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The Floor Is Lava: a sticker of a small cushion floating on bubbling orange lava

How to Play the Floor Is Lava

Call 'The floor is lava!' and everyone has to get onto a safe stone, a carpet square or paper mat, before you count to five. There are fewer stones each round.

  • Whole class
  • 10 min
  • Carpet squares or paper mats
  • Pre-K to 5th grade
  • Lively
One page with all five steps

How to Play

5 steps
  1. The Floor Is Lava, step 1: Lay the stones

    Lay the stones

    Spread carpet squares or paper mats around the room.

  2. The Floor Is Lava, step 2: Walk around

    Walk around

    Students walk between the stones. No running.

  3. The Floor Is Lava, step 3: The floor is lava!

    The floor is lava!

    Call it out and count down from five.

  4. The Floor Is Lava, step 4: Find a stone

    Find a stone

    Everyone gets onto a stone. Sharing is allowed.

  5. The Floor Is Lava, step 5: Take a stone away

    Take a stone away

    Remove a stone or two each round until the last ones are crowded.

Ways to Change It Up

  • Lava FreezeInstead of stones, players freeze in a pose.
  • Answer to StayPlayers on a stone answer a question to stay in.

Play It With

Classroom ToolTimers & Noise

Classroom Timer

Set the minutes, press start, and run a countdown the whole room can read.

All grades, Pre-K to 12
Counts down the lava

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The Floor Is Lava Questions

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