This game works in three rounds, as described below.
First, have everybody write down a person, place OR thing on 2 or 3 slips of paper (a different one for each slip). These should be familiar to everybody. Put all the slips in a bowl. Then divide into 2 groups and have each group count off. #1 of the first group then begins round 1 (see below). After all the slips of paper have gone through, the next person in line starts round 2 using the same slips of paper, and round 3 starts afterwards using the same slips of paper. The students should figure out that the rounds get harder as you go, but the persons/places/things get more familiar, too – as long as the students pay careful attention! Award one point for every correct guess each round – the team with the most points wins!
Round 1 – a variation of “Taboo”.
Describe the person/place/thing using any words (no actions, gestures or pointing) except for any derivative of the person/place/thing. For example, if the slip says, “shoelace”, you can not say “shoe” or “lace”. Get your team to guess correctly, and do as many as you can in 30 seconds. No “passing”.
Round 2 – a variation of “Charades”.
Act out the person/place/thing without using words, gestures or pointing. Get your team to guess correctly, and do as many as you can in 30 seconds. No “passing”.
Round 3 – Extreme
Using only one word, have your team guess the person/place/thing on your slip. If you say, “um…”, then that’s your word. Do as many as you can in 30 seconds. No “passing”. (It’s fun to see the word associations develop)