Games

=Here are some games that we can use throughout the summer. I am hoping that we can all take turns leading these games...=

 **NAME GAME:**   Student gives an adjective or verb before their name. The adjective or verb the student chooses should start with the same letter with which their first names begin. As always, the more motion involved, the better. For example:    // Catastrophic Chuck, Sideways Sue, Galloping Greg, Petrified Pete, or Rockin' Robbin. //      The student should then perform their motion or act out their adjective to the other students, standing in the ever-present circle. The other student will then repeat the action back to the starting student and say, "Hi,    // Elastic Edan! //     " or whatever the name might be.  **TRUST FALL CIRCLE:**     This is an exercise of trust and teamwork. Students stand in a circle with shoulders touching, and with each student focused on the center, where one of the other students is standing (this student should be a volunteer). When all of the students are focused, instruct the student in the center that he/she is to stand with ankles together and heels planted on the ground, knees straight. He/she will then be instructed to fall, trusting the students in the circle to catch him/her, and not allow him/her to fall to the ground. The students in the circle should be instructed to help each other, and not allow the center student to fall, gently stopping his/her descent and redirecting it in another direction.  **Note:**    There should be NO shoving or forceful movements of the center student. This should be an exercise of trust and    // not //     one of scaring the center student. As many students as possible should be allowed to participate in this activity, but none should be forced if it is obvious that they are truly uncomfortable with it.  **Variations:**  This exercise can be modified to be "Trust Walk Circle," in which students stand in a rough circle at arm-length apart from each other. A volunteering student will stand in the center of the circle and spin around with his or her eyes closed to lose any sense of direction. From there, the student will walk to the circle's edge with his/her eyes still closed. Whenever the student nears the edge fo the circle, the "border" students will gently grasp the walking student and re-direct him/her in a new (though not necessarily opposite) direction.  **Note:**      As students become "used" to the idea of walking to the circle's edge, they may stop or hesitate as they near the circle's periphery because they "know" where it is, even with closed eyes. To combat this and help the students rely on trust, modulate the diameter of the circle or the circle's shape while the student is walking around. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> **HUMAN KNOT:**    <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> This is an exercise in team work and following directions from peers, as well as   <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> // Give and Take. //  <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">  The students come together in a rough circle and reach across grasping no more than one hand of the same person until everyone has two hands grasped. It is important to note that each student should pay close attention to the directions at the beginning of the exercise. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Without letting go of hands, the students are instructed to undo the knot by going under, over and through the spaces created by the arms and hands of those around them. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Different variations on this exercise include appointing one student as the spokesperson, and requiring all others remain silent. Or to appoint one student as the spokesperson, and have all other students close their eyes and work only by feel and listening to the spokesperson verbal directions.

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> **KILLER:**    <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> This is an exercise of focus and using senses other than sight for information. The students are given a space with in which to move. They are told to feel the space, and move freely. They are then instructed to close their eyes, and to continue to move throughout the space. Here is where the killer is chosen. The director should tap one of the students on the head, signifying that they are the killer This is done silently. The killer, still with their eyes closed, is required to move around the space and find their victims. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> The only person who should be attempting to touch anyone else is the killer. When they find a victim, the killer grabs that victim on the shoulder, arm, etc. The victim then dies with a melodramatic final scream (giving a clue to the other potential victims where the killer is, or at least was). The game can be moved along by using the victims who are already dead to close in a tighter space, tightening up the circle in which the students are moving.

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> **TRUST WALK:**    <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> This is an exercise in Trust, Focus, and using senses other than sight for information. Students are taken outside, if possible and instructed to find a partner. One of the pair is instructed to close their eyes and be guided around the space determined. The guide should bring their partner near objects in the space such as trees, tables and other students to have the blind student determine what, or who, it is they are touching.

