school bus games
Remember those long bus rides to and from school as a kid? Maybe you lived far from your school or were part of a bussing program. Either way, you probably found ways to entertain yourself on those rides. Waiting for the bus in the morning with your friends, climbing onto the big yellow vehicle, picking out a good seat - ideally not too close to the driver - it was all part of the daily routine. Once the bus got moving, it was time for games. Everything from simple hand games like patty cake to more complex games of imagination. Those rides flew by as you were transported to another world through the games you played. While the games may have changed over the generations, the experience of bonding with friends, escaping from the anxieties of school life and enjoying a bit of unstructured play time remains the same. The next time you pass a school bus, smile as you remember the games you used to play.
Classic School Bus Games to Keep Kid s Entertained
Classic School Bus Games to Keep Kids Entertained
School bus rides can seem endlessly long for kids. Luckily, there are some classic games that have been entertaining students for generations.
The license plate game is a popular one. Players try to find license plates from different states and countries. Whoever spots plates from the most places wins. This helps pass the time and also teaches kids geography.
Another classic is I spy. One player says "I spy with my little eye, something (color)" and the other players try to guess what object the first player spied that's that color. Then the next player takes a turn saying "I spy". This simple guessing game works for all ages.
For younger kids, the alphabet game is fun. Players look for letters of the alphabet on signs they pass by, in order. Whoever spots all the letters first wins. This helps kids learn letter recognition and the order of the alphabet.
Two truths and a lie is a classic get-to-know-you game. Players share three statements about themselves, two true and one false. Different players need to figure which proclamation is the falsehood. This game helps kids develop social skills in a fun, low-pressure way.
Next time you're stuck on a long ride to a field trip, give one of these tried-and-true school bus games a go. They're sure to make the time pass more quickly and leave everyone with smiles on their faces. After all, what's a school bus ride without a little fun?
Educational School Bus Games to Boost Learning
Educational games are a great way to keep kids engaged on long bus rides. Here are a few fun learning activities to try:
I Spy
This classic game helps build observational skills. Have kids take turns saying "I spy with my little eye, something (color)" and try to guess the object. Start with bigger, easier to spot items and work your way to more challenging ones.
License Plate Game
For this geography game, each child picks a state and has to find a license plate from that state. Whoever spots their state first wins. This helps kids learn state names, abbreviations and locations.
Word Games
Try rhyming games like continuing a rhyming pattern, or word association games where you say a word and the next player says a related word. These boost vocabulary and thinking skills.
Math Games
For example, call out a math problem for the other kids to solve, like "I'm thinking of a number, add 17, subtract 9, divide by 3. What's the number?"
Educational games make learning fun and the time will fly by. With the variety of games you can play, kids won't even realize they're learning and reviewing important skills on their ride.
Funny School Bus Games for Lots of Laughs
The hours-long ride on the big yellow bus was made more fun with some classic school bus games. These were perfect for passing the time with friends on your way to and from school.
I Spy
This classic game works great on the bus. Take turns saying “I spy with my little eye, something (color)”. The other players then have to guess the object you spied that’s that color. First person to guess correctly gets to spy something next.
Punch Buggy
The original slug bug! Whenever you see a Volkswagen Beetle pass by the bus, yell out “punch buggy!” and gently punch a friend. The first person to punch and call out the color of the Beetle gets a point. Most points by the end of the bus ride wins.
License Plate Game
Try to find license plates from different states and countries. Call out the license plate you see and get a point for each new place you spot. Most points by the ride’s end wins. Variations include trying to find plates that spell words or names.
The Song Game
Go around the bus and have each person say one word to make up a funny song. Keep going around, adding one word at a time, until you have a whole silly verse or chorus. Bonus points for rhyming! Sing your new creation loudly and proudly.
Storytelling
Start a story with one sentence, then have each person add a new sentence to keep it going. See how long of a funny story you can create together. The more ridiculous the tale gets the better!
These games are sure to make the long bus ride zoom by and leave you and your friends laughing and creating memories. What games did you play on the bus?
School Bus Games to Play Alone or With Friends
Long bus rides to and from school can seem boring, but they don’t have to be! There are lots of simple games you can play with friends or by yourself to pass the time.
I Spy
This classic game works great on a school bus. Say “I spy with my little eye, something (color)”. Then the other players try to guess the object you’re looking at. You take turns being the “spy”. Look for common objects like backpacks, clothing, scenery out the window, etc.
