Fishbowl

Teammates must guess a name based on description, action, or single word.

Materials
Paper, pens, one bucket, timer.

HowTo Play
At the beginning, each player writes down 3 names that everyone would know on a small piece of paper, then folds those papers in half and puts them in a bucket. Two even teams are then formed. Teams should sit next to teammates forming a semi-circle (and a complete circle with both teams). One team begins and the first person draws a name from the bucket and tries to get teammates to guess what it is (details described later). If guessed correctly, the person takes the paper out of the bucket and passes the bucket to the next person. The more correct guesses means the more points a team gets. After one minute, the other team gets to do the same. Following that, it goes back to the first team and the two teams alternate until all of the papers are gone from the bucket. These small sessions are a part of a larger round. A round is defined as the time from a full bucket to an empty bucket. There are three total rounds and each round has unique rules for guessing what's on the paper. Round 1: Player may say everything but the name on the piece of paper. Round 2: Player may act out anything but may not say a word. Round 3: Player may only say one word. Nothing more. No actions allowed. At the end of round 3, whichever team has won more names throughout all 3 rounds is the game winner.

Count the Fingers

Materials
None

HowTo Play
Players find a partner and face each other. Each player puts their hands behind their back. On the count of three both players put their hands in front of them with a number of fingers up. The first one to say the total number of fingers up (their own hand plus their partner's) wins. This game works well with a large group of people if the facilitator says once you have lost, sit down, and winners, continue finding other people standing up until there is one winner remaining.

Circle Dodgeball
Players stand in a circle and throw one ball to eliminate other players. Materials
Ball (preferably large and soft)

HowTo Play
Players stand in a circle. One player starts with the ball and throws it at another player. Player must catch it and throw it at another. If the ball touches a player and they do not catch it, that player is eliminated. If a player throws it and it does not hit a player, the thrower is eliminated. Players must throw the ball with two hands and may not raise it above their head to throw. Players may not move their feet (other than to make the circle smaller when a player is eliminated). Players may not throw the ball at the person directly beside them (unless there are 4 players or fewer remaining).

Human Etch-a-Sketch
Teams compete against each other by forming shapes out of their body. Materials
None

HowTo Play
A number of teams are first formed (at least 5 members per team). One neutral judge then calls out some object (i.e. sailboat, state of Michigan, etc) that all the teams need to form with their bodies.

Team members must lay down and together with the help of their team, form the object together which the judge has called out. The judge decides which team is first in the formation of the object. The judge declares that team to be the winner for that round.

Musical Paper Plates

HowTo Play
Spread paper plates out around the room. Have the players for a big circle around them and begin walking in a circle. When the music stops, players must run and sit on a paper plate. Have one less plate than players. Whichever player fails to sit on a paper plate is eliminated. Take a paper plate out and restart the next round. Play until there is only one player left.

Newspaper Game
Students must find answers in the newspaper Materials
Each team gets 1 newspaper, 1 pen, and a few pieces of paper.

HowTo Play
Before the group the leader goes through the newspaper and makes up questions that can be answered by reading the newspaper. (Example: what is the projected low temperature in New York today?) As play begins the teams (~10 people) spread the pages of the newspapers amongst themselves. The leader then asks a question and the each student searches through the page or pages of the newspaper that he or she has. When the answer is found they write the answer down and the first team to put the correct answer in the leaders hand wins a point. Tip: Make one question from each page of the newspaper.

Object Toss Name Game

Compete against the clock in tossing an object and saying players' names. Materials
Throwable Object (such as ball or shoe)

HowTo Play
Players form a circle. The first round, the facilitator gives one player the object and tells them to throw it to a player at another point in the circle and, while they throw it, say that players' name (tell them it's okay to ask what other peoples' names are). That player then throws it to someone else, saying their name. This process continues until everyone has had it thrown to them, at which time it comes back to the original thrower. After this first round, players are challenged to go as fast as they can. The facilitator, or some other designated player, times the players to see how long it takes them to complete the circuit. Upon finishing, the facilitator challenges them to be able to do it in X amount of time. (usually a few seconds short or what they completed it in). The facilitator can ask the group if they have any ideas for how to make it go faster.

Reverse Scavenger Hunt

HowTo Play
Split into teams with 6-8 on a team. Each team stands in a corner of a room. Facilitator stands in the center. The facilitator calls out an item. Whatever team gets that item to the facilitator first gets a point. Examples of items are: - 3 watches - 4 cell phones - a shirt with another language on it - 3 shoelaces (not in the shoes) - drivers license - belly button lint

Whatever team has the most points at the end wins. (Tip: It can be helpful to say that teams must elect a "runner" who is the only one who can run forward to the facilitator with the item. The team must work together to get the runner whatever item is called out.)

River Bank
An elimination game in which players need to quickly respond to commands. Materials
None

HowTo Play
Some divider is chosen by the leader. This can be a string on the ground, the change between sidewalk and grass, or the imaginary line that is drawn between two chairs set up. The leader explains that one side of the line is the "river" and the other side of the line is the "bank". It is essential to be at the right spot at the right time (can make up story about scorpions on the bank at some times and piranhas in the river at others). Players then line up, shoulder-to-shoulder, on the bank. The facilitator then shouts out one of two commands - "river" or "bank". If they facilitator calls "river", players must jump forward across the boundary line into the "river". If the facilitator calls "bank", players must jump back to the "bank". The facilitator can call bank or river multiple times in a row. If a player jumps when they are not suppose to (or fails to jump in an adequate amount of time), they are eliminated from the game. (it can be helpful for the leader to have them come help judge who should be out so as to keep them engaged.)

Shapes
Taped shapes on the ground students need to gather in when music stops Materials
Masking Tape, Music

HowTo Play

Have large taped shapes on ground (triangle, square, etc). Have students walk around from shape to shape while music is playing. While students are walking, stop the music. Students need to quickly get inside a shape. The last few students to make it in a shape are eliminated. Continue playing until only a few/one student(s) remain. To make it more competitive, remove shapes between rounds so students have fewer options.

Summertime
Word game with letters S-U-M-M-E-R-T-I-M-E on hands to make words. Materials
Marker

HowTo Play
Five people are selected from a crowd. The facilitator writes one letter on each hand (totaling 10 hands) spelling the word SUMMERTIME. Students then are given 2 minutes to form as many words as possible. Students must put their hands in the correct order for the audience to see in order for the point to be given. For a competitive edge, have two teams compete at the same time.