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> **ELEMENTS:**    <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> This is an exercise for creating and producing emotion. The Students are asked to give the elements Earth, Air, Water and Fire human-like qualities in discussion. Examples are talkative for Air as well as flighty and bouncy, meandering, wishy-washy and pouting for Water; angry, hot tempered and quick for Fire, and pensive, slow and methodical for Earth. The students should be encouraged to come up with some of their own examples of descriptive words for these elements. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> After the discussion, the instructor should split the class as evenly as possible into four groups, labeling them after the four elements. After they have been labeled, tell them to move throughout the space and interact with each other as if they were of the element they were labeled. After a period of time that allows for some interaction, have the groups switch the elements they represent. This is repeated until all students have tried all four elements. The fifth switch will be to have the students take on their favorite element and portray it for another period of time, interacting with the other students as before. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> It should be noted that once the students have been split into groups the first time, they should be interacting as a class, and not limited to only people in their specific group. It is a mental splitting, not a physical one.

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> **PORTRAYING ELEMENTS AS ANIMALS:**    <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> This is an exercise of characterization of non-verbal emotion. The students should be mentally grouped as in   <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> // Elements //   <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> , but should be asked to interact as animals that might represent their element. It is not necessary for the students to discuss this before hand, and the instructor should offer them time to think about it to themselves before they start to interact with the rest of the group. Once again, the instructor should have the students switch through all of the elements and have the students end up portraying their favorite element.

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> **IN A HOLE:**    <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> This is an exercise for developing and producing emotion. The students are asked to quietly find a place in the space and become comfortable in it. They are then asked to imagine what it is like to be in a hole, and asked to experience their surroundings as if they were really there. It is not necessary for this to be a silent exercise, and the students should be allowed to vocalize the emotion that this exercise creates. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> **Note:**  <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">  This exercise should be done carefully and the director must always be aware of the students and what they are doing. If any student appears to be uncomfortable with the exercise they should not be forced to participate. This exercise is meant to create emotion, and some students may be uncomfortable with the results. It is a good idea to discuss this exercise before hand, and then more in-depth afterward to determine the students reaction to it, and what they felt and experienced. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> **ANIMAL:**    <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Just as in the   <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> // Machine //   <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">  exercise, the students are to be instructed to combine to create the parts of a single animal, each student helping to characterize a different part of the anatomy. It might be a good idea for the students to discuss as a group the animal they are going to create first hand, and explore some of its movements, and then combine to try the entire animal. Another variation would be to allow one or more students to begin an animal without discussing it with the rest of the group, and have the rest of the students jump in and complete the animal without knowing completely what it is, allowing for a small amount of improvisation. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> **WHO STARTED THE MOTION?:**    <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> This is an exercise of focus and motion. The group is formed into a circle, and one student is asked to volunteer to be it. They are removed from the space, and one student in the circle is chosen to be the one to start a motion. They do so, using any part of their entire body and the rest of the circles mimics the movement. The student who is "it" is returned to the space. The student chosen to start the motion will begin changing the motion, and the remaining students in the circle follow suit. The student who was removed is required to guess who it is that is starting each new motion, and when they guess correctly, the person who started the motion is the one who is removed from the space for the next round. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> **FOUR MINUTES OF WHERE:**    <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> This is an exercise of focus and creating a "where." Students are separated into groups of two, three, or four, and instructed to come up with a specific where. One at a time they will enter the space and create this where for the audience without using verbal cues (voices). After the audience has allowed all members of the group to help establish the where, they are allowed to guess where the actors are. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Some examples of wheres: kitchen, bus stop, on the moon, in a shower, in a bathroom, at a horse race, etc. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">  **TWO DIFFERENT WHERES:**    <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> This is an exercise in establishing character and where. Two students volunteer and are given two different locations within which they will exist. Each student in a different place. The students may become any character that might be found in this place. After a few moments of establishing their where, the characters will be asked to interact, each as if in their own where. The trick here is for the students not to negate each other and their wheres, and not to slip into the other characters where as well.