License Plate Game
Try to find license plates from different states or countries and mark them off on a list. See who can get BINGO by finding plates from 5 different places first. You can print free bingo-style cards online or make your own. This game helps pass miles of travel and you might learn some geography along the way!
Twenty Questions
One player thinks of something, like an animal, place or object, and the other players ask 20 yes or no questions to try and guess what it is. This classic deduction game works with any number of players.
Dot Game
This simple game only requires a sheet of paper and a pen or pencil. Players take turns adding dots to a piece of paper, connecting them into lines. The goal is to complete squares, triangles or other shapes with your lines. Any shapes you complete are yours to claim. The player with the most shapes at the end of the ride wins.
Storytelling
Go around the group and have each person add to an ongoing story, one sentence at a time. See how silly and creative the story can get! This collaborative storytelling game sparks imagination and laughter.
With some simple games and your imagination, you'll be enjoying the ride in no time! What are some of your favorite school bus games?
Best School Bus Games for All Ages
When that big yellow bus comes rolling down the street, it's game time! School bus rides are the perfect opportunity to play some fun games with your friends. Here are some of the best games for kids of all ages to pass the time on the way to and from school.
I Spy
This classic game works great on the bus. Take turns saying "I spy with my little eye, something (color)" and have the other players guess what you spied that's that color. Once someone guesses correctly, it's their turn to spy something. This simple game helps build observational skills and works for all ages.
Twenty Questions
One player thinks of something, like an animal, place or object, and the other players ask 20 yes or no questions to try and guess what it is. This game stimulates thinking and deductive reasoning. For younger kids, you can reduce it to 10 questions.
License Plate Game
Players take turns finding license plates from different states and countries. Whoever spots plates from the most places wins. This helps kids learn geography in a fun way. For an added challenge, try spotting plates with different letters or numbers.
Thumb Wars
This action-packed game is perfect for high-energy kids. Face your opponent, link your hands by interlocking your fingers, and try to pin down their thumb with your thumb. The first player to pin the other's thumb for 3 seconds wins!
I'm Going on a Picnic
Players take turns saying "I'm going on a picnic and I'm going to bring..." followed by something that starts with each letter of the alphabet in order. The next player repeats the list in order and adds something that starts with the next letter. Keep adding to the list until someone messes up the order or forgets an item. This memory game provides mental exercise for all ages.
With some creativity, you can come up with your own fun games to make the ride fly by. Before you know it, you'll be pulling up to your stop, ready to start the day!
FAQ
FAQ
Have some questions about school bus gamesHere are a few normal ones we get:
What are some classic school bus games?
Some popular games kids have played for generations include I Spy, the license plate game, and word games like rhyming. I Spy is great for younger kids, while the license plate game and word games work for a wide range of ages.
Are there any games I can play by myself?
Absolutely! Some great solo games include making shapes, letters or pictures on the foggy bus window, doing hand shadow puppets, solving puzzles like sudoku or crosswords, reading a book, or journaling your experiences. Use your imagination!
What if I want to play with friends?
If you want to socialize and play with your friends, try guessing games like two truths and a lie, would you rather, or 20 questions. You can also play clapping games, hand games like rock paper scissors, or partner word games where you take turns saying a word to make a story. Some kids even play card games, if the bus ride is long enough.
Are there any games the whole bus can play?
For the entire bus, you can play hot potato by passing around a small toy, or have a group sing-along to songs everyone knows. Telephone works great too, where one person whispers a message to the next person, and you see how much it changes by the end of the bus! The bus driver may even join in on some of these group games.
How can I include other kids who want to join in?
The best way is to invite others to join your game with a friendly smile, wave and "Want to play?" Most kids appreciate being included. For games that require teams or groups, do your best to split up the players evenly so no one feels left out. And be willing to teach the rules to new players so they can join right in on the fun.
Conclusion
So there you have it, a collection of the classic games we all played as kids on the long ride to and from school. Next time you're feeling nostalgic for the simple pleasures of childhood, give one of these a try with your own kids or friends. Who knows, you might rediscover your inner child and reignite that spark of joy and laughter that made the time pass in a flash. Though the scenery outside the windows may change, some things stay the same. The silly jokes, songs, and games we shared will always remain close to our hearts, transporting us back to that noisy yellow bus and the carefree moments we didn't yet realize were shaping our lives.
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