3 Quick Circle Games

Today I will tell you about 3 quick circle games that you can use all together for a frenzied circle game lesson or split up individually and use them as warm up's or time fillers. They all have very little to no preparation and are all tested successfully in class with great results.

Quick Circle Game #1- Name Tag

Name Tag is a useful game not only for the obvious task of learning and remembering names, but it can also be utilized to learn pretty much any vocabulary you wish. It also works great as an adjective describing name game... such as "Super Sue" or "Bad Bob". The Name Tag game is also a great icebreaker for new classes.

1. Split the class into groups ( I recommend no more than 10 people per group)


2. Get the groups to stand in a circle


3. One student must start in the middle of the circle as "IT"


4. Students standing in the circle should clasp their own hands together and hold them out in front of their body pointing towards the student in the middle. Don't make the circle too big otherwise it becomes impossible.


5. One student who is standing in the circle should call out the name of another student who is standing in the circle (not the person in the middle)


6. The student in the middle must quickly try to tag the hands of the student whose name has been called.


7. The student who had their name called must quickly think of and say the name of another student standing in the circle before their hands get tagged by the student in the middle.


8. This carries on this way until someone finally gets tagged and then becomes the new "IT" in the middle.

This game is extremely fast and furious fun. My students were in fits of laughter and did not want to stop playing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5Qtw9AhltI

Quick Circle Games #2 - Name Three Things

Name three things is pretty self-explanatory and is basically a "think quick" vocabulary builder. It's very easy to set up and makes the students think.

1. Organise the students into circle groups, again I recommend no more than 10 people.


2. You will need one object per group (preferably something like a soft toy, so no one gets hurt).


3. One student sits in the middle of the circle (with their eyes closed) whilst the other students pass the object around the circle.


4. The student in the middle can sing, talk or stay silent but eventually must call out STOP.


5. When this happens the person holding the object must say a letter of the alphabet and immediately start passing the object around the circle again.


6. The student in the middle must name three things beginning with the letter the student stated...BEFORE the object gets back to the first student who said the letter.


7. If the student in the middle can't think of three things before the object gets back to the start, then they must stay in the middle and try again.


8. However, if the student in the middle is successful, the student who called the letter must now become "IT" and move to the middle to try their luck.

You can omit the really difficult letters if you like, but you'd be surprised, apart from maybe "X", it's not really that difficult. The pressure of the time limit with the object being passed around the circle, can make it harder than it really is.

Obviously this game also adapts well to setting specific vocabulary...for example, only nouns or adjectives.

You can also change it so the student doesn't say a letter, but says a category instead...for example, animals or sports.

Quick Circle Games #3 - Whoosh Ball

I have to admit, I was sceptical about whether this game was going to work in my class. I was thinking...maybe the kids will feel too stupid or think it's too young...but, I was glad I went ahead and tried it, because it really rocked. The vocabulary is a little, shall we say...alternative, but students seem to like things a little out of the norm' when it comes to learning new vocabulary. Don't be fooled by the name, no ball is actually needed for this game...well no physical ball is needed anyway...just an imaginary one, which helps to make this one of the most enjoyable circle games you can play in class.

Before you start this activity you will need to run through the vocabulary and if possible show them the following video to demonstrate. Ok, so here's the vocabulary.

Whoosh - this is the word the students must say to pass the imaginary whoosh ball around the circle to the people next to them. Students must pretend to pass the ball as they say this word.

Whoa - You can explain that this is the word we use when we are riding a horse and want it to stop. When a student is passed the whoosh ball but they don't want it they can say the word "Whoa" and this directs the whoosh ball back to the person it came from. They must also hold their hand like a stop sign whilst saying whoa. A person can be "double whoaed" which is when the person to the left of them whoas them and then the person to the right of them also whoas them. If this happens it's a great time to use the next word which is "Zap".

Zap - If you are in possession of the whoosh ball, you can choose to say "Zap". Whoosh passes the ball to the person on either side of you, but "Zap" (which must be said whilst holding your hands together like a laser gun and pointing to a person who is not next to you, but somewhere else in the circle) can alter the general movement of the ball and catch people unawares.

Boing - At anytime of the game, if you are in possession of the whoosh ball you can choose to use the word "Boing". Yes, that is boing... like the sound of a frog jumping. If a student says boing, he and everyone one else in the circle must jump up and down like a frog 3 times whilst saying "boing, boing, boing... Then they must whoosh the ball back into play.

Freak Out - If a person has the whoosh ball, they can call "Freak out". If this happens everyone must do a little screaming and yelling, wave their arms around a bit and run around into new and different positions in the circle...in other words, change places...excitedly!

Super Freak Out - Similar to freak out but also calls for the person who says super freak out to state some kind of action. For example, the person in possession of the whoosh ball may say "Super freak out like a chicken", and everyone must change places in the circle whilst doing their best chicken impersonations.

Note: "Boings, Freak Outs and Super Freak Outs" apparently are not supposed to be called by a person whilst they are caught in a double whoa, but this is the one rule that can be a little difficult to explain. I personally don't think it really matters too much.

It sounds super confusing doesn't it? but don't worry, it's actually easy and becomes even easier if you can explain and then show this great video from "Ultimate Camp Resources" of the game being played. The students catch on quick and really have a blast with this particular activity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fwTFC-oQFo4

I'm sure you and your students will enjoy these quick circle games, and they will soon become favourite "go to" lessons to help you if you are stranded for low preparation ideas.

Brianfit via Compfight cc">Photo of "kids in a circle".

Thomas Leth-Olsen via Compfight cc">Photo of "Hose Circle".