Speaking Up Games |
Target Themes: Self-awareness, Embracing Potential, Community, All Together
One or more children may be “it.” When they tag another child, that child will act like an animal (elephant, lion, walrus, sloth, etc.). The game continues until all of the children have turned into animals, at which point they can reflect on their new jungle, or zoo. After that, a new child may be chosen to be “it.”
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
Variation: Children can become ‘untagged’ if they meet another child acting as the same animal, and they hi-five.
One or more children may be “it.” When they tag another child, that child will act like an animal (elephant, lion, walrus, sloth, etc.). The game continues until all of the children have turned into animals, at which point they can reflect on their new jungle, or zoo. After that, a new child may be chosen to be “it.”
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
Variation: Children can become ‘untagged’ if they meet another child acting as the same animal, and they hi-five.
Target Themes: Helping Others, Appreciation, All Together, Self-Awareness, Community, Speaking Up
Begin by explaining that there will be no actual running in this game, instead players will have to walk “heel to toe” meaning that with every step the heel of one foot must touch the toe of the other. Ask players if they know what this looks like and ask someone to demonstrate. If no one can or is willing to, facilitators should demonstrate for the group.
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
Explain that the playing area is the ocean and that all the players are clams (and that clams are very slow walkers). The game is played like regular tag with one person (or two if the group is large) being “it” and trying to tag the rest of the group. When a player is tagged they are “stuck in the mud” and must wave their arms in the air and squeal, “Heeeelp me!” over and over again. Two other players can free this person by standing on either side of the stuck person, linking hands, and shouting “Claaaam Free!”. When players are freeing someone, they cannot be tagged. Ask if there are any questions, choose someone to be “it” and give the group a few seconds to spread out (already walking heel-to-toe) and begin the game.
Begin by explaining that there will be no actual running in this game, instead players will have to walk “heel to toe” meaning that with every step the heel of one foot must touch the toe of the other. Ask players if they know what this looks like and ask someone to demonstrate. If no one can or is willing to, facilitators should demonstrate for the group.
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
Explain that the playing area is the ocean and that all the players are clams (and that clams are very slow walkers). The game is played like regular tag with one person (or two if the group is large) being “it” and trying to tag the rest of the group. When a player is tagged they are “stuck in the mud” and must wave their arms in the air and squeal, “Heeeelp me!” over and over again. Two other players can free this person by standing on either side of the stuck person, linking hands, and shouting “Claaaam Free!”. When players are freeing someone, they cannot be tagged. Ask if there are any questions, choose someone to be “it” and give the group a few seconds to spread out (already walking heel-to-toe) and begin the game.
Target Themes: Communication, Leadership, All together, Conflict Resolution, Speaking Up
Supplies: Marshmallows, toothpicks
Split the group into two or more teams. Each team should have about 3-6 people. The goal of this game is to see which group builds the highest tower using only the items provided. The towers must be stable. What’s the catch? Explain to the groups that each person in their group with have different skills taken away from them. The roles are listed below.
Person A – eyes open, can talk, cannot build
Person B - eyes open, cannot talk, can only build using pointer and middle fingers
Person C – eyes closed, can talk, can build
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
Supplies: Marshmallows, toothpicks
Split the group into two or more teams. Each team should have about 3-6 people. The goal of this game is to see which group builds the highest tower using only the items provided. The towers must be stable. What’s the catch? Explain to the groups that each person in their group with have different skills taken away from them. The roles are listed below.
Person A – eyes open, can talk, cannot build
Person B - eyes open, cannot talk, can only build using pointer and middle fingers
Person C – eyes closed, can talk, can build
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
Reviews
We tried playing this game with a 4th grade class (ages 9-10). We had eight kids so one of our volunteers participated in one group as Person A, and that group happened to do a lot better than the other two groups, who either cheated or gave up mid-game. If you have a low kid to volunteer ratio (approximately 2:1), try having a volunteer in each group so that the groups can stay on track and it's easier to keep them under control. -JE
Target Themes: Embracing Potential, Self-Awareness, Communication, Leadership, Speaking Up
Have the group sit on the floor and form a large circle. Explain that there will be a leader and a guesser. The guesser will leave the room while the group selects a leader. The leader will begin a rhythm using their body ex: clapping, slapping thighs, snapping, etc. The rest of the group must follow the leader’s pattern. When a pattern has been established the guesser will rejoin the group and attempt to guess who the leader is and will have two or three guesses depending on the size of the group. The leader can change the pattern at any time.
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
Have the group sit on the floor and form a large circle. Explain that there will be a leader and a guesser. The guesser will leave the room while the group selects a leader. The leader will begin a rhythm using their body ex: clapping, slapping thighs, snapping, etc. The rest of the group must follow the leader’s pattern. When a pattern has been established the guesser will rejoin the group and attempt to guess who the leader is and will have two or three guesses depending on the size of the group. The leader can change the pattern at any time.
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
Target Themes: Self-Awareness, All Together, Embracing Potential, Community, Our Space,
Supplies: Paper or another token. Be Creative!
Pesek is similar to Duck Duck Goose. The kids sit in a circle with their eyes open and one will walk around the circle carrying something like a piece of paper. As they go around they'll sing a song and drop the paper behind someone's back, they'll continue going around like nothing happened and the person who has the paper behind them has to realize they're it. They then grab the paper behind them and chase the person who was it before, like Duck, Duck, Goose. This deals a lot with nonverbal communication and how one person's choices can affect another.
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
Variation: use this space if necessary to include any useful variations (how to make it adapted to another theme, age group, energy level, etc.)
Supplies: Paper or another token. Be Creative!
Pesek is similar to Duck Duck Goose. The kids sit in a circle with their eyes open and one will walk around the circle carrying something like a piece of paper. As they go around they'll sing a song and drop the paper behind someone's back, they'll continue going around like nothing happened and the person who has the paper behind them has to realize they're it. They then grab the paper behind them and chase the person who was it before, like Duck, Duck, Goose. This deals a lot with nonverbal communication and how one person's choices can affect another.
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
Variation: use this space if necessary to include any useful variations (how to make it adapted to another theme, age group, energy level, etc.)