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Frozen T’s ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   ||  <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Game of the Month 12/99    || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> For each team you'll need one T- shirt and one plastic storage bag. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Place one nicely folded T-shirt in each bag then pour in about 2 cups of water and freeze all of them overnight. If this wasn't done where the event is taking place bring the T-shirt in a cooler filled with ice to keep them frozen. Instruct the teams that they'll be playing an Ice Breaker game. Then hand out the bagged T-shirts to each team. On "Go" the teams will have to get their T-shirts thawed out so that one person from their team can put the T-shirt on. Teams will get creative in their attempts to win. They could run the shirts underwater, put them in the microwave and even pounded the ice out of them. The first team to come back with one person in the T-shirt is the winner. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Plastic storage bag, freezer and large size T- shirts

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Gum Game ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   ||  <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Game of the Month 10/08    || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Set up teams of five. Each team will receive one pair of new garden gloves and one pack of gum (5 pieces per pack). On go, the first person in each team is to put on the garden gloves, open the package of gum, pull out a piece, unwrap it, chew it, and then pass the gloves to the next person. The first team to complete the task wins. You can choose to have two packs of gum per team so that they would have to go around twice. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Clean garden gloves, packs of gum

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Ha Ha ** || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Teams competing lay down side by side on floor or ground. The first person lays back of hand on next persons stomach and that person lays back of hand on the stomach of the next to him and so on. The first person in line is to laugh one HA. The next person in line is to laugh HA HA (two times). The third person is HA HA HA. And so on. Any person that breaks out into a giggle is out of the game and must get up and the hole is filled in. The last one to giggle, wins. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   ||

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** King Boe Boe’s Ring ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> From the group select a number of persons that you would like to play this game. Send them outside. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Have some one (preferably a man) that has a very ugly toe, sit on the chair with his foot on the stool. Put some mayonnaise or Vaseline on his thumb. Let him bend the thumb and you put it on the jointed area. You also put some on the big toe that is on the stool. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> You then invite one of the persons that have already been blindfolded to come in with his/her hands behind him. It must stay behind him as long as he/she is approaching the king. They are asked to bow before the king in respect (keeping hands behind). Take them very close to the king where they can actually kneel right in front of the toe that has the mayonnaise or Vaseline on it. They bow as to kiss the king ring and the king puts his finger out so that the person kisses the finger instead of the toe. The king then puts his hand behind him leaving the toe as the visible object that has been kissed. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> The blindfold is now taken off and the person sees the toe and thinks that he/she has kissed this ugly toe. (Make sure that you keep adding more Vaseline to the finger as it will be kissed off, also make sure that enough is on the toe) Continue with the next person until all have come in. Do not tell the person what has happened but encourage the person to watch and see what has happened. He/she will laugh at himself. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> The other players must be locked away so that they have no clue as to what is happening, they will hear the laughs and will be curious and anxious to come in. No one in the room is to tell them anything. The last person usually does not know what is happening. You may tell him or her if you choose to. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Vaseline or mayonnaise (or anything mushy), chair, stool and blindfolds   ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to medium groups   ||   ||

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Moo Game ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to medium groups   || || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Pick three people to stand outside while the rest of the group gets ready. Form a circle large enough for someone to stand inside. Tell the group that They are going to pick someone from outside to come in and stand inside the circle and when you count to three everyone has to “MOO” as loud as they can. Then tell them on the last time, when the third person comes in to fake a “MOO”. Everyone should look like they are going to “MOO” but don’t. Pick someone from outside and tell them that they are to listen for the person who “MOOed” the loudest. Count to three and everyone “MOOs”. The person in the middle will then pick who “MOOed” the loudest and whomever they pick will be correct. Then tell that person that they have to “MOO” as loud as they can on the next round but to not “MOO” at all on the third round. Now the 2nd person comes in and you "MOO" and they pick who was the loudest and they are of course correct. But don't tell the 2nd person to not “MOO” on the last round. Now the third person comes in and you tell them to pick the loudest “MOO”. You count to three and everyone pretends like they are going to “MOO” except the 2nd person that came in who “MOOs” really loud all by him or herself. It’s really funny. You may have to explain the joke to the third person though. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Just people

