At Friends General Conference, we love games — especially intergenerational games! If you’re looking for ways to build community and energize a group, look no further.
We reliably use these games in Junior Gathering Groups at the FGC Gathering. The work well in yearly meetings, too! You may have run into variations of these tames at youth retreat centers like Powell House or in programs such as the School of the Spirit. Called “Light and Livelies” in the Alternatives to Violence Project, they match with Quaker values of peace, play, and cooperation.
Physical, humorous activities can benefit people of all ages. Use these activities with adults as well as youth. Getting the group to move and create can help to balance sedentary activities and emotionally heavy exercises.
A few notes:
- Games are listed alphabetically, but you may know them by another title.
- Some activities may be done either sitting or standing, depending on access needs of the group.
- The activities that involve touching, such as Crocodiles and Frogs and Human Pretzel, are only introduced after a group has established support and trust within its members.
- Read the body language of the young people present, so the games go on for the right amount of time. Start to wrap up before the group loses enthusiasm. You might announce that the game will end after two more turns, or pivot into a different activity.
- Often these activities are placed just before a break. They can help a group unwind and be expressive during break time.
Closing Game: “A What?”
Cut out “Happy Faces” arid “Hearts” for everyone in the group (or any two different objects, such as a pen and a shoe). Have the group sit or stand in a circle with two facilitators opposite each other, each supplied with half of the Happy Faces and Hearts. Pass a Happy Face to the person on your right, saying, “This is a Happy Face.” Ask that person to say back to you, “A what?” You reply, “A Happy Face: pass it on.” Let them pass it on using the same dialogue. Let the group pass it to three or four people.
After people have the idea, ask that the Happy Face be returned to you. Go to your left saying, “This is a Heart.” Hopefully the person on your left will say, “A what?” and you’ll say, “A Heart; pass it on.” Explain that your co-facilitator will also be passing out “Happy Faces” and “Hearts.” Each facilitator will pass out Happy Faces and Hearts alternately. The challenge is to see if we can keep things straight. Let the passing continue until everyone is receiving both Happy Faces and Hearts at the same time. When used as a closing, end by saying: “My wish for you is that you’ll all receive and give many Happy Faces throughout your life, so that your heart and the hearts of the people you meet will not be broken.”
Partners Game: Back to Back .
Explain that this is a changing partners game. Everyone will start with a partner except you. Partners will stand either Back to Back or Face to Face. When you call out either “Back to Back” or “Face to Face” everyone has to change partners and arrange themselves according to what was called. Of course you will try to find a partner, so someone else will become the leader. Ask everyone to find a partner. Have co-facilitators be prepared to “even things up. A variation: caller can change the body parts, e.g., calling “hand to hand”, “hand to knee”, “elbow to ear.” The exercise could be called “Body Parts.”
Challenge Game: Balloon Bounce
You will need four balloons for each team of a particular color; a large triangle indicated on the floor with masking tape. Have each team arrange themselves at the comer of a triangle. Explain that the teams will have to move their four balloons to the side of the triangle opposite them, keeping the balloons in the air at all times.
Silly Game: Big Mouth
Get three volunteers in center circle. Ask a question. Each one takes a deep breath, answers the question seeing which one can keep going the longest without taking a new breath. Use semi-serious questions like “What’s the best way to raise children?” People can come up with important-sounding answers, in an atmosphere in which content is not important and fun is the object.
Mirroring Game: Big Sigh
Get into a circle, leader in the middle. Everyone follows what the leader does. Leader crouches on the floor, hands on floor, and slowly rises, giving an increasingly loud sigh as they do so, ending with arms stretched high and the sigh becomes a shout. Very good for relieving tensions.
Introductory: Big Wind Blows
There are just enough seats in the circle for everyone but you. You are the big wind, and whoever you blow on has to move; Instead of blowing, you call out, “The big wind blows on everyone who … ” and then add your own description; for example, “on everyone who wears black socks,” or “everyone who has two ears.” Everyone who fits the description must get up and change seats; in the general commotion, you try to get a seat also. Whoever is left standing there, gets to be the Big Wind next time. If the Big Wind calls “hurricane” then everyone has to change seats.
