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At the beginning of the school year you and the students will need to learn each other ’s names. I know of at least nineteen games that help in the process (special thanks to those who added games last year). You can also do a Search on the forum for "names" and several more come up.

I. Students pass a ball (or wrapped up scrap paper ball) to each other. When passing the ball they say their name and the name of the person they are passing the ball to.

A. Variation: This could also be done with numerous objects going in many different directions. Rubber chickens work great for enjoyment. A rolled up (clean) sock works great if you are trying to go faster and faster. This could also be done with numerous objects going in many different directions. Rubber chickens work great for enjoyment. A rolled up (clean) sock works great if you are trying to go faster and faster.

II. Have five different students lead a different warm up exercise. “My name is John Byl, and I will lead you in 10 jumping jacks. ”

III. Play any tag game. When a student is tagged they must report to the teacher, tell the teacher their name, and they are free again to participate in the tag game. For subsequent tags they need to say their name one thing about themselves.

IV. Name memory. Have one person say their name. The next person says the first person ’s name and then adds their own. The third person says the first person ’s name, then the second person ’s name, then adds their own …..

V. Name recipe. Give each person a recipe card and have them write one word about themselves which begins with the same letter as their name. For example, “John ”writes “jovial ”, or “Betty ”writes “basketball. ” Participants sit in a circle and one by one say their name and their term. Participants toss their recipe card into the middle and 2-4 volunteers place the recipe cards in front of the right people.

VI. Sitting in a circle they say their name and then introduce the person to their right and left and you can add one thing the person likes to do. i.e. My name is Nancy and to my right is Betty and she likes to dance and to my left is Greta and she likes the band Green Day. You can do this in rows in a class room by introducing the persons in front behind and to each of their sides.

VII. Students pass a ball (or wrapped up scrap paper ball) to each other. When passing the ball they say their name and the name of the person they are passing the ball to.

VIII. I have spent an entire day with the same students trying to get them to learn each others name. There was a TV show a few years ago called "Dog Eat Dog "and I structured my day around that game. The game had contestants(students) that would compete against each other. I would play a round of a learning name game similar to John's suggestions and then do a "Dog Eat Dog "round. The students would vote for one person to compete. The two with the most votes would go head to head in name recognition games for elimination. Can be played as one large game with everyone in the class or in rounds with smaller groups of 4-6. After elimination do another learning game then a recognition game. Continue until you have a winner that "knows everyone in the class "

IX. Stand facing a chair with hands on the back. (Another student sits on chair for stability) Go around the room and point at all the students one at a time. Competing students must name the children you are pointing at (Alternate) If they make a mistake the chair moves forward one tile. Continue until one falls.

X. Stand on two desks. On a wrong name move the tables out one tile until one student falls. Don't forget to stabilize.

XI. Spinning tops. On a wrong answer you spin once. Second wrong answer spin twice... Continue until one topples. Have students stand around them in a circle to catch and save.

XII. Add last names to any recognition game

XIII. Drop the curtain. Split the class in half and have them sit behind a blanket held up. Each team brings one person to the blanket and you drop the blanket. First person to say the name wins. Loser switches teams.

A. Variations: Sit backwards and team helps without saying name.Stick your foot through and ques from shoes. etc

XIV. Name Tag Switch. Each person gets a name sticker. You must switch with another person without talking until you all have the right name tags.

A. Variation: Count the number of switches and try to improve. You may only switch with the person on your tag by your approach or if you are approached by the person with your tag. I.e You can not seek out your own mane, it must come to you.

XV. Order Up. Pick five or more names and they need to place them in the same order. Could pick names from a hat. First person to get it correct wins.

XVI. Seat switch. Have a few students switch seats while players are blindfolded or out of room. First person to figure them out wins.

XVII. Hangman. Students name students that teacher points to. Wrong answer means spot on hangman. Continue until one loses.

XVIII. Another name game that we played at AAS-Moscow is Name Chain Tag. Decide on 3-4 "taggers ". When a person is tagged they must join the chain and introduce themselves, they then "huddle "as a chain and decide who will be their next "victim ". The kids LOVED it!

XIX. Have each person come up with an adjective to describe him/herself that begins with the first letter of their name. For example, happy Hannah, joyful Judith, Mischievous Matt, Caring Charis... Then go around the room and each person must say each person's description and name before them in order and then add him/herself to the list.

I ’m sure there are lots of other ideas out there. If you have one idea please share it with the list to make our first week of teaching that much better. (You can hit reply to this email or send it to: ciraously@redeemer.ca )

Have a great school year!

John Byl

president@ciraontaio.com

1 General Category / General Discussion / Getting to know student names on: September 05, 2010, 04:56:08 am
Started by John Byl - Last post by John Byl
At the beginning of the school year you and the students will need to learn each other ’s names. I know of at least nineteen games that help in the process (special thanks to those who added games last year). You can also do a Search on the forum for "names" and several more come up. I. Students pass a ball (or wrapped up scrap paper ball) to each other. When passing the ball they say their name and the name of the person they are passing the ball to. A. Variation: This could also be done with numerous objects going in many different directions. Rubber chickens work great for enjoyment. A rolled up (clean) sock works great if you are trying to go faster and faster. This could also be done with numerous objects going in many different directions. Rubber chickens work great for enjoyment. A rolled up (clean) sock works great if you are trying to go faster and faster. II. Have five different students lead a different warm up exercise. “My name is John Byl, and I will lead you in 10 jumping jacks. ” III. Play any tag game. When a student is tagged they must report to the teacher, tell the teacher their name, and they are free again to participate in the tag game. For subsequent tags they need to say their