I would encourage him to save the experimentation for home, and go get some exercise during recess, whether that's ball sports, tag, monkey bars, whatever. I'd emphasize that it's helpful to get out "the wiggles" and focus on school. But I'd also point out that it's what most of the other kids are doing, and if he joins in with a game, that'll help him gain friends.
Exactly! In my DS's case, he came to this conclusion by himself - that it is easier to gain friends by playing the games that they play and by immersing himself in talk involving Superheroes
He plays with balls during recess, digs in the tan bark (to hide tennis balls from the other grade kids!) and plays tag/redlight-greenlight/Follow the leader/jump rope etc and has a gang of friends with whom he deeply discusses recess game strategies and rules during daily lunch break.
He uses recess for physical play and as break time.
He has peers to engage him in discussion of deep thoughts in other settings that are not related to school recess.
So, encourage your child to establish interaction with other kids during recess, join in their play and use the recess time as a time to run around, kick a ball and have a relaxing break (which is what recess is all about).