Singing Game: Bonnie
Sing the song “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.” Everyone is standing in a circle. Make sure there is elbow room between people. Arms are raised. As the song is sung, the group changes position with every word that starts with a “B.” Move from arms raised to touching toes. Stay in that position until the next word that starts with “B.” Move up and down with the song and end with arms up. Be sure to invite everyone to sing along. You might go through it slowly at first, and then repeat at a faster pace.
Active Game: Bump Tag
Get into pairs standing shoulder to shoulder, scattered around the room. Choose one pair and make one person “It” and one person the runner. ”It” chases runner to tag. If they succeed, then the runner becomes “it”). The runner may escape at any time by lining up with any pair, person on other end becomes new runner.
Active Game: Crocodile and Frogs
You will need a noise maker of some kind for the crocodile to use; an old plastic pill bottle filled with pebbles. a tin can and a stick to beat it with will do. Imagine the room as a pond. All participants are frogs except for one who is designated as the crocodile. A dozen or more sheets of newspaper or newsprint are spread randomly across the floor. These represent lily pads. The goal of the crocodile is to eat the frogs; the goal of the frogs is to escape being eaten.
- When the crocodile is making noise with a noisemaker, they are asleep and snoring, and the frogs are safe in the pond.
- When the noise stops the crocodile is awake – the frogs are still safe as long as they are standing on the lily pads.
- When the noise is being made, the frogs must move around the pond, but not step on the lily pads.
- When the noise stops the frogs must jump onto a lily pad before the crocodile gets them.
More than one frog can stand on a lily pad if they can manage it, but each frog must either have both feet on the lily pad with a little paper showing around the edge of each shoe, or one foot on the paper with the other foot raised in the air. As the crocodile makes noise, it goes around the room and removes three or four sheets of paper. When the crocodile stops making noise, all frogs not completely on the papers are caught and are out of the game. Then the process is repeated, more sheets of paper are removed, and more frogs are caught, until there is only one piece of paper left, and nearly all the frogs are caught.
Active Game: Earthquake
This game involves “houses” and “tenants.” A house is made with two people facing each other with arms held high and palms touching. Have two co-facilitators show this. A tenant is a person who goes into a house, which means, stands under the arch made by the two house-people. Ask a volunteer to do this. Ask everyone to form trios as demonstrated. This exercise works with a group which numbers one more than a multiple of three, e.g., 1 plus 18; 1 plus 21.
If you call “tenant”, all tenants must move; “houses”, all houses, staying together, must move over a new tenant. The tenants stay still. The leader can be considered a tenant. “Earthquake”, all houses break up and everyone forms new trios. Roles will probably change.
You, of course, will be looking for a spot. If you find one, the person without a spot will become the leader.
Playful Game: Elephants and Palm Trees
The person in the center of the circle points to someone and says “elephant.” That person bends over and puts hands down to make a trunk. People on either side of them put their arms up to make their elephant ears. If the person in the center says “Palm Tree,” the person pointed to holds hands straight above their head. People on either side make branches going out from the tree. After trying this a few times, the leader says “skunk.” The person pointed to turns around with a hand behind for a tail. People on either side turn away holding their noses. As the pace picks up anyone hesitating becomes the person in the center.
Singing: Father Abraham
Group in circle, leader in center sings song and makes gestures.
“Father Abraham had seven sons. Seven sons had Father Abraham.
They couldn’t laugh, they couldn’t cry, they could only shake their _____.”
(Left hand, right hand, arms, head, legs, etc.) Everyone follows the leader. Gestures escalate in vigor until everyone’s body is shaking and turning. Gestures are all repeated as you add each new one.
Fire on the Mountain
Ask the group to stand in a circle. Count off by two’s, starting with yourself. This game requires an odd number of people. Ask one co-facilitator to sit out if necessary. Ask the “2’s” to take two steps forward, continuing to face inward, to form a smaller circle within the circle of “l’s.” This circle shouldn’t be too tight.
Ask those in the inner circle to raise their arms above their heads to form a “mountain.” Explain that those in the outer circle will walk around the “mountain” until you call. “Fire on the mountain.” Then, to find protection, those in the outer circle will step inside the inner circle and stand in front of someone. That person will give protection by putting their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them. Step inside the circle yourself and ask the person you stand in front of to do this.
