List o' Games

CATEGORIES

Game Type: Warm-up

Good for Vocab,

Materials: None

Explanation: Participants try to think of as many things as they can that fit into a particular category.

How to Play: Participants sit in a circle and begin a one-two rhythm (Clap-snap, or slap(legs)-clap). One person says, in rhythm, "I am thinking of ….." whatever the category is, and then says something that fits the category. On the second beat after the first person, the second person says something that fits the category, and so on around the circle.

Example:

"I-am-thinking-of-kinds-of-fruits" (Clap) "Apple"

(Clap) "Orange"

(Clap) "Strawberries"

(Clap) "Banana"

(Clap) "Watermelon"



NAME GAME #2

Game Type: Group Cohesion

Materials: None

Explanation: Participants learn each other’s names with the help of gestures.

How to Play: Participants stand in a circle, and each person in turn says their name, at the same time executing a gesture that expresses their personality. For younger participants, the leader can suggest that the gesture shows a favorite hobby, sport or activity. After everyone has shared their name and gesture, the participants play "tag" with the names and gestures. While standing still, the participants can tag each other one at a time by saying a person’s name and repeating their gesture. The leader should encourage the participants to get to everyone’s name without repeats, so that all members of the group are included.

Notes: The leader should continue this game until he knows almost all of the participants’ names. Hopefully, this will be before the group is bored with the game.