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Scavenger Hunt ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Great game for adult groups, great icebreaker!!! <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Make a list of things for teams to look for through their wallets, purses, and possibly What’s on their bodies. Divide into teams by tables, pairs, individuals or what seems best. Here is a list of ideas of what they can look for but modify the list to your liking. Do not list where they might find these items. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> 1975 Penny, $2 bill, $100 bill, red ribbon (found in a bible), hologram (usually found on a credit card, don’t tell them this!!!), a bird (usually found on a credit card), pick a few states from the new quarters (Delaware, Michigan, Florida), pearl (earring or ring), black sock, roman numeral (found on a watch), Susan B Anthony dollar, picture of a tree, tic tac, paper clip, measuring tape, ruler, peppermint candy, toothpick, the word Moses (if they have a bible), M&M, Tums, children’s Tylenol, thermometer, white button, pink nail polish, screw driver, nose ring, tweezers, mirror, ankle bracelet, red hair, raisin, triangle, charge slip over $200 and so on. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Make a list and copy off the list for each team. Have them check off which items they have, the team with the most checked off, wins!!!! At the end, tell them where they could have found some of the items. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Just a pencil and paper

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** String Toss ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to medium groups   || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Set up small groups of 8–12 players and have them sit in a circle for this icebreaker. One person is given the ball of yarn and finds the end of it. They will toss the ball of yarn to anyone within the circle while they are still holding the end of the ball of yarn. Now ask the person that caught it one or two questions. If this is a new group that doesn’t know everyone they are to introduce themselves first before answering the questions at the beginning of the game. Here are some ideas as to what questions to ask; What is your favorite color, music group, the person that has influenced you the most, what are you afraid of, your favorite food, time of the year, or any other question to might pertain to this event. That person then holds part of the yarn and then tosses the ball of yarn to anyone that hasn’t received the ball yet. You repeat this until everyone has had the ball of yarn and you will notice that you have created a unique web that has connected all the players together in one way. You can pass the ball again to ask one – two more questions from each player. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Ball of string or yarn

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Talking Behind Your Back ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   ||  <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Game of the Month 11/05    || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Each person writes his/her name on a piece of paper lightly in pencil; then help one another tape the piece of paper on each persons back (NAME NOT SHOWING). Using (washable) markers, each person must go around the room and write something about that person on their back. (Children need to be instructed that the comment must be positive - funny is OK, too) Leader removes all the papers and lays them out for everyone to view. How well do you think you know yourself or what others think about you? What would they say behind YOUR back? After reading them, participants may predict which one they think may have been on their back. Then, everyone can turn them over and find their own, and hopefully keep it, feeling great about what others had to say about them “behind their back”. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Piece of paper, washable markers, tape, pencils

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Blindfolded Shoe Shuffle ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Medium to large groups   || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Each person puts on a blindfold and takes off their shoes. They then throw them into a pile in the middle of the floor. The referee then jumbles them all up and then shouts GO! The first person to find their shoes by touch and smell alone and put them on is the winner. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Blindfolds and shoes

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Body Jump Relay ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Medium to large groups   ||  <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Game of the Month 10/05    || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Each team will have the players lie down on the ground, face up, fanned out in a circle with their heads facing the middle of the circle. On go, the first person from each circle, gets up and runs around the circle jumping over the other team members. Once around he will lie back down and the #2 person will do the same. Then you keep playing until all the players have completed the task. The first team to complete the cycle is the winner. For added fun and excitement with youth groups, a blindfold can be passed to the player that is getting up. They can half walk and crawl around the circle with members instructing them where to go. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Another version is having them race/walk backwards. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: 6 players per team

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Hidden Surprise ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to medium groups   ||  <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Game of the Month 2/05 || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Here’s a game for both the young and old. Take an empty pill bottle and place an amount of money in it. Whatever you decide you want the winner to have. Wrap it up with layers of newspaper and duct tape, electrical tape or any other kind of tape. You can even layer it with different types and make a huge tape ball. Have everyone stand in a circle. Take a set of dice and place them in a flat box. If the person rolls a double, they must go inside the circle and start working on getting the tape ball apart. They continue unwrapping until the next person rolls a double. Keep going until someone wins the money. This can take awhile and it is real fun and exciting for all ages. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> You can modify this game using different containers to hold food or other prizes. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Pill bottle, tape, newspaper, money, dice