Since the outer circle has one more person than the inner circle, someone will not find protection. That person becomes the new leader. Those that were the “mountain” will step back a little and become the outer circle along with the new leader. They will walk around the new “mountain” until the new leader calls, “Fire on the mountain.” Continue playing in this manner.
Ha Ha
This game involves a high amount of touch. Before leading it in a group, assess your group’s comfort with touch using games that involve handshakes. For this activity, everyone lies on floor with head on next person’s stomach. First person in coil says “Ha!” Second says, “Ha Ha!” Third person says “Ha Ha Ha!” This continues until everyone is laughing.
Mingler: Howdy, Howdy, Howdy
Have everyone stand in a fairly tight circle. Be sure there’s enough room for people to walk around the outside of the circle. Ask for a volunteer to walk around the circle. That person will tap someone in the circle on the shoulder and continue walking in the same direction that s/he started. The person who was tapped starts walking in the opposite direction of the “tapper.” When they meet, they shake hands and both say, HOWDY, HOWDY, HOWDY. Then, still walking, they both try to get back to the place of the person who had been tapped. The person who gets back first rejoins the circle. The person who gets back second becomes the “tapper.” In confined space enforce “walking”-there is a tendency to begin “running’.
Teambuilding: Hula Hoops
This intergenerational game requires physical mobility and problem-solving. Using 2 hula hoops, ask everyone to form a circle and join hands. Have a teammate stand opposite you in the circle. For just a moment, break hands with the person on your right. Put a hula hoop over your arm and rejoin hands. Have your teammate do the same with the person to their left. Explain that the goal is to have the group cooperate to pass the hula hoops all the way around the circle, back to the person who started it without breaking hands. You and your teammate start, each passing the hoop over your own bodies. Since your hoop is to the right and your teammate’s is to the left, this should cause them to go in opposite directions, creating a challenge when they arrive at the same person.
Silly, Energizing: I Love You, Baby, But I Just Can’t Smile
The person who is “It” sits in a chair, looking glum. One by one, people try to make the person laugh. “It” is forbidden to laugh.” Instead, the person responds to all efforts to make them laugh with “I love you, baby, but I just can’t smile.” In saying this, they, in turn, are trying to make the other person laugh. If “It” laughs, they is out of the game and whoever made them laugh takes their place. Continue until everyone is laughing.
Creative Brain Teaser: I’m Going on a Picnic
For this intergenerational game, the group sits in a circle. First person says, “I am going on a picnic and I’m taking some…” (Say something that starts with the letter “A,” for example, “ants”). The next person says. “I’m going on a picnic and I am taking some ants and some _______. (Says something that starts with the next letter of the alphabet, like bananas). Continue around the circle; each person repeats what the person before said and adding something starting with the next letter of the alphabet. Some people may choose to take strange things on a picnic, like elephants.
Brain Teaser: Jack And Jill
This game involves singing in a rhythm while doing things with your bodies. Choose a well-known nursery rhyme, such as “Jack and Jill went up a hill / to fetch a pail of water. / Jack fell down and broke his crown, / and Jill came tumbling after.” Teach the group four hand motions, such as:
- snap fingers of left hand
- snap fingers of right hand
- clap hands
- slap thighs
Then, start the rhyme and go around the circle, with each person just saying one word in turn. Try this a few times to get the flow of it. Now the whole group does the motions while each person says their word:
JACK (snap left fingers) AND (snap right fingers) JILL (clap hands) WENT (slap thighs)
UP (snap left fingers) THE (snap right fingers) HILL (clap hands) TO (slap thighs), etc.
Jailbreak
Share this intergenerational game with a group that has a lot of physical energy and few physical limitations. Warn people as you start the game to be careful so no one is hurt.
The exercise operates on the same principle as “A Big Wind Blows,” except that the exercise is done in pairs. Set up pairs of chairs randomly around the room. Do not use chairs with arms. It is best if the chairs do not form a circle and there should be at least three feet of space between the pairs of chairs. Place one pair of chairs in the center of the room. These chairs will be designated “Jail.”
