing jumping jacks, or stepping over objects. Vary the counting pattern (by twos, fives, etc.)
- Bonus: Find creative ways to practice counting in our free Math & Movement Training Manual.

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Movement isn't just for recess

Want to get started with movement-based learning right now? Enter your email to get our training manual with over 250 active math movements. No materials necessary!

See how simple adding movement can be!

Number Line Hops – Have students hop up and down a number line created with tape on the floor or sidewalk chalk to solve addition or subtraction problems.
- Bonus: Use the Number Line to 20 (Skip Counting by 2s) floor mat to engage young learners in developing number sense.

Shape Sorting Relays – Students move quickly to sort different geometric-shaped objects into designated bins.
- Bonus: Use the Geometric Shapes Hop to help teach these shapes!

Measurement Walks – Students walk around the room or an outdoor space, estimating and then measuring distances or lengths of objects.
- Bonus: Try measuring objects with the Measurement Hop floor mat.

Simon Says Active Math Version – Challenge students to follow movement instructions with an academic twist. For example:
- “Simon says do three jumping jacks and say the first three multiples of four!”
- “Simon says take two giant steps and say the formula for the area of a rectangle!”
- Bonus: Play this game on the Hundreds Chart floor mat, where you can challenge students to stand on different types of numbers (e.g. an even number, a multiple of five, a prime number).

Human Graphing – Students physically position themselves to represent data points on a large coordinate grid created from sidewalk chalk or tape on the floor.
- Bonus: Consider the Cartesian Coordinate Hop mat or sticker to avoid making the grid.

Movement-Based Literacy Activities

A kinesthetic approach benefits literacy learning just like it does for math. Try these afterschool activities to support your young readers.

Spelling Race – Divide students into teams. One team member runs across the gym or room to write one letter of a spelling word on the whiteboard or a large paper. They run back and tag the next team member, who runs to write the next letter. The first team to correctly spell the word wins. Instead of running, try hopping, skipping, or crawling as well.
- Bonus: Spell the words on the Spell-A-Word Mat instead of the board or paper.

Vocabulary Charades – Students act out their vocabulary words with movement, and other students try to guess which word they are acting out.
- Bonus: Act out words from the 100 Word Hops.

Sentence Dances – Create simple dance routines where different steps or moves correspond to various parts of speech. For example, spin for a noun and kick for a verb.
- Bonus: Create dance routines for the sentences on the Sentence Hop floor mats. Use the Parts of Speech Hop for a preliminary lesson.

Math & Movement can help you incorporate hundreds of movement-based activities into your afterschool program. Our floor mats and stickers transform school spaces into learning playgrounds. These durable, engaging tools are perfect for afterschool activities that blend physical activity, crucial academic practice, and most importantly, fun.

See the Impact of Kinesthetic Learning Firsthand

Want to head deeper into the research and results behind Math & Movement? Explore our Program Data page to see how schools across the US are transforming student achievement with our kinesthetic learning strategies.

Boost Student Learning
Improvement Across Grade Levels
Increase Self-Efficacy and Confidence
Learn 4-5x Faster
Decrease Performance Gaps
Transform Classroom Behavior

Turning Afternoons into Adventures in Learning

Afterschool activities are valuable opportunities to enhance learning in fun, low-pressure ways. Incorporating kinesthetic learning strategies into your afterschool program can make your activities all the more enjoyable and impactful.

Choosing the right afterschool activities for elementary students is unique and individual to your program. Be sure to consider:

Your students’ interests and learning styles
Balancing structured vs. unstructured time
Curriculum priorities
Students’ physical activity levels

Math & Movement offers resources and training suitable for enriching existing afterschool programs. Our wide range of materials and activities supplements existing lesson plans with movement-based learning strategies. They’re designed to get kids moving and mastering essential skills.

Ready to bring active, joyful learning to your students’ afternoons? Explore our selection of kinesthetic learning tools.

Afterschool Products and Kits to Enhance Learning

Article Sources

Bright Horizons: Critical Thinking for Kids – October 10, 2024
School Day: 9 After-School Activities for Children That Help Build Social-Emotional Skills – January 20, 2025
Dukes Tutoring: How To Help Your Child Explore Their Passions – November 9, 2023
Michel J, Bernier A, Thompson LA. Physical Activity in Children. JAMA Pediatr. 2022;176(6):622. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.0477
Health World Education: Are Students Sitting too Long? The Benefits of Intermittent activity – January 24, 2019

Image Sources

Suzy Koontz

Suzy Koontz, CEO and Founder of Math & Movement, has spent over 25 years helping students achieve academic success. She has created over 200 kinesthetic teaching tools adopted by schools nationwide and has authored over 20 books. As a sought-after national presenter, Suzy shares how movement can transform the way students learn.

FREE GUIDE

Movement isn't just for recess

Want to get started with movement-based learning right now? Enter your email to get our training manual with over 250 active math movements. No materials necessary!

Fun Afterschool Activities for Elementary Students to Enhance Learning

Table of Contents

The Benefits of Purposeful Play: Why Afterschool Activities Matter

Transform Math and Literacy with Kinesthetic Learning

Active Math Learning

Interactive Literacy Lessons

Fun Afterschool Activities That Teach Core Concepts: STEM

Engineering & Building Challenges

Simple Science Experiments

Introduction to Tech & Coding

Nature Observation & Exploration

Creative Afterschool Activities for Elementary Students (Arts, Crafts, Music, Drama)

Three-Dimensional Art & Sculpture

Textile & Fibre Arts

Printmaking Techniques

Storytelling & Performance Expansion

Mindful & Sensory Creativity

Literacy Afterschool Activities

Interactive Reading & Story Exploration

Creative Writing Prompts

Word Games & Puzzles

Making & Doing with Words

Movement & Learning: Getting Active to Boost Brainpower

Educational Scavenger Hunts

Active Math Games

FREE GUIDE

Movement-Based Literacy Activities

See the Impact of Kinesthetic Learning Firsthand

Boost Student Learning

Improvement Across Grade Levels

Increase Self-Efficacy and Confidence

Learn 4-5x Faster

Decrease Performance Gaps

Transform Classroom Behavior

Turning Afternoons into Adventures in Learning

Afterschool Products and Kits to Enhance Learning

Image Sources

Suzy Koontz

FREE GUIDE

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