Pretty self-explanatory! These games are for groups that are just meeting each other and need to learn each other's names. They are generally fun or silly games that are often used in the beginning of workshops......why you ask? So a community can be built and communication is better during later activities if people know each other's names!
Time: 5-10 minutes
Number of participants: 8-15 works ideally, larger groups should be split up into groups of 8-15 or it is difficult and takes a long time.
How to play: Have everyone stand in a circle.
The first person thinks of an adjective that starts with the same letter as the first letter of their first name and says it aloud. For example, Jumping Jordan.
The next person to the left or right, you decide, says an adjective and their name, then the adjective and the name of the person before them. For example, Rockin’ Riley, Jumping Jordan.
This process repeats around the circle with each person saying their name and an adjective and everyone’s name and adjective that preceded them.
The last person in the circle ends up saying everyone’s adjective and name that preceded them. For example, Pretty Peyton, Movin’ Morgan, Singing Sage, Rockin’ Riley, and Jumping Jordan.
Modifications:
You can use nouns (favorite animals or foods) or short phrases (ie Blast off Brad)
If you are short on time, you do not have to repeat the people's names in front of you, and you just share your own
You can use a theme for adjectives that fits the group, ie if you do a workshop with a business organization... Money Michael, Taxing Tommy, Accountant Abby
Time: 5-10 minutes
Participants: The larger the group the better!
How to play:
Participants should start by finding a partner.
Each person is asked to think of one object that is important to them.
Then, the person shares three adjectives to describe this object without saying the object. After each person has shared the three adjectives, they walk around the room and find another partner to introduce themselves to.
Example: Bob’s object: Basketball Adjectives: Round, Orange, Bouncy. Bob would then say, “Hi, I am Bob and I am round, orange, and bouncy.”
Time: 5-10 minutes
Number of Participants: 8-30
How to play: Have everyone stand in a circle and do the wave normally, except whenever you raise your hands, you say your name. They continue to do this, imitating the pattern used at the football games. First a normal one, then fast, then slow, then reverse, and then split.
Time: 5-10 minutes
Number of Participants: Any (just make sure you have enough cards!)
Props:
At least one set of Chiji cards (may need 2 depending on group size)
How to play: Give each participant a Chiji Card or lay the cards out and have them pick a card.
Have them look at the picture and think of somehow that it relates to themselves or their life.
Each participant will introduce themselves to a partner and then share their card.
Once each partner has a turn, they swap cards and move to the next person. This is run very similar to question swap.
Variation:
Use this activity as a debriefing tool where the participants pick a card and share it in small groups on how the workshop went or something that they will take away
Time: 10 minutes
Number of Participants:
Requires enough open space to move around, large enough for participants to arrange in a single file line.
How to play: Explain the game.
One person will be designated as Nemo and the rest of the group needs to figure out who is Nemo.
Once a person finds Nemo, they will put their hands on Nemo’s shoulders and stand behind them.
Once Nemo is found, everyone wants to get in line behind Nemo.
The person last in line loses. (Or, gets to pick the next Nemo, or get a standing ovation…whatever makes sense.)
How do you find Nemo?
Once Nemo is chosen, everyone walks around and introduces themselves to one another—say their name, shake the person’s hand, and ask “Are you Nemo?”
The other person will answer yes or no. If no, they will ask the other person if they are Nemo.
The person designated as Nemo should introduce themselves regularly (real name) for 3-4 partners and then state they are Nemo.
If either one says yes, they will get in line behind Nemo.
How to determine who Nemo is:
Have everyone close their eyes. Ask for people to raise their hand if they are comfortable being Nemo.
The facilitator will walk around and tap one person on the shoulder.
Once this is done, everyone can open their eyes, and the game can begin.
Second round: Add in the shark, Bruce. The purpose of Bruce is to just add some mystery into the game.
You play the game as described, but you will select a Bruce in addition to a Dory/Nemo.
Bruce does not identify themselves to another partner nor does the group seek them out. Bruce’s role only comes into play at the end of the game.
Once everyone is lined up behind Dory/Nemo, Bruce is revealed and anyone behind Bruce loses.
No Touch Modification:
Hover hands over shoulders
Time: 10-15 minutes
Number of Participants: 15+ participants (or enough to fill out the bingo card)
Props:
Bingo Cards/paper
Pen/Pencils/Markers
How to play: Everyone gets a bingo card and a pen/pencil.
Read 20 statements to participants and have them write each of the statements in a BINGO board formation (5x5)
Participants must find people in the group that match the description on the spaces on the card and have the other person sign their name
Participants must have a different name for each square.
You can have them “win” or be done once they have a row completed or they have to fill all of the spaces on the sheet.
Feel free to develop your own Bingo card!
Feel free to share some unique fun facts or something people learned about another person.
Suggested Time: 10-15 minutes
Number of Participants: Any
Props:
Icebreaker wheelies deck
How to play:
Give each participant one icebreaker wheelie and put them into pairs.
Participants will introduce themselves to their partner and ask the question on their icebreaker wheelie.
After both participants have asked their question they will switch cards and find a new partner.