Seat the group in the chairs and remove any empty chairs from the room. Ask each pair of participants to link arms. The pairs of participants are to keep their arms linked throughout the game. Number each pair of participants including the pair that is seated in “Jail.” The pairs are to keep these numbers throughout the game no matter what seats they may end up in. Team members should stop the game if it is in danger of getting out of hand. They should also be prepared to serve as referees in cases where two pairs try to sit in the same chairs.
The pair that is in “Jail” is “it.” They may call two or more numbers and the pairs with those numbers must find new seats. The pair in “Jail” then tries to take one of their seats. If they want everyone to find new seats, they call “Jailbreak.” The new pair that ends up in’, jail” then repeats the process.
Song: John Brown’s Baby
(to the tune of ”Battle Hymn of the Republic, ” AKA ”John Brown’s Body”)
Everyone stands in a circle. The group sings the song through once through: “John Brown’s baby had a cold upon its chest (3x), and they rubbed it with camphorated oil.” Then, sing it again, substituting an action for the word “baby.” Sing it four more times, adding in an action for the word “cold,” “chest,” etc. When you do the actions, do not sing the words for those actions. A list of actions is below.
- baby – arms cradled in front, move arms side to side
- cold – make sneezing sound
- chest – hit chest with palm of hand
- rubbed – rub circles on chest
- camphorated oil – hold nose
The last time that you sing the song, it will go like this: “John Brown’s [ ] had a [ ] upon its [ ], and they [ ] it with [ ]
Line-up
This game challenges everyone to cooperate in silence – they may, however, use gestures. The group’s task is to arrange themselves in order, according to the month and day of their births. If they ask, “Where is the beginning of the line?” say that they’ll have to figure that out in silence. When movement ends, ask if they all feel comfortable with the arrangement. If not, they can continue. If they are comfortable, ask them to state the month and day of their births in order.
A variation is to ask people to line-up by height, but do so with their eyes closed and humming all the time. When movement ends, ask if they all feel comfortable with the arrangement. If not, they can continue for a while. Finally, have them open their eyes and see how they’ve done. When doing this with eyes closed, facilitators keep participants safe by redirecting them should they wander near the edge of the room or into furniture.
Listen to the Universe
Explain that in this activity, a volunteer will leave the room for a minute while the group chooses a spot in the room for the volunteer to find. The volunteer will find the spot by listening to everyone slap their thighs. If the volunteer is going near the spot or “getting hot,” everyone will slap loudly. If the volunteer is far away from the spot or “cold,” the slapping will be soft. If there are no questions, ask for a volunteer and have them step out of the room.
Ask someone to pick a spot and then have the volunteer come back into the room. After the first volunteer finds the spot, ask for another volunteer to step outside the room. Continue. This can be made more challenging by having the volunteer do something when they find the spot. For example, you might have the volunteer go to a table and pick up a book.
Machine
This intergenerationl game is great as a closing before a break. It requires that people tak a risk to be different or odd, so use it after a group has gotten to know each other a bit. One person begins with any mechanical noise and motion, repeated in machine-like fashion. Others connect themselves when they see a place in the machine where they would like to fit in.
Massage Backs
Stand up in circle. Face left. Everyone rub back of person in front. Then switch, turn around, and rub back of person on other side.
Silly Game with Movement: Molasses Tag
Play tag as usual (one “it,” tags any other person, who becomes “it”) except that everyone must use slow exaggerated motions, as if swimming through molasses.
Mrs. Mumbly
This intergeneratoinal game works well with people who have different physical abilities, as long as everyone can easily speak. Have the group sit in a circle. Explain that you have been looking for Mrs. Mumbly but you just can’t find her. Say that you are going to ask your neighbor (either to your left or right), “Have you seen Mrs. Mumbly?” Your neighbor will reply “No, but I’ll ask my neighbor.” Then that person asks their neighbor, “Have you seen Mrs. Mumbly?” and action continues around the circle. The catch is that people are not allowed to laugh or show their teeth while speaking. If they laugh or their teeth are seen, they are out of the game. The game goes on until only one person is left in it, or until the leader cuts it off.