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** I’m Going Hunting ** || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> You play this game in a circle and your memory counts. One person in the circle will start the game off by saying, I’m going hunting and I’m taking an arrow. The next person will have to repeat what the person next to him said and then add something new from the next letter in the alphabet. I’m going hunting and I’m taking an arrow and a bow. You keep this going around the circle until one person cannot remember what he is taking. That person is out and you see if the next person can complete the phrase. You don’t necessarily have to choose something that you would normally take hunting-it can be funny. You can also modify this game to a specific topic. I’m going to get married and I’m taking... would be a great wedding shower icebreaker. I’m going to have a baby and I’m... would be a starter for a baby shower game. I’m going shopping and I’m buying… would be great for a women’s event. Pick a topic that fits your event, play this game at your next family holiday get-together. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to medium groups   ||

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Killer Froggy ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Everyone sits in a circle. One person is chosen to be the detective. He leaves the room or goes to a place where he cannot see or hear what is going on in the circle. Everyone in the circle closes their eyes. An adult or leader walks around the circle and taps someone’s shoulder who now becomes the Killer Frog. But no one knows who the frog is at first. The detective comes back in. The frog sticks its tongue out at random people around the circle, trying not to be noticed by the detective. If the frog sticks its tongue out at you, you just lay down. The detective gets three tries to guess the killer frogs identity. If he succeeds, someone else is chosen for the next round. If he doesn’t, then he is the detective again. It’s okay if other players know who the frog is. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Medium to large groups   ||  <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Game of the Month 1/05    ||

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Pass the Parcel ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Wrap a bar of chocolate (or some other exciting gift) in a small box then wrap in a layer of paper. Now on the paper write a type of task that must be completed. Add another layer of paper and another task. Repeat until you have about 10 layers. Finally wrap it in gift paper (so it looks nice). The tasks should vary - like sing a song, eat a teaspoon of mustard, or walk blindfolded to the other side of the circle. Just try to be creative and make it so that they won’t want to get stuck with the package on the next turn. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Sit everyone in a circle and play a short snippet of music. When the music stops, the person holding the parcel removes one layer of wrapping and must perform the task written on that layer. Repeat until the last layer of wrapping has been removed. At the end, no one will want to get stuck with the package but the one that does will get the reward. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to medium groups   ||  <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Game of the Month 8/03    ||

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Smile Toss ** || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players can sit in circle or through out the room as long as everyone can see each other. All players are to keep a straight somber face while one person that is chosen to be the Smile Tosser, smiles. The Smile Tosser will smile a big smile at all players trying to get them to crack a smile or laugh. If anyone smiles or laughs they are out of the game and they must be absolutely quiet while the game goes on. The Smile Tosser can wipe off his smile with his hand and throw it to another player if he wishes. The receiving player will put on the smile and be the new Smile Tosser. You can even set a time limit on how long your Smile Tosser is allowed to keep his role. Smile Toss is a great party game, holiday get together game, icebreaker game and youth group game. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Four to Twelve players   ||

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Balloon Head Race ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   || || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Organize players so that they’re into pairs and each team receives a partially inflated balloon. When the game starts, teams must race to a finish line carrying a balloon between their heads, remember don’t use your hands. On hot days try it with water balloons or through a sprinkler. You can even try an obstacle course. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Balloons

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Bucket Brigade ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> (bathroom size) paper cups <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   ||  <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Game of the Month 5/08    || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Divide into teams of 5 to 10 players. Each team will be given two water bottles, one full and the other empty. Each player will receive one cup. The teams line up front to back in a row sitting on the floor. The person in front will hold the full water bottle and the last person on the team will have the empty water bottle. On go, the first person in line will pour water into his cup and then without turning pour his cup of water into the cup of the player behind him. Each player will pour his cup of water into the cup of the next player. The last player will then pour his cup of water into the water bottle. As soon as the first player passes his water he can refill the cup and start passing again. They will continue until all the water is out of the first bottle. The team with the most water in the bottle at the back of the line is the winner. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: 2 water bottles per team and small

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Cracker Whistle ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   || || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Set up 2-4 teams depending on the number of players. The first player on each team will run to one main table, eat two crackers and then attempt to whistle. Once a player has whistled they run back to their team and tag the next player. That player will also do the same until everyone has completed the task. The first team done is a winner. Make sure you have cups of water nearby just in case someone needs a drink. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Crackers, table or counter, cups and water

