Author: Cheree Larson

Knock Your Socks Off

This is a good game for all ages, but especially elementary school kids. You’ll want a group of at least 5 people. I use this game for class parties at the school at least once per year.

Supplies: Masking tape and socks for every player (Hopefully most of them are already wearing their own socks!) Socks that come above the ankle work the best. Ankle socks come off too quickly.

Game Instructions:

Create a large square or rectangle with masking tape on the floor. It should be large enough for your group to crawl around, chasing each other, but small enough that everyone is still fairly close together. (At school, I usually make a 12′ square.) The object of the game is to be the last person with a sock on. No one can hold onto their socks. No one can pull a sock back up if it’s partially off. Everyone has to stay on their knees or bum. If anyone is caught on their feet, they are out of the game. As soon as both socks are pulled off a person, they must leave the square. They can sit on the outside of the square and cheer. I also tell the kids that if I think anyone is playing too rough, I have the right to pull them from the game. At school, we’ll play several rounds with 6 kids in each round, then have a winners’ round to declare a champion.

 

What If…?

 

This is a good game for all ages of people who can read and write. You’ll want a group of 4-12 people.

Supplies: Pens and small pieces of paper (index card size) for everyone.

Game Instructions: Everyone in the group writes a question on their piece of paper. They put their questions in a bowl. Then everyone draws a question out of the bowl and writes an answer to that question on the back of the paper. They return all the paper to the bowl. Next, everyone takes one paper out of the bowl. The first person reads the question on their paper. They do not read the answer. The next person reads the answer on their paper. After everyone laughs, sighs, or looks confused, they read their question. This is followed by the next person reading their answer. Sometimes the questions and answers don’t make any sense, but there are always a few gems that make everyone laugh.

Tip: It’s more fun if the questions/answers involve the people in the group. It may sound something like this…

Question: “What if Anna liked Landon?”

Answer: “She would remind him to wear clean socks and underwear”. (The question was originally, “What if Conner’s mom was on this camp-out?”)

Art Critic

This is a good game for ages 7+. You’ll want a group of at least 5 people.  No art skills necessary.

Supplies: Pens and paper for everyone

Setting: Best around a table

Game Instructions: Ask your group to sit in a circle, or around a table. Hand out paper and pens to everyone. You begin this game by everyone writing a sentence at the top of their paper. It can be anything. Then everyone passes their piece of paper to the next person. The next person draws a picture that illustrates the sentence. Then they fold the sentence portion of the paper down so that only the picture is visible. They pass this on, and the next person writes a sentence based on the drawing they see. They then fold the paper concealing the picture so only the sentence is visible. They pass it on for the next person to illustrate the sentence.

The paper is passed several times until there are 4 pictures and sentences on each paper. Then everyone passes the papers around and laughs at the crazy alterations of the story and pictures.