Copy Claps
Wonderfully engaging non-verbal opener for large groups.
At A Glance
Without saying a word, a leader initiates a series of claps – each one slightly more complex than the one before – inviting the group to copy their moves.
What You Need
- 1 minute
- A large group, the bigger the better
What To Do
Start by saying nothing. Simply get people’s attention (look at video for a good example) and initiate your first simple, single clap. Make it loud and proud. Most folks will follow suit.
Then, respond with two claps (the group copies) and then three claps. By now, the group will have caught on to what’s going on.
You whole object now is to continue to present a series of increasingly complex (yet still fun) claps and slaps until the group reaches the point of utter bemusement. End with a courteous series of claps that morph into applause.
You will now have your group’s attention, they will be smiling, and are ready to hear what you have to say.
Variations
- The sky’s the limit – introduce a variety of sounds from whistles, thigh-slaps, hoots and hollering! Just make it fun.
- See Clapping Game in Count Me In: Large Group Activities That Work (p 86) for another excellent energiser that is guaranteed to raise the energy of your group and make ‘em laugh!
Thanks Nate for sharing this little gem.
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Train Station Greetings
An hilarious, silly exercise to energise your group.
At A Glance
Two people spy each other on opposite sides of the group and approach one another in ‘slow-motion’ until they are within a metre of each other, and then suddenly they each turn away and look for a new person to start the process over again.
What You Need
- Large group, of say 30+ people
- 5 mins
What To Do
Your sequence and framing of this exercise are very important, so approach with care. If you present when the group is not ready to ‘play’ and act a little silly, it could bomb.
With your group huddled around you (or standing in a circle, doesn’t matter), suggest that you would like everyone to imagine that they are waiting on a train platform in the good old days to meet a long lost friend.
By demonstration, you see them (on the other side of the group to where you are standing) and start waving madly and moving towards them – BUT, in slow-motion. All movements, gestures and sounds are in slo-mo.
By way of a volunteer, ask someone (you have spied) to adopt a similar slo-mo approach to you. Then, suddenly when the two of you are about a metre apart, you discover to your mutual horror that this person is not who you thought it was, and quickly look away.
Eah person then randomly spies a new ‘long lost friend’ (on the other side of the group to them) and they resume the same slo-mo approach toward one another, etc, etc.
Variation
- As above, but perform all of the slo-mo greetings without sounds.
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Who! by Karl Rohnke
A name game you can play with a large group.
At A Glance
Standing in the centre of a circle of people, a person points to someone and yells “Who” inviting them to trade places, before the new person repeats the sequence.
What You Need
- 5-10 mins
What To Do
Earlier this month, I visited Boston to be a part of Project Adventure’s 40th Anniversary celebrations. What a blast, especially to mix with the likes of Karl Rohnke and many other awesome PA staff and alumni.
Karl, Nate Folan (PA staffer) and I were invited to share a few games with everyone at the welcoming session, and this was Karl’s opener! Click here to view Clap Trap, another fun activity Karl introduced.
Start by asking your group to form a circle. With you in the centre, point to someone (perhaps, who you don’t know) in the circle and yell loudly ‘Who!” This will invite this person to walk towards you, and as you meet you could shake hands and exchange greetings, perhaps even using one another’s name.
You now move into the circle where the second person was standing, inviting the latter to resume the pointing and greeting routine.
Once it appears that the group has grasped what is going on, randomly introduce a second, third, fourth, etc persons into the centre of the circle to ramp up the energy and participation.
Variation
- For groups that already have a good level of ‘name-knowingness’, try Fill Me In.
Thanks Karl 
If you know of a fun variation to this game, please add a comment here …
Taking Play Seriously
Hi folks, I was sitting in a plane on Monday heading to Boston (to celebrate Project Adventure’s 40th anniversary this weekend), and read with interest the following newspaper articles from The Age (10/10/11):
- Exercise Linked To Higher Test Scores - in short, the more your students move and play, the more they learn in ALL areas of their education.
- Let The Children Play – New National Guidelines Advise - finally, official recognition that play makes a powerful difference to the quality of kid’s learning.
And, then today, Don MacDowall passed on a note regarding next week’s forum ‘Taking Play Seriously’ which, sadly, I can’t get to but figured some of you (in VIC) would be interested. Here’s the details (click here for pdf):
Taking Play Seriously forum: encouraging debate on risk and active recreation to assist in identifying the next steps for strategy and policy. Includes international keynote speaker Tim Gill, one of the UK’s leading thinkers on childhood and advocate for change.
Wednesday 19 October 2011, 2:00pm to 4.30pm
State Library, Village Roadshow Theatrette, Entry 3, 179 La Trobe Street, Melbourne
RSVP By Wednesday 12 October to rsvp@vichealth.vic.gov.au or call 0408 147 914
Enjoy!
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Who am I?
Hi, I'm Mark Collard.
This blog shares some of the most successful group games, team-building activities & programming tips I know.
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