Q/A from a Reader - Common Ground and Candy!

Question: I’m planning a luncheon and we need a fun game idea for table groups. There will be 60 people - 10 tables with 6 chairs at each table. Anyway, are you able to share any ideas with us?

My answer:
I think the Common Ground game would work really well for your luncheon. Here are the details:

Ask each table group to compile a list of as many things as their whole group has in common as possible. Give them 3-4 minutes to make their lists on a piece of paper. Then ask each group to submit outloud one answer for each of the following questions. Award mini prizes for the group with:
• the most commonalities
• the funniest commonality
• the most creative commonality
• the 'deepest' commonality
• the most adventuresome commonality
• the most memorable commonality
• whatever else you think of...

If you would like to have a conversation started sitting on the tables when people arrive, you could let table groups do the Candy Quiz together. It's a good way to get people to start talking, by working on a common project.

1. A famous swashbuckling trio of old ___________________
2. Elmer Fudd’s sleight of hand or magical maneuvers ______________
3. Places of interring enemies of those who tend & drive cattle and who are usually mounted on domesticated, large, solid-hoofed, herbivorous mammals ____________________
4. A broad, luminous, irregular band of astral lights that encompasses the stellar sphere ___________________________
5. Crimson-colored libidinous cravings ________________________
6. A celestial body fourth in order from the sun, conspicuous for the redness of its light _______________________
7. Multiple expressions of mirth, joy, or scorn in a covert or suppressed manner ____________________
8. An idiom, used here singularly, employed to describe one whose dexterous deficiency denies proficiency in getting a grip on goods _______________
9. Possessive clone alphabetical characters ______________________
10. Childhood name of a former renowned baseball player whose strike-out record is recondite __________________
11. Celebrated street in the Big Apple _______________
12. The 24-hour part of the week set aside to compensate for labor and toil ______________________
13. Subordinate herbs or seasonings _______________________
14. Lactic flops _______________________
15. The jubilant sensation of an ellipsoidal and edible nut ______________
16. Label on the body bag containing the remains collected after a cat named “Reese” was run over by a mower _______________
17. Dissonant confectionery mixture of dulcet and piquant seasonings ____________
18. To rotate several members of the cylindrical-shaped component of the vowel family _______________
19. Big orb in the sky meets round sweet culinary dish of apple or cherry _____________

(You can email us if you’d like a copy of the answers)

These are both games from Great Group Games – you can find 173 more fun group games with detailed instructions in the book.

The Animal Game

Directions:
Each participant chooses an animal and a movement to match the animal. Everyone stands in a circle and you go around, the first time just showing your movement to the group. Then you pick one person to start. They do their movement then someone else's movement. The person whose movement they did then does their own movement and a different person’s movement. If a person takes too long to do someone else's movement or they do the movement of someone who is already out then they are out. Eventually you get down to two people and you have to wait for someone to mess up. The whole game is played without saying anything (but you can remind someone they're out). (Directions shared by Ashley, a young person from Newberry, Michigan)

Going Deeper:
*How did you choose an animal?
*How did you remember other people’s animals?
*What strategies helped you be successful in this game?
*Can you use any of these strategies to help with other experiences in life (sports, school, homework, hobbies, relationships…)?

The asset connection:
Creative activities * Achievement motivation * Homework * Responsibility * Planning and decision making * Interpersonal competence *

If YOU have a favorite game to share, please send it to us at ann(at)TheAssetEdge(dot)net. We'd love to share it with other folks around the world!

MVParents - Beat the Winter Blues

Lynette wrote a great post last week at MVParents titled Dealing with the Post-Holiday Letdown. She gives a lot of ideas for helping children/youth/teens transition from the holiday season back into the routines of everyday living.

One of her ideas for children ages 6-9 is playing games - and she highlights our book, Great Group Games. She's right - playing games (whether cards, board games, games from our book, or other family favorites) is a great way to spend time together. It keeps everyone engaged, it keeps minds active, and it's a great way to make memories.

Check out her other ideas for 'beating the winter blues'.