Wampum
What: A classic activity designed to enable participants to learn the names of all group members.
Group Size: 8-10 per small group; as many small groups as required.
Time: 5-10 minutes per round; 2-3 rounds as appropriate for larger groups.
Props: one foam noodle (the kind found in the swimming section at major retailers) per small group.
Instructions:
For each small group, all participants form a circle seated on the ground with their feet extending into the middle. One person (you if there is only one small group) stands in the middle of the outstretched legs and feet with the noodle in hand. Explain as follows: "The object of this activity is to NOT be in my shoes; you want to stay seated in the circle as long as you can. When we start, one person in the seated circle will start the activity by saying the name of someone else in the circle. Can we have a volunteer? Thank you, Sue."
"Now once Sue calls the second person's name, I am going to try to tap the feet of that person (the one who's name was called out) before he can say the name of someone else. If I tap him first, i.e., before he can say someone else's name, then he will take my place in the circle, I will sit down, and I will start the process again by calling out someone else's name."
"If, on the other hand, he manages to successfully say another person's name before I tap him, then I will try to tap the person he called out before he or she can someone else's name. Is everyone clear? To repeat, your goal is to say someone else's name before I tap you. Are we ready? Start us off, Sue."
Facilitator Notes:
- Expect lots of laughter!
- The game may be played seated in chairs if participants are uncomfortable sitting on the ground. Revise the rule so that the person in the middle taps the knees of people in the circle.
- It is perfectly OK for someone in the circle to call out the name of the person who just called him. (In fact, it is good strategy.)
- If you have several small groups, begin play and continue until laughter dies down, usually around five minutes. Then designate individuals in each small group to move to a new group and begin again.
- Finish the process by seeing if there is anyone in the group that can name everyone else. Applaud all attempts!
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