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Cup Stack Relay Knock Down ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> one    [|__Fun Gripper Team Handball__] <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">  per team <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Large groups   || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Game of the Month 5/06     || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Set up teams of 8-10 players in lines facing away from the middle of a circle about 15-20 feet away. In the middle of the circle, somewhat lined up with each teams position, is their pile of cups and plates to stack up. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Each team will be given one ball. The first player from each team will run down to the middle where their equipment is, and stack the plates and cups alternating them, having the cups face down, and then run to the next person to do the same. The next person will run down and un-stack them and then re-stack them. But anyone from another team has the option of using their ball to try to knock down any other team's stacked pile to set them behind. This is done only by the next person in line, on their turn, they cannot go do their task until the person behind them has retrieved the thrown ball and brought it back to the group. If a team's cups are knocked down, the person that stacked them has to return and do it again. So the strategy becomes do you knock down someone else's stack or focus only on your team's progress and play it safe. The first team done is the winner of the game. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: 8-10 paper or plastic cups and plates,

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Dress-up Torture ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   ||  <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Game of the Month 1/01    || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Here’s a new game for the youth groups to play. Divide up into teams of eleven and pick one person willing to go through the Torture. You can even have the leaders go through the torture to show evidence of their courage and faith. If this were the case then you’d only need 10 players on each team. All players will line up in a line and their tortured player will be placed in a chair about 6-10 feet in front of them. On a table behind the seated player place items that their teammates will use. For each team have 10 envelopes labeled from 1-10 and place inside them the instructions as to the task they are to perform. Below is a list of tasks for the Dress-up Torture and in parentheses will be helpful comments to get you started. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Tie them to the chair. (For each team provide twine cut about 6-8 feet long, instruct not the tie them too tight.) <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Feed them a donut. (Donuts will not be too messy but just enough.) <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Draw a happy face on their forehead with washable marker. (You can use lipstick instead of marker if helpful.) <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Put lipstick on their lips. (Make sure there are enough tubes so that everyone will receive a clean tube, find someone that sells makeup and get sample tubes if possible.) <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Give them a drink of water. (Have cups of water poured out ahead of time and you can even make them drink from a straw.) <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Place 4 sponge rollers in their hair. (You can use hair clips instead of sponge rollers but the roller will be the most effective for a reaction.) <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Place clip on earrings. (Go to a garage sale or second hand shop to purchase cheap clip on earrings.) <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Throw a water bomb or water balloon at them. (It must break.) (Don’t aim for the head.) <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Paint all their fingernails on one hand. (Make sure you have nail polish remover after this event.) <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Kiss their check. (Hey, this could be the luck of the draw, just get it over with, win it for the Gipper.) <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> These are just ideas, you can use your own and add to them if you have more players on each team. The first person on the team will run to the table, open the envelope number 1 and do what is written on the slip (Tie them to the chair). After completing this task they will run back to their team, tag the next player and they will complete the next numbered task. The first team done is the winner. Make sure you have your camera's ready. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Rope, donuts, lipstick, marker, cups, sponge rollers, clip earrings,    [|__water bombs__] <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">  or water balloons, nail polish, table, envelopes and chairs

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Egg Roll 500 ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   || || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Set up an obstacle course with a start and finish line. If outdoors, players can do this barefoot if weather permitting. The course could go through mud puddles and/or water (sprinkler) if available. Divide into teams and each person is to go through obstacle course pushing an egg with their foot. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Eggs (cooked or uncooked), obstacle course

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Ice Fishing ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to medium groups   || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Fill a roasting pan with ice and then put marbles in it. You can break the kids up into teams and then have each person on the team come and try to “fish” out one of the marbles with their bare feet. The first team done wins. You’ll really like watching everyone’s expressions when they stick their feet in the ice. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Roasting pan, ice cubes, and marbles

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Inchworm ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   || || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> This can be played as teams or individually. Mark off a starting point and finish line. Players are to lie belly down, with cup filled with sand placed on their back, crawl like an inchworm to finish line. If cup falls off and spills they are to start over. The first team done is the winner. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required:: Paper cups and sand or water