To Move Into Groups: Name That Tune
This activity can be used to break people into groups.
Have folded slips of paper ready on which you have written names of very familiar songs such as Old McDonald, Twinkle, Twinkle, Row Your Boat, Happy Birthday, or London Bridge. You will need one song for each group to be formed. There must be as many slips of paper for each song as the number of people you want in each group. Put slips in a small container. Everyone draws a slip and reads without letting the others see. Without talking, have people stand and move around while humming their song until they find others with the same song. They will then remain standing together. As the groups quiet down, ask each small group to hum its tune for everybody.
Noisy and Fun Game: Noah’s Ark
This intergenerational game takes place on Noah’s Ark. The animals have gotten loose, in the dark, and the object of the game is for each animal to find their mate by the sound of the mate’s voice alone. Divide participants into two groups. Hand out small slips of paper with the name of an animal to each group, so that there is one each of the animals used in each group. Now, bring the groups together, standing up. They are to shut their eyes and mill around, calling for mates with the sound the animal itself would use. When they find their mates, they are to stand still and wait for others to find theirs. Confusion will become order as more and more find their mates. An illustration is below.
Chasing Game: Owl and Mouse
Use two blindfolds and two small plastic bottles filled with pebbles to use as rattles. The object is for the owl to catch the mouse, and for the mouse to elude the owl. Ask for two volunteers: one owl and one mouse. Blindfold both and give each a rattle. They are to shake the rattle so they can find (or elude) each other. The other participants are to form a protective circle around them so that they don’t hurt each other. When the owl catches the mouse, start again with two new volunteers, or make the mouse into the owl and get a new mouse.
Pass the Electrical Pulse
Stand in circle holding hands. Leader squeezes hand on one side in a simple pattern. The person receiving the squeeze then squeezes the hand of the next person in the same pattern The pattern (pulse) gets passed around the circle. Once it is well started on its way, first person sends a different pattern in the other direction. Try to make them cross, whenever they meet
Acting, Attention Game: Pass the Face
For “Pass the Face,” stand in circle. The first person turns to second person and makes whatever face they want. Second person receives that face, copies it, then turns to third person, converts to a different face. They pass on the new face to the third person. Third person receive that face, copies it, changes it, passes it on, and so on.
Acting Game: Pass the Putty
Take an imaginary lump of clay from your pocket and pretend to mold a shape. Mime making something that everyone can easily recognize. No talking. Then mash the lump to its original size and pass it on.
Variation: Mold putty into one of your troubles; get rid of it by passing to your neighbor, who then molds their own trouble and passes it on.
Memory and Attunement Game: Pattern Ball
Use 6-8 soft throwable objects, such as Koosh balls or very soft balls. Have the group stand in a circle. Say that we’ll be gently tossing a ball around the circle to form a pattern. It is important to remember the person to whom you throw the ball, and the person from whom you receive the ball. The first time the ball goes around, people will cross their arms over their chest to show that they have already received the ball. After the ball has come back to the beginning, send it through the same pattern one more time to be sure everyone has remembered the pattern. Then slowly add more balls, all following the same pattern. See how many you can get going without the group getting confused. Once the pattern is established, see if you can reverse it.
Pretzel
Two people leave the room. Other Friends hold hands and grabbing wrists to be sure the grip doesn’t rotate. They then twist themselves over, under and through each other without letting go. The two people come back in and untangle the group. Group cooperates as the untanglers direct.
A Variation: Everyone in circle puts out right hand, takes right hand of someone else. Then put out left hand and take someone’s left hand (if odd number, one person waits until second time and puts out both hands). Group then works to untangle itself. When untangled, some people will be facing opposite directions. Start a short round of “‘Tis a Gift to be simple.” When people sing the part about turning round right, then anyone facing outside turns to face the center of circle.
If group can’t disentangle after a few minutes, tell them not to worry; just try again, splitting group into two smaller circles.
