Name Game

Roni Fillo
Summer, 2003
Project paper
Montesano, WA

Project:
Using ideas gained from Rob Ohashi (“Creative Energizing Techniques”) I will develop and implement a lesson that will create a fun, engaging learning environment. I will accomplish this by modifying a current lesson plan, using ideas gained from Rob’s presentation.

Objective:
Students will be able to learn the majority of their classmates’ names using a fun, competitive game.

Materials:
Sheet or blanket

Lesson Introduction
During the first couple of days of school, I encourage my first graders to try to get to learn their classmates’ names. I believe this is important in building bonds and friendships, helping strengthen our classroom community. I gained some really great ideas from Rob’s presentation, such as the Peek-a-Who game.

In the past, I’ve played a name game with my first graders which was very similar to Peek-a-Who. They would form a circle, close their eyes, and then I would secretly choose a child to sneak into the center of the circle. He/she would then be covered with a sheet, and then the class would try to guess who is missing.

I could easily adapt my so-so lesson into Rob’s more engaging, competitive game, even keeping the same sheet! Instead of forming a circle, I would quickly divide the class into two teams. And instead of me holding the sheet I would have two children do it. The way, the class is participating even more, and having more control over the activity.

I think the children would really enjoy the competitive nature of this game by being able to “capture” the person who didn’t guess the other person’s name in time. I also think the fast pace would keep them engaged and on-task, which is always an on-going challenge for first graders.

Lesson: Name Game, “Peek-a-Who”

1. Randomly divide the class into two teams and gather them onto the carpet.
2. Choose two children to hold the corners of a divider (i.e., sheet) between the two teams, letting different children take turns being “holders” every so often.
3. The teacher chooses two children, one from each side, to be the “name guessers”
4. On the count of three, the two children holding the sheet drop it to the ground and yell, “Peek-a-Who!” The two “guessers” have to identify the name of the person opposite of them as quickly as possible.
5. The person who accurately guesses the other person’s name first gets to “capture” the other and bring him/her over to their team.
6. Play continues until either all of the children have had an opportunity to “guess” or until on team has captured all of the other team’s members. The winning team is the one who has captured the most players.