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Jelly Bean Relay ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   || || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Each team has equal amount of jelly beans in one dish and one empty dish. You’ll need enough spoons for everyone that is playing. The object is for each team to have one person at a time, move jelly beans from one bowl to the other. This is done with hands behind their back, spoon in their mouth and one bean at a time. The first team to have all members complete this task is the winner. You can use items like lemon drops (my favorite), heart candies or anything other than jelly beans. || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Knot Race ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   || || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Set up two teams with a rope for each team. Tie as many knots as there are player in each team. On go, the first person in the team is to untie a knot, then hand the rope to the next person and repeat. The first team to untie all their knots is the winner. Variations: Have the teams send the rope down the line with them tying the knots and then back up the line untying them. You could even have them use only one hand to untie the knots which means they would have to use their teeth. Please use a clean rope or sheet for this variation. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Spoons, two dishes for each team and jelly beans
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Ropes or sheets

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Lily Pad ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   ||  <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Game of the Month 3/03    || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Divide the group into teams of 4 or more. They will have 2 fewer plates than the number of teammates. The object of this game is to get all team members across a space (pond) by stepping on the plates (lily pads) only. The number of people on the team will determine length of space. Since they are using 9" plates, a bit of leniency should be practiced as far as stepping only on the plates. At least half of the players’ foot must be on the plate. Each team must come up with a strategy for passing the plates back and forth in order to get all teammates across the span. The first team to get all members across wins. After the teams try this, and think they have it figured out, have them try again with these variations:     <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> -No shouting out instructions; in fact, NO words at all. They can use stomps, grunts, snaps or whatever else they can come up with, but no talking.     <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> -Every 30-45 seconds, (moderator controlled), one plate is taken from the team, (moderator’s choice). Whoever is on that plate must go back to the beginning, and the team has to come up with a strategy to get that person back with the team. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Paper plates

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** M & M Toss ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   || || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> You can play this game with two players per team or a whole team in a rotation. For two players per team divide up into teams and have the players stand about six feet apart. The players should be standing face to face with one player as the shooter and the other player as the receiver. If you have a large group, have them stand in a line to monitor the six-foot separation point. All the shooters will be given one cup of M & M candies and a plastic spoon. When signaled the shooter will try to shoot one M & M from the plastic spoon into the mouth of the other player from the six-foot distance point. They must shoot the M & M past the marking point in the air to be caught. The receiver cannot step ahead of the marking point to catch an M & M. Once a receiver catches the M & M the cup will be given to them and then shooter will now be the receiver. The first team done is the winner. For a larger teams simply rotate a new shooter in and rotate the first shooter to be the receiver. The first team to finish the rotation wins. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Bags of M & M candies, plastic spoons and cups

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Orange Eating Race ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   || || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">  Divide into groups depending on participants and supplies. The object is for each person to help peel the orange and eat it. Start out with everyone washing their hands and the oranges. The first person from each team is to peal one piece of skin then hand to the next person in line to peal one more piece of skin. Once the orange is peeled teams are to take one section of orange pass the rest to next player and eat his section. First team done peeling and eating their orange is the winner!!! (very appealing)   <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> **Caution**   <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">  - don’t choke on the seeds. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Oranges

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Pass the Pretzels ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   || || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Set up teams, give each player one stick pretzel and have them put one end into their mouth. The first player on each team is also given a twisted pretzel to be balanced on the other end of the stick pretzel. They are to turn and pass the twisted pretzel to their teammate that is standing next to them. That player will turn and pass the twisted pretzel to the next player and so forth until the twisted pretzel has be passed all the way to the end of the line. If the twisted pretzel is dropped the person previous to them is to pick it up, place it on their stick and pass it back to them. If it breaks or is not whole, an official is to give them a new twisted pretzel. The team that is first to pass the pretzel down to the end of the line is the winner. You could play this game on your next bus trip with your youth group. Set up four teams and they have to pass the pretzel for one end of the bus over the seats to the other end of the bus. Have official stand in the isles to ensure that the isle seat players pass the pretzels over the seats. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Bags of sticks pretzels and twisted pretzels