Pruee
Explain that in this exercise people will mill around with their eyes closed, searching for “Pruee.” (Co-facilitators will watch for safety hazards. Recommend to people that they walk around with their hands up at chest level and palms facing out.) When everyone’s eyes are closed, you will pick Pruee from someone in the group after everyone has their eyes closed. After Pruee is picked, they may open their eyes, but they may not say anything. To find Pruee, people will go around with their eyes closed saying, “Pruee? Pruee?” (Demonstrate doing this for the group.) If they run into someone else also saying “Pruee? Pruee?” that won’t be Pruee, because Pruee can’t speak. Then demonstrate running into Pruee: If you say “Pruee? Pruee?” and you run into someone who is silent, you have found Pruee! You will join “Pruee” by holding hands. Once you are part of Pruee, you can open your eyes and be silent. (Demonstrate this part, too.) Eventually, everyone should end up in a long line of “Pruee attachments.” You can then move into a circle with your new, mixed-up lineup or transition into another game.
Red Handed (Bob The Weasel)
Ask the group to stand in a circle. You and one person across the circle will each hold a small object (a magic marker top, wad of paper) concealed in one hand. Have everyone make fists in front of them, waist high. Start passing the object to your right or left without having anyone see it. Everyone mimes passing it. A volunteer in the middle of the circle will try to “catch someone red handed” with the object. That person will take the volunteer’s place in the center and continue.
Alternative: While people are passing the object, they sing: “Bob, the weasel, keep it goin’ keep it goin’. Bob, the weasel…” and every time you sing “bob,” you bob your body by bending your knees. The people in the circle can flash the object to the rest of the group, with the goal that the person in the center of the circle cannot see them doing it. If you see the object, you call out in a singsong voice: “I saw the weasel!” and go back to singing “Bob, the weasel, keep it goin’ keep it goin’.”
Experiment: Rhythm Clap
For this intergenerational game, ask everyone to close their eyes and begin to clap in whatever way they want. This usually starts out with a jumble of claps and then comes together gradually to create a unique sound experience. End whenever people open their eyes or slow down the rhythm.
Simon Says
Ask the group to stand in a circle with space between persons. A facilitator explains that the leader stands in the center of the circle and gives commands, either “Do ___” or “Simon says, do _____.” Everyone is to do only what “Simon says.” Those who act on the leader’s command (“Do this”) are out and those who act on Simon’s command continue actions in the circle.
Sing Fling (like Hot Potato)
Use 1 or 2 koosh balls or small socks sewn in ball-like shapes. Have the group stand in a circle. Say that everyone but a “singer” will be gently tossing a ball around the circle. The “singer” will stand outside the circle with their back to the circle. They will sing or hum a song. When the song stops, the ball stops. The person holding the ball when the song stops becomes the new “singer.” The previous singer joins the circle and the game continues. A variation would be to use two balls and two “singers.” This might make people feel safer when singing. The two would work cooperatively to choose a song and a signal for stopping.
Teambuilding: Stand Up
Divide the group into pairs. Each pair sits on the floor, back to back. The pairs then link arms. Their knees are to be bent with their feet flat on the floor. Then the pairs just stand up!
Once you’ve mastered the game in pairs, then try it in groups or three or four. It becomes more difficult as the size of the group increases. With larger groups, it is important to sit in a circle close together, with shoulders and hips touching.
Game with Movement: Ten Positions
Demonstrate hands straight overhead and number it 1. Do the same with 9 other position—down to touching your toes. Then call out a number and everyone tries to get into the correct position from memory. Call the numbers fairly fast.
Brain Teaser: Territory
Move into pairs. The partners join hands and face each other without talking. Each pair is to establish an imaginary line between their two territories on the floor between them. The object of the exercise is to get the other person to come over to your territory. You will have two minutes to do the exercise. Do not break hands until the exercise is over.
Process exercise afterwards: Did any pairs decide to change places and thus meet the needs of both individuals?
Creative Game: Touch Blue
This intergenerational game involves a wide-open space for people to co-create. Use it with a group that you trust well. The game starts when the leader calls: “Touch Blue,” and everyone must touch something blue on another person. The game ends when the leader calls “Touch Blue.” In between those two prompts, other people can issue a prompt to the group. It can be anything that is respectful to the group. (Take a minute to define this clearly for today’s group.) People might say, “Stand on one foot” or “Try to yodel” or “Look west!” If people don’t like what the group is doing, they can issue a new prompt. The leader pays attention to see that the prompts are suitable for the group and intervenes if needed. Continue with activities announced by people in the group until you feel it is time to wrap up.
