Objective: To learn each other’s names and get comfortable with movement. Great if you have new members of the class or it’s a class a you’re unfamiliar with. 

How to Play: 

1. Have the group stand in a circle.
2. One person starts by saying their name and adding a simple gesture (e.g., a wave, a spin, or a jump).
3. The group then repeats the name and the gesture together. 
4. Move clockwise around the circle until everyone has introduced themselves with a name and gesture. 
5. For an extra challenge, go around the circle again, with each person saying the name and doing the gesture of the person who went before them. 

Why It Works: This game helps break the ice by combining verbal and physical introductions, making it easier to remember names. 

Objective: To promote cooperation and creative thinking. 

How to Play: 

1. Call out a number. The children get themselves into groups of this size.  
2. Call out a word that represents something the group can form together (e.g., a tree, a car, a house, a dragon). 
3. Count down from 10.  The children work together, using only their bodies, to create that shape or object. For example, to make a tree, some children might become the trunk while others become branches and leaves. Encourage them to communicate silently and cooperate to build the shape as a team. 
4. Once they’ve created the shape, give them a moment to admire their work before calling out the next word. 

Why It Works: This game fosters collaboration, creative problem-solving, and encourages children to think about how their individual roles contribute to a group effort. It’s also really fun! 

Objective: To build focus, quick thinking, and group cohesion. 

How to Play: 

1. Have the group stand in a circle. Explain that the game is all about passing energy around the circle using three different commands: “Zip,” “Zap,” and “Boing.” 
2. “Zip”: A player starts by clapping their hands together, pointing to someone next to them, and saying “Zip.” This passes the energy in the direction they are pointing (either left or right). 
3. “Zap”: Instead of passing the energy around the circle, a player can choose to send the energy across the circle by saying “Zap” while pointing to someone directly across from them.
4. “Boing”: When a player receives a “Zip” they can send it back to sender using “Boing”. This changes the direction of the “Zip”
5. The goal is to keep the energy moving smoothly around the circle, with everyone staying alert and reacting quickly. 
6. If someone makes a mistake (e.g. saying the wrong command, hesitating too long, or pointing in the wrong direction), they step out of the circle, and the game continues until only one player remains. 
7. Once the group gets the hang of it, you can increase the speed of the game to make it more challenging. 

Why It Works: “Zip, Zap, Bong” is a fast-paced game that encourages quick thinking, active listening, and group coordination. It helps children improve their focus and reaction time while fostering a sense of camaraderie within the group. 

Objective: To build quick thinking, awareness, and group interaction in a fun, playful setting.

How to Play:

1. Have the group stand in a circle.Explain that one person will start as the “Zombie.” In this case, Charlotte is the first Zombie. Her goal is to “infect” others by walking slowly toward them.
2. Charlotte begins by making eye contact with Ethan, standing across the circle. Ethan acknowledges this by nodding his head.
3. Once Ethan nods, Charlotte begins to walk slowly toward him, arms raised, making a classic zombie noise (“errrrgghhhh”).
4. Before Charlotte reaches him, Ethan must quickly make eye contact with someone else across the circle, in this case, Sophie. He nods at Sophie, and becomes the next Zombie. Ethan walks towards Sophie, arms up and making the zombie noise.
5. The challenge for Ethan is to pass the “Zombie infection” to Sophie by making eye contact with her before Charlotte can reach him. If Charlotte reaches Ethan first, he is “out” and must sit down on the floor.
6. The game becomes faster and more intense as more players become Zombies, with the remaining children needing to act quickly to avoid being “infected.”
7. The game ends when only one person is left standing and not infected, making them the winner.

Why It Works: “Zombies” is an exciting and energetic game that encourages quick thinking, spatial awareness, and fast reactions. Children love the playful tension of avoiding the Zombie, while also embracing the fun of becoming a Zombie themselves.

Objective: To encourage storytelling, active listening, and group bonding. 

How to Play: 

1. Have the group sit in a circle. Start by explaining that they are going to create a “summer adventure story” together, using their own holiday experiences as inspiration. 
2. One child begins by sharing a brief story or memorable moment from their summer holiday (e.g., “I went to the beach and built a giant sandcastle”). 
3. After sharing their story, they pass an imaginary “story baton” to the next person. The next child continues by either expanding on the previous story (e.g., “And then a big wave came and washed the sandcastle away”) or by adding their own holiday memory, blending it into the ongoing narrative. 
4. Each child gets a turn to contribute, and the story evolves as it moves around the circle, combining everyone’s summer experiences into one big, collaborative adventure. 
5. Encourage creativity and allow the story to take unexpected twists and turns, blending reality with imagination. 
6. Once everyone has had a turn, finish the game by summarising the entire story, highlighting the fun and unique way the group has combined their experiences. 

Why It Works: This game allows children to share personal stories in a supportive group setting, encouraging them to listen to each other and build on each other’s ideas. It creates a sense of connection and helps them learn more about their peers’ summer experiences.