Clare Zimmermann
mailto:tczim@pacbell.net
Name Game
Play with an even number of people, at least four but can be as many as
20, though if there is an odd number one can be timer and scorekeeper.
Materials:
1 piece of paper per player plus one for keeping score
pens/pencils
watch with second hand
Rules:
Getting ready:
Choose partners.
Each person writes as many names of famous people, dead or alive,
fictional or real, that they can think of. Twenty is a good minimum
number.
Tear up paper so that each name is on one slip, fold up and
put slips of paper into bag or bowl and mix up.
The game:
Work in groups of twos- you keep the same partners throughout the game
Taking turns, each partner picks a name and gives clues to her/his
partner who tries to guess the name.
As soon as the name is guessed the guesser then pulls out a name and
does the same.
If you don't know who someone is, give clues about the name - for
instance, one partner had "Marion Davies" and didn't know who it was so
said, "first name same as Robin Hood's girlfriend"
Each group has 45 seconds to guess as many names as possible, timer
says "stop" and "go".
Any names not guessed get put back into the bag/bowl.
Score one point for each correct answer.
Clues:
You may not include any part of the person's name in your clue.
No rhyming as in "last name rhymes with.."
Clues may be whole sentences, not just one word.
Understanding this, we had some weird ones like "Harvey Wallbanger".
One of the girls had never heard of her person she was trying to guess
(Jack Parr) and after getting that the first name was "Jack" the clue
was "when you play golf you want to get..?" The girl said "Under par,
Jack Under Par?" Still didn't ring a bell!