Games

G. Evening Activities

Page 6

G. 37. Machines

A non-verbal, physical crystallization game to create atmosphere, dissolve tensions.The leader acts a kind of orchestra conductor to keep it going.

One person begins the machine with a mechanical movement and appropriate sound.
Another person attaches to him or her and adds a movement/sound. The chain begins to move along.
Members continue joining the machine, using sounds and movements as they go through space.
If there are too many people for one machine, the leader can divide the group into several machines and have them meet each other and interact.

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G. 38. Teacher

A dynamic theme game for group sizes up to 20.

The group forms a circle and the leader explains he/she is the teacher, the guru, or wise man/woman.
The Teacher/guru throws a ball, pencil or any small object to someone in the circle.
The second person becomes the Teacher and has to tell all s/he knows about Jerusalem, shoes, a wall, the sky, Shabbat, a candle, etc.
Have each person in the group assume the role of Teacher.

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G. 39. Computers

A creative and hilarious crystallization or thematic evening game.

Divide the group into subgroups of four or five participants, each of which is now a computer. Have them stand quietly in semi-circles, facing the “programmer.”
The “programmer” operates one of the computers by saying the first word of a sentence. The component parts of the same computer respond by creating the rest of the sentence, one word per person. The sentence is ended by one component saying “period,” “question mark,” etc.
The process is repeated with each of the other "computers".

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G. 40. Scavenger Hunt

The leader divides the group into small groups.
Each group makes a list of 10 items for another group to find (scavenge) around the neighborhood, or the premises.
The leader should make a copy of all these lists before arranging for groups to exchange lists. Groups have to return with what has been scavenged (30 minutes for on the premises; longer for the neighborhood).
The leader chooses one object from each group and the members have two minutes to prepare an improvisational skit around it (for each group in turn).

Variation:
Points out of 5 are awarded for each find by a panel of leaders/one person from each group (members are not allowed to vote on their own group's finds).

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G. 41. Middle Man

Have three volunteers sit together in a row, but close to the rest of the group.
The person in the middle converses continuously with the person on his right and the person on his left, who have each selected two subjects to talk on.
The "middleman" or woman has to keep the talk going and is involved in both conversations simultaneously.

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G. 42. Orchestra

Working together to the best of one's ability and accepting leadership is like making music. This game is a great outlet for energy and enhances the dynamics of working together.

Have the group sit in a circle, or in an orchestral formation. The leader chooses a conductor.
Everyone creates a sound and rhythm using voice and/or hands, feet, etc., which the conductor orchestrates.

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G. 43. Acronyms

This is a good activity for collective effort – as well as for review - in a longer programme.

The leader asks a volunteer to make up a sentence about something the group has seen, done or heard that day and tells the group the first letter of each word.
The group asks questions to which the volunteer may answer "yes" or "no". The questions may refer when, where, the number of times a letter appears in the sentence, and whether the letter stands for a noun or verb.
The group may also be divided into teams to collaborate on guesses and score should be kept.

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G. 44. Singing

How to create a singalong in a bus, or in between activities.

A good way of arousing lively singing is first to ask people to come up with songs of different countries, in different languages. Most of the foreign language songs known to people are popular folk songs that are probably known to all, or at least several people in the group.
Each person who thinks of a song is called to the front of the bus/group to sing. Those who know the song join in.
In cases where someone comes up with an unusual tune or an unknown one – well, the solo performance is either going to be good or very funny.

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G. 45. Song Charades

The leader divides the bus/group down the middle into two teams.
A slip of paper with a Hebrew or English song is passed down one side of the bus/group and the team acts out the title of the song. When twenty people act out the words, they will all progress at different rates!
The other team has to guess the song within three minutes and begin singing.

Suggestions to start off with:
Blowing in the Wind; Hineh Mah Tov uma Naim; I Want to Hold
Your Hand; If I had a Hammer; Hatishma Koli; Boi – Tni li Yad
Venelech; Hit Me Baby One More Time; Murder on the Dance Floor
etc.

More evening games can be found on:
Ben Gurion Activities Bank (#3) http://www.jafi-ed.org.il/50/act/bg/index.html
Jerusalem Activities: http://www.jafi-ed.org.il/jerusalem/

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