People to People

Name: People to People
Number of players: 15+
Age: 5+
Necessary equipment: none

How to Play

• Players starts in partners, with one person in the centre. (The facilitator may have to step in as this game requires an odd number of players.)
• The person in the centre calls out instructions such as "back to back", "elbow to knee", "head to shoulder".
• The partners must carry out the instruction by placing the two named body parts together. (Obviously there is potential here for inappropriate combinations; the maturity of the players needs to be considered!)
• After a few instructions, the player in the centre calls, "people to people!"
• All players must run around the circle to find a new partner. The player in the middle must also find a partner.
• The player who ends up without a partner stands in the centre and begins the process again.

This game is self-replicating and generally requires little input from the facilitator. It can be used as an excellent 'get to know you' game, where players must introduce themselves to their new partner before the next round can begin.

The Blanket Name Game

Name: The Blanket Name Game
Number of players: 10-20
Age: 5+
Necessary equipment: A blanket or sheet

How to play

• Ensure that the group has had a chance to learn each other's names.
• Split the group into two teams.
• Two people need to hold the blanket up so that the two teams cannot see each other.
• Each team chooses one member to come to the front of the group.
• When both teams are ready, the helpers drop the blanket.
• The first person to say the name of the person on the other team wins.
• The person who loses must then join the opposing team.
• The blanket is held up again and teams select a new player.
• Play continues until one team has no players left.

This is a great game for learning names, and can be played multiple times so that everyone gets a chance to learn others' names. For groups that already know each other's names, the game is more about the speed of response.

Paper Scissors Rock Champion

Name: Paper Scissors Rock Champion
Number of players: 20+
Age group: 5+
Necessary Equipment: none

How to Play

• Players split into pairs.
• Each pair plays one game of paper scissors rock.
• The loser of the game must then follow around the winner of the game as their 'cheerleader' ("Go Jason, go Jason, go Jason...).
• Any two winners get together and have another game of paper scissors rock.
• The loser of that game, and any of their cheerleaders, now become cheerleaders for the new winner.
• Game continues until one Paper Scissors Rock Champion is found. (At this point, all other players who started the game will be cheerleading for this single player.)

This game is great for large groups, and requires very little input from a facilitator. It is also a good "get-to-know-you" game as players are required to cheer for different people during the game.