Name Circle Resources:None Appropriate Age: Grade 1-6 Instructions:
Everyone will sit in a circle. One person will start and say their name. The next person will say the first persons name and their own. The third person will say the first two names in order and their own. This will continue until we reach the end of the circle where that person will have to say everyone in the circles name.
To make it harder you can have the person say their name and something they love (ex: volleyball, pizza, boardgames).
Beat the Blanket Resources: A large blanket Appropriate Age: Grade 1-6 and above Instructions:
Split the students into two groups. The students will sit behind the blanket; one "team" on either side, the blanket being held up in the middle. Each team will send one person to the front of the group right up next to the blanket. One the count of three the blanket will be dropped. The first person to say the students name that is sitting across from them wins and they steal the team member from the other side.
A team automatically loses if someone other than the person at the front says the other members name.
The game is won when all members are on one side of the blanket or once everyone has had a turn at the front of their team.
Name Game Resources: None Appropriate Age: Grade 1-6 and above Instructions:
Everyone stands in a circle. Each student must think of an adjective that starts with the same letter as their name (ex: Bubbly Bella, Enchanting Emma, Smooth Sullivan etc.). They must also come up with an action that goes with their name.
Each person will say their name with the adjective and the action. Afterwards everyone will repeat the words and the actions. Continue going around the circle until each person has gone.
If you wish you can ask for volunteers to go through and repeat everyones name and action as a challenge.
All Change Resources: Chairs Appropriate Age: Grades 1-6 and above Instructions:
Have the students create a circle with chairs, take one chair away so there is one less chair then people.
Have one person stand in the middle and the rest sit in their chairs.
The person in the middle must make a statement like "everyone with blue eyes". Everyone with blue eyes will get up and find a new chair. The person in the middle must also try to find a new chair.
The person left without a chair will make a new statement.
The object is to try to find as many people with something in common so the person in the middle has a better chance for a chair.
Heads up! Resources: None Appropriate Age: Grades 1 and up Instructions:
Everyone stands in a circle with their head down.
When the teacher says heads up, everyone must lift up their head and make eye contact with someone else in the circle.
If you make eye contact with someone else that is also looking at you, both students die in a dramatic way. Continue to do this until there is only two people left. Those two people will be the winners of the round.
Handshake Murder Resources: None Appropriate Age: Grades 1 and up Instructions:
Begin by gathering students as a group. Have everyone close their eyes, and select the "murderer" (tap this person on the head or shoulder).
After the murderer has been selected have everyone open their eyes. Select a "detective". This person will not shake hands with anyone but will still walk around the room and observe.
The students will walk around the room and shake hands with one another. The murderer will gently squeeze the hands of people that he/she shakes.
Once your hand is squeezed you must shake two more hands before DRAMATICALLY falling to your death.
It is the job of the detective to determine who the murderer is.
Human Knot Resources: None Appropriate Age: Grades 3 and up (could be done with younger students in small groups with additional adult support). Instructions:
Have the students create a circle. If there are a lot of students they can break into smaller groups.
Bring the circle nice and close together. Have everyone stick their hands into the circle. Everyone should grab a hand until all hands are being held.
Once all hands are held the object of the game is to untangle the human knot without letting go of any hands.