Alternative version: For younger children and for groups that do not know each other yet, only the leader issues prompts. They focus on colors and simple descriptions of what to do.
Tug of Peace
You will need 50 to 100 feet of heavy rope, 5/8″ or thicker. Seat your group in a circle on the floor, not quite shoulder to shoulder, facing in. Ask them people stand up, without using their hands, and without touching anyone else. Next, have people sit down again as before. Pass the rope around the circle, in their laps, and tie it in a secure knot so rope is in a complete circle and the knot cannot slip. Now, ask your group to grasp the rope in front of them and gradually pull back evenly on the rope and … stand up!
Running and Movement Game: Vegetable Cart
There are just enough seats in the circle for everyone except you. You assign people names of vegetables on a list you have made (such as beans, carrots, potatoes, peas) so that there are at least three people having the name of each vegetable. Call out one vegetable. People having that name stand up and swap seats. When you are able to sit down in one of the seats before another participant does, that participant then becomes leader and goes on calling names of vegetables. If they call “Vegetable Cart,” everyone changes seats.
Noisy Game: Wake up in the Jungle
For this intergenerational game, stand in circle. Ask each person to pick out an animal noise. They then pretend to wake up, starting from silence, making their noises softly at first and with growing crescendo until they are yelling very loudly. This can be energizing!
Acting and Teambuilding: Whatcha doin’?
In a circle, you start miming some action, e.g., combing your hair. The person to your right asks, “Whatcha doin’?” You say some action other than combing your hair. You might say, “Tying my shoes.” The person to your right then mimes “tying shoes.” The next person in the circle asks, “Whatcha doin’?” and they receive a task to mime. Continue this way around the circle. Then, go around the opposite way.
Alternative: After playing the first round, you can play again with each person naming something that Quakers do. This can be a fun parody to use with teens who know each other well. (For instance, making lentil salad… greeting people outside the worship space… driving a hybrid vehicle… etc.)
Who Are Your Neighbors?
Remove your chair from the circle. You will ask someone in the circle, “Who are your neighbors?” That person has to give the adjective name of the two people beside them. If the person is not able to do this, you’ll take that person’s seat and they will be in the middle. If the person does name the neighbors, you’ll ask, “How are your neighbors?” The response may be one of three things. If they say, “They’re all right,” everyone will move one chair to the right. If they say, “They’re all left,” everyone moves one chair to the left. If they say, “They’re all mixed up,” everyone switches seats any way they wish. You’ll try to get a seat. If you succeed, whoever doesn’t get a seat asks the questions.
Attunement Game: Who’s The Leader?
For this intergenerational game, form a circle. Ask for a volunteer to be the guesser. That person leaves the room. You’ll silently point to another in the circle to be the “leader.” The leader will start doing some motion, e.g., tapping one hand on their thigh. Everyone will follow what the leader does. Then the guesser returns. The leader will continue switching to new actions, such as rubbing their hands together, as will everyone else. (The leader should change the motion every 15 to 30 seconds.) The guesser in the center tries to discover who the leader is. When the “leader” is discovered, that person becomes the guesser and a new leader is designated.
Silly Game: Zip-Zap-Boing!
Have the group get into a fairly tight circle. Say that you’ll be passing two words around the circle, “Zip” and “Zap.” Each word has its own direction. “Zip” goes to the right; “Zap” goes to the left. Have a co-facilitator placed about five people to your right. Say, “Let’s try sending “zip” to the right” and do so. Prearrange that your co-facilitator will callout, “Boing,” when the action reaches them. At this point explain that “Boing” is used to reverse the action.
An alternative to limiting “Boings” is to introduce a fourth word, “Perfluey” or “Double Boing.” Whichever word you choose passes the action across the circle to someone you name. For instance, call “Merry Mark, Double Boingl” Merry Mark must start either “Zip” to their right or “Zap” to their left!
Last updated December 18, 2025.