Time: 5-10 minutes
Number of Participants: Any
How to play:
Participant starts out by introducing each other to a fellow player (partners).
The participant goes to introduces themselves to another player, however this time using the name (Identity) of the person they last met.
Players continue introducing themselves, switching identities each time.
Variations: Instead of just names add majors, hobbies, hometowns, siblings, etc.
Debriefing ideas: Talk about immersing themselves in a group of people they are not familiar with and sharing details about their lives. Were they comfortable? Was it easy to remember other people’s information? Do they have a better feel of their group?
Time: 10-15 minutes
Number of Participants: 10-20
How to play: Organize everyone in a circle.
Tell them that, one at a time, each person will say their first name only very LOUDLY (for all to hear). Go around the circle until you have heard everyone’s name. If they aren’t loud enough, tell them to REPEAT in a loud voice. Knowing this will hopefully get those who are quiet to do it loudly the first time so they don’t have to repeat.
After all of the names have been said, announce the challenge. They must rearrange themselves in alphabetical order by first name without talking, signing or gesturing (visually indicating letters), no showing id cards, etc. Helpful pointing and re-positioning is allowed, but the challenge is for individuals to place themselves in the circle in the appropriate place.
Once the group has moved and the circle is re-formed, that ends Round One. Take a test—have everyone say their names again and see if they are in order.
If they are out of sequence, allow people to move a second time—still under the constraints of no talking, etc. Take another test. So ends Round Two.
The challenge is to form an alphabetical circle in the fewest number of rounds; i.e. having spoken the names the fewest number of times.
Adaptations:
If the group knows each other, you can use middle names (for people who do not have a middle name they can use their last name)
Time: 10-15 minutes
Number of Participants: 10-20
Props:
Poly-spots or place markers (2)
How to play:
Set up your spots so they are next to each other.
Divide the group into 2 smaller groups. Have them form two circles facing inwards where one member of each group is standing on a spot with his/her back to the back of a member from the other group.
Both groups must look at the ground and move clockwise. They need to be looking at the ground so they can’t see who their potential challenger is.
When you yell “Stop,” the person closest to the spot steps on it.
On the count of three, the people on the spots turn around to face one another.
The first one to say the other person’s name—correctly—wins and the person joins his/her team.
See "Tarp Drop" for a similar game
Time: 15 minutes
Number of Participants: Ideally 15, but 10-20 per group will work
Props:
Throwies (2 per group)
Hula Hoops (if you want the added challenge
How to play: Start with passing a throwie around the circle in one direction, when someone has it, they say their name. This is a practice round just to get everyone familiar with some names.
Once it has gone around the circle once, one person who starts with the throwie can throw it to whomever they want.
Before they throw it, they say the person's name they are throwing it to.
Repeat this pattern over and over, trying to bring the time down to the fastest possible.
Add another throwie in. This time the throwie reverses direction of the circle (whoever threw it to you, you throw it to them).
Have the two throwies going at once!
Variations:
If you have 2 groups similiar in size they can "race"
To make this more challenging, if a throwie is dropped, that throwie has to start from the beginning again (important in a race)
A Hula Hoop can be added to increase difficulty.
Start with the Hula Hoop with one person
The Hula Hoop is passed such that the person goes through the Hula Hoop with their body (either from their head to their feet, or their feet over their head) Adaptation: they can spin in a circle with the Hula Hoop over their head before passing
The person passes the hoop to the next person, stating their name.
The next person goes through the Hula Hoop in the opposite direction (ie the hoop went from the 1st person's feet to their head, the next person must go through it from their head to their feet, etc).
This repeats until the hoop has travelled through everyone.
Combining this with "Name Adjectives" makes a fun activity as well!
Time: 10-15 minutes
Number of Participants: 10-20 (small enough so the group will be able to memorize)
This activity is a lot like "Name Adjective" but this time there is actions instead of adjectives.
How to play: Each person chooses an action-word to go with their name (e.g., "Swimming Sam")
Then they show the action to the group which repeats it.
The next person in order says their name, does and action, and repeats the name and action of the person who came before them.
Continue going around the circle until everyone has gone.
Time: 20 minutes
Participants: At least enough to split into multiple groups of 4-7
How to play: Divide participants into smaller groups (ideal number in group is 4-7).
Each group is responsible for coming up with a skit that incorporates each of the participant’s names in the group.
If you brought props, the groups can use any props they feel fit. Otherwise feel free to let the group imagine the props or things they have to act with.
After each group has crafted their skit, have the smaller groups present to the rest of the larger group.
Debriefing ideas: Was it difficult to work with people that you do not yet know well? What did you do to get on the same page and work towards a common goal?
Time: 15 minutes
Number of Participants: At least 10
Props:
Chalkboard/ Larger poster paper
Markers/Pens/Pencils
How to play: Someone (the person with the longest name works the best) goes up to the board and prints his/her name.
Another person goes up and uses one of the letters in the other person's name to inset their name.
This goes on until everyone in the group has their name on the board like a big scrabble game.
If a name cannot fit, the group must work together to move names until they all fit.
