Adulting Classroom Games for Real-World Learning
Keeping students engaged is hard. Some activities feel like busywork, others spark laughter but don’t actually teach anything. You need something that’s both fun and purposeful, especially when you’re short on time. That’s where these adulting classroom games come in.
Why Teachers Love These Games
These aren’t fluff. Each game is designed to spark conversations and reinforce real-world skills teens and adult learners need: jobs, money, housing, college, and more. Teachers use them to:
Break the ice with new groups
Get students talking about real-life choices
Review key vocabulary before assessments
Fill time meaningfully on sub days or testing days
Add variety to advisory, SEL, or transition classes
⭐ “Great opening icebreaker activity with my high school ESL students.”
Try One Free
Want to see how these games work in your classroom? Grab the free Postsecondary Pathways Bingo. It’s a ready-to-use icebreaker with 10 unique cards that gets students reflecting on their college and career goals.
⭐ “This was fun! I used it in a digital format for a fun Friday!”
👉 [Download the Postsecondary Pathways Bingo Freebie]
What Makes These Games Different
Every resource is built around adulting and life skills, with features that make them stand out:
Would You Rather? Adulting Edition – 82 slides in Google Slides & PowerPoint with teacher notes that outline pros/cons for each choice.
Bingo Games – 10 unique cards per set with prompts about careers, postsecondary paths, and independent living. Includes an editable master for customization.
Game Shows – Quiz-style classroom games, each with unique categories that cover real-world topics like education, jobs, housing, transportation, and finance. Designed in Google Slides/PowerPoint and ready to play.
And this is just the start. More adulting games are being added regularly, so this page will always be your go-to hub.
FAQ: Adulting Classroom Games
Q: What grade levels are these best for?
A: They’re created for high school (grades 9–12) and adult education. Teachers use them successfully in general education, special education, transition programs, and EL classrooms.
Q: How much prep time do they take?
A: Almost none. You’ll need to print the bingo cards, and you may want to glance through the slides, but you don’t need to build anything. Everything comes ready to use!
Q: How are these different from other classroom games?
A: These games focus on real-world adulting skills like jobs, money, housing, and self-advocacy. Whenever possible, I also include answer keys, sample responses, and teacher notes so you don’t have to be the expert in every topic.
Q: When should I use them?
A: Teachers use these games as lesson hooks, reviews, informal assessments, warm-ups, brain breaks, or on those days when students are extra restless (sub days, testing days, or right before a holiday break).
Ready to Play?
All of these adulting classroom games are available on my Teachers Pay Teachers store. Whether you need a quick sub plan, an icebreaker, or an end-of-unit review, you’ll find a game here that gets students talking and learning.
