Games
- Going on a picnic
The more people playing, the more challenging this game becomes. One person starts by saying, “I’m going on a picnic and I am taking a…” (say something they are going to bring). The next person then repeats the sentence and adds something they are bringing. For example:
Person one: “I am going on a picnic and I am taking jelly beans.”
Person two: “I am going on a picnic and I am taking jelly beans and pizza.”
The first player that forgets one the items from the growing list is out.
VARIATIONS: People can only bring something that starts with the same letter as their first name. For example, Jean can only bring things like, jelly beans, jam, juice but not oysters. You can also start the game with the sentence, “I am going on a trip and in my suitcase I am packing…”
- Apple Bear
Start with ‘A’. The first player says a word that starts with A, then next player repeats it plus adds something that starts with the letter B, and on and on until the players are through the alphabet. The trick is for everyone to get through the alphabet without forgetting the growing list.
- Unfortunately-Fortunately
Take turns and switch between ‘unfortunately’ and ‘fortunately’. Start with unfortunately.
For example:
First person: “Unfortunately…our essay that was due next week is due tomorrow morning.”
Next person: “Fortunately, I have mine done.”
Next person: “Unfortunately the teacher added an extra page.” Next Person: “Fortunately, mine was two pages over.”
- What If
What would happen if…an elephant ran the town instead of the mayor? What if aliens abducted your teacher? (What would school be like then?) What if you were famous or your parents were famous? What if your dog could talk?
There is no limit to the ‘what if’ questions you can ask. You can either answer the questions yourself, or discuss it with a friend and build on each other’s ideas or take turns. Answering 'what if' questions are also a good way to start writing short stories and poems.
- Add a Word
A friend says a word, then you say a word. Go back and forth until you have a sentence or a story. You can also play this one on paper and play with a bunch of friends.
- Add a Sentence
A friend says a sentence. You say their sentence and then add your own. They then say the first two sentences and then add another one. Keep going until you begin to forget or your story is done. You can also do this one on paper or play with more players.
- Switch a Line
Read a sentence from one story and then have a friend read a sentence from a different story. Take turns. Sometimes it gets pretty silly!
- Add a Line Poems
Someone starts a poem by writing down a line. The next person then adds a line, and it goes from person to person until you have a whole poem. To make it trickier, cover all the lines except the last line that was written before the next person writes their line. Remember: not all poems have to rhyme.
- Categories
Everyone sits in a circle and claps to a rhythm or slaps their legs to a rhythm (like clap-clap or slap-slap). One player starts by saying “I am thinking of kinds of….” They say this in rhythm to the clapping or slapping. The next player in the circle joins in after one clap or slap by saying something that fits in the category or kinds of thing the first person mentioned. Go around the circle until players are all out of ideas or someone misses a beat.
Example:
Person one: (clap) “I am thinking of kinds of clothes” (clap) “hat” (clap)
Person two: “socks” (clap)
Person three: “pants” (clap)
Persons four: “t-shirt” (clap)
Person five: “coat” (clap)
Category ideas: clothes, candy, places, things that grow, TV shows, books, people, relatives, red food, animals, electronics, teachers in your school, sports, dog breeds, song titles, people names, school subjects.
- Question—Question
Two people have a conversation, but they can only ask questions. To make it harder, players have to reply right away or they are out. (The conversation doesn’t always have to make sense.) You can also play with more people and switch people out as they mess up.
Here is an example:
Person one: How are you?
Person two: What do you mean?
Person one: What are you crazy?
Person two: No, are you?
Person one: Sometimes, but how are you?
Person two: I’m fine (and out because this isn’t a question!)
- Telephone
You need at least 4-5 people sitting in a circle for this game. One player makes up a sentence—silly sentences are good—like, “On Sundays giraffes walk sideways in peanut butter” and whispers it in the ear of the next player. That player then repeats it to the next player, and on and on until it reaches the last player. The sentence can only be whispered to a player once. If someone forgets or doesn’t hear it all, they still have to repeat the sentence to the next player as best they can. The last player in the circle says the sentence out loud and the player who made up the sentence tells everyone what the sentence really was. Sometimes it ends up being completely different!