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Pinkie Link Race ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small groups   || || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Set up teams. Have the 1st two in each team stand back to back and then have a 3rd person on each team place a balloon between the 1st two people. They must race down field, sit at end of field, stand back up and return to starting point. Next two must do the same until everyone has completed task. Good luck, have fun and don. t pop the balloon. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Balloons

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Potato Picker ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   ||  <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Game of the Month 6/01    || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Divide your group up into teams. Each team will need one chair placed in front of them, a bag of potatoes and a bucket on the other side of the playing area. When signaled, the first players on each team will pull out one potato from the potato bag and place it on the chair in front of them. The potato should be placed close to the edge so that they can sit down on the chair. The object is to try to sit down and then stand up with the potato between their legs. They cannot use their hands. Once they are able to stand with the potato they will carefully wobble (walking backwards) over to the bucket and drop the potato into the bucket without using their hands. They will race back to their team, tag the next player and that player will do the same. The first team through the rotation will be the winner. You might have to scrub a few potatoes if the players are not dressed to possibly get dirt on them. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Raw Potatoes, chairs and buckets

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Shoulder Grip ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   ||   || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Set up 2 teams, you need one person on each team to be the “middle man”. They stand at the other end of the room across from their team and can move about to help teammates. Put a balloon in-between the shoulders of 2 teammates and have them run down to the other end and back. The balloon carriers are not aloud to touch balloon with their hands, only the “middle man”, at the other end can. The “middle man” (which can touch the balloon), can put the balloon back between shoulders if it falls to the ground. When they return to the starting line they then pass off the balloon. First team to finish wins. <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> You can also use this game as a memory verse game. As each 2 teammates finish across the line, before they hand off the balloon to the next 2, they must say a memory verse. Hope you have fun. You can make this creative by using a ball or water balloon or a raw egg. Just do what the kids like the best, they are the ones that have to get wet, egged, or just have a good time. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Balloons

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Team Balloon Relay ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   ||  <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Game of the Month 11/06    || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players are divided into 4 teams with about 6 members each. 4 different colored balloons are used where one color is assigned per team. About 10 balloons for each team are blown up and all balloons (40) are placed in center area mixed about. One player from each team is blindfolded and sent into the center near the balloons from his side of a squared off wider area. On go, the blindfolded members are instructed by their seeing members to collect a balloon. They must choose one balloon of their teams color and return to their line. Another member is blindfolded and sent in to retrieve a balloon. A referee can rearrange the balloons once a member is blindfolded so that the player isn't using a visual memory and must rely on directions of teammates. The first team to retrieve all of their balloons wins. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: 10 Balloons per team, roped off area, blindfolds

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Three Stooges ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   ||  <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Game of the Month 9/02    || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Divide up into the teams of three and have the three team members stand side by side. They will tie their legs together so that the end players are attached to the middle player. Make sure you use soft cloth stripes. One of the three players will be blindfolded. One will be required to listen to music and not be able to hear. And the other player will not be allowed to speak, you can use a gag if needed. Once properly set up, all teams are to maneuver through the plotted course and back. The plotted course could be crawling under ropes, over safe items like tires, going around items and through them. The first team to return to the finish line is the winner. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Stripes of cloth, walkmans, obstacle course

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Tunnel Race ** || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Teams race against each other while lined up in relay formation. All players spread their legs in straddle position and the last player from each team crawls through the legs. The next player follows in turn until the team is back into original formation. As soon as a player has crawled through the tunnel, they are to stand up so the next player can get through his legs. The first team that completes the order is the winner. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   ||

<span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">** Whistling Dixie ** <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Players: Small to large groups   ||   || <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Set up teams and play areas. The first person on each team is to put on the garden gloves, run down the relay lane, take a package of crackers and open the package with the gloves. Then put the crackers in your mouth and start to chew them but DON’T SWALLOW YET. Before you swallow the crackers you must whistle loud enough for the judge to hear. Each person on the team repeats the relay. The first team done is the winner. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"> Required: Garden gloves and packages of crackers

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