Fun Non-Contact Mixers and Games

All players stand in a circle; you are in the center. Explain that the players must learn how to work together to make animals. The first is a rabbit you point to a person and say “rabbit.” That person must hop up and down like a rabbit. The people on either each side must use their arm closest to the person to make one ear for him by holding their arm up, elbow pointed towards the persons head. They must do this before you count to 10 (count fast). If they do, you point to another person. If one person does not do their part before you count to 10, they are in the center and you take their place in the circle. Once they are used to doing the rabbit add:

Elephant

1. Right person-make ear by using both arms.

2. Middle person-make trunk by having arm waving around.

3. Left person- make ear same as right person

Coo-Coo Clock

1. Right person-spin around in place

2. Middle person-blinks eyes, sticks tongue in and out and says “coo-coo, coo-coo”

3. Left person-same as right person

Get the group to stand around in a big circle, all facing inwards. Choose a leader (who knows how to play) to start the game by demonstrating their animal noise. For example, they might do an elephant, making a trumpet noise while waving their arm like a trunk. Then continue going around the circle, getting each player to chose a unique animal noise (and action). When everyone has had their turn then get someone to start.

Form a double circle, the outside circle facing in and the inside circle facing out. The outside circle stays in place while the inside circle moves to the left. The leader tells the inside circle when to move and when to stop. On the word STOP the leader calls out the “handshake” to the players and they introduce themselves and “shake” hands.

· Dead Fish: Flop your hand around like a dead fish

· Lumberjack: grasp your right thumb in your left fist and pull back and forth in a sawing motion

· Wisconsin: interlace your fingers leaving thumbs free and shake up and down in a milking motion.

· Henry Ford: vigorous cranking motion with hands.

· Air Five: Air High Five and Air Low Five

Two people face each other, each person with their hands behind their back. At a signal, they bring their hands to the front and count the number of fingers showing on their own hands plus their opponent’s hands. The first one to yell out the correct number wins (highest possible 20). Go for the best two out of three or do a single elimination tournament. To lower difficulty for younger groups use only one hand per person (highest possible 10).

Play music, stop the music. When the music stops, everyone has to freeze. If you see someone moving they are out. Make sure people get into dancing, if they don’t dance enough they are eliminated anyway. Last one standing wins.

Simon Says is played with three or more people. One person is nominated to be “Simon.” They must stand at the front, facing the group, and begin to give instructions for simple tasks. Some examples are: “touch your nose”, “turn around”, “wave your hand”. Before each valid instruction, “Simon” must say the phrase “Simon says…”. If this phrase is used the players must carry out the action. If Simon does not say “Simon says...” this means that the players are not required to follow the instruction. If Simon gives out invalid instruction and one of the players still does the action the player is eliminated until there is only one remaining, the winner.

Tell your players that you'll be asking them some questions and rather than answering 'Yes' or 'No', they should either sit down for No or stand up for Yes. Example questions:

1. Do you like cats?

2. Can you fly?

3. Do you go to school?

4. Are you 50 years old?

5. Do you have a sister?

6. Are you the oldest child in your family?

7. Did you eat breakfast this morning?

8. Do you like pizza?

9. Do you have pets?

10. Do you like ice cream?

11. Do you play a sport?

12. Do you have an A in your first name?

One person starts a stretch and then it goes around the circle. Then the next person starts a stretch to be passed around the circle.

This is an activity that helps youth identify similarities with other members. Ask the groups to stand on one side of a line or the other based on their choices. Some examples below:

1. Be a famous athlete OR a famous musician

2. Have the power to fly OR the power to disappear

3. Have no hair OR no toes

4. Eat a handful of dirt OR a handful of dryer lint

5. Wake up early OR sleep in late

6. Be rich OR be famous

7. Drink Coke OR Pepsi

8. Watch TV OR read a book

9. Be President of the United States OR the richest person in the world

10. Live in the city OR the country

This is a game played by everyone while they are seated in a circle. One in the middle approaches one seated and says either “Zip” or “Zap.” If the one in the center says “Zip” then the one they address must name the person to their right (first name) before the one in the middle quickly counts to 10 out loud. “Zap” is the same except they must name the person on the left. If they can’t name the person, or if they are too slow in naming the person, they switch with the one in the middle.