Ring around the Room

Ring Around the Room is a fast-paced, movement-based classroom activity that gets students up, thinking, and collaborating as they solve problems in sequence. The teacher hangs lettered sheets around the classroom—each sheet has a problem at the bottom and an answer at the top. The letters are intentionally placed out of order, forming a puzzle loop or “ring.” Students can start at any letter, solve the problem, and then search the room for the sheet whose top answer matches their solution. That sheet becomes the next step in their ring. They continue solving and moving until they return to their starting letter, completing the loop. To encourage accuracy and accountability, students must show all work on mini whiteboards or on the back of their recording sheet. Teachers often add a competitive twist by offering a small prize to the first student or group to correctly complete the entire ring—or to everyone who finishes successfully before time runs out. This activity combines movement, problem-solving, and engagement, helping students practice content skills while keeping energy and motivation high.