Time: 10-15 minutes
How to play:
Tell the group to find a partner and introduce 3 things about them (example: name, hometown, and major).
They will then find another partner and introduce themselves again, but also point to their previous partner and introduce their information.
This continues until each person is introducing 6-8 people each.
After that, circle everyone up, and go around the circle stating each person’s info as a group. Or, ask for a volunteer or two who remember the most people they spoke to and have them share the information they learned.
Time: 5-10 minutes
Number of Participants: 3-8 (Small Groups)
How to play:
Participants sit down in a circle.
Ask each participant to share a story about their name (could be first name, middle name, last name, or a nickname).
The stories can be about the name’s origin, history, significance in their family, meaning in another language, etc…
This can be a good activity to do at the beginning of a workshop for participants to learn how to pronounce other participants’ names or learn preferred names/nicknames.
Debriefing Ideas (Optional):
Our names hold our personal identity, our family history, and culture. They can also give us a sense of belonging. Preferred nicknames or new names chosen by an individual represent choice, control, and ownership. They can strengthen a sense of self. Honoring this sense of identity and choice promotes dignity, respect, and positive group culture.
Variations:
If you have extra time, ask the group to share another story about a time they helped choose someone else’s name! For example, their younger sibling/family member, their pet, or even just a time they named a childhood toy.
Time: 10-15 minutes
Number of Partcipants: 15-20 people, shoot for groups of 7-10 people per "team"
Props:
Tarp (will need more than one if you are playing more than one game)
Number of participants: Around 15-20 people works the best, split into two games if larger, shoot for groups of 7-10 people per "team".
How to play: The group is divided into two sides.
The tarp is held between them.
Each team chooses someone to go up front.
When the sheet is dropped, the two front people have to try to say the opposing team members’ name first to win.
Everyone takes a turn.
Variations:
You can choose whether the person that lost the match-up joins the other team or not.
In this case the team that gets all (most, since it's easy when they get down to only a couple people on one of the teams) players on their team wins the game.
You can also add in Name Adjective to this game if only a few people know each others names (ie mix of returning and new individuals in a group)
You can also have multiple people go up at once and work as a team to win.
Number of Participants: 10-20 (small enough to have a circle in which the person in the middle can reach everyone)
Props:
Pool noodle works the best, otherwise a soft throwie (BE CAREFUL) (CHECK FOR NOODLES)
How to play: Everyone sits in a circle with their feet out in front.
Have one person volunteer to be in the middle.
One person on the outside volunteers to say another person's name to start the game.
When that person said another person's name (i.e. Johnny), Johnny must say another person's name before the person in the middle hits Johnny's feet with the noodle. (i.e. Mary)
Mary must now say another person's name before the person in the middle hits Mary's feet.
This continues until the person in the middle hits someone’s feet before they say someone else’s name. Once someone gets hit, they are in the middle.
This can go for multiple rounds until the game is too hard for the tagging person
Participants: at least 6
How to play: All participants stand in a circle with one volunteer in the middle.
The person in the middle points to someone in the outside circle and says one of the following: “you,” “me,” “left,” or “right” followed by the words “bibbity bibbity bop.”
If the person in the middle says “you (or me),” the person who they pointed to has to say their own name (or the person in the middle's name) before the middle person finishes the phrase “bibbity bibbity bop.”
If the person in the middle points to someone and says “left (or right),” the person pointed at must say the name of the person to their left (or right) before the phrase “bibbity bibbity bop” is completed.
Variations:
Rather than using “bibbity bibbity bop,” the facilitator could elect to have the person in the middle give the command (you, me, left, or right) and attempt to say the name of the person before the person who is pointed to does.
The facilitator could also include any variety of information into each command; for example, the participants would need to say the first name and major of the person who the command is directed towards.
Debriefing ideas: Besides the amount of information that participants need to remember in order to be involved in this game, what else was difficult about it? How could this game be altered in order to cater to different groups? What was useful about this game?
Participants: Works well with groups of between 10-20.
How to play: Everyone stands in a circle except a volunteer who is in the middle.
That person points to someone in the outer circle and says “zip” “zap” or “zoop”.
“Zip” means that the person has to say the name of the person to their right.
"Zap" means that the person has to say the name of the person to their left.
“Zoop” means that the person who is pointed to has to say the name of the person in the middle.
If someone is unable to say the appropriate name, they go to the middle.
Variations: see “You, Me, Left, Right”
Considerations: This game is best played after another name game. It is not successful if the participants don’t know names well.
Participants: Works well with groups that are around 15 people in size. Can have 2 games at once.
How to play: The group forms a circle standing up with a volunteer in the middle.
The volunteer will point at someone who will duck down.
The two participants standing on either side of them will then have a ‘name off,’ where whoever says the others name fastest WINS.
If you fail to say a name or say the name last, then you are out. [If you say the wrong name you are not out, it is whoever says the correct name first who wins].
At this point, whoever is out becomes the volunteer in the middle. The game will continue.
Variations:
Allow people about a minute to learn people’s name around them.
If you have a “draw” and neither says a name [or the right name] make sure they introduce themselves to each other so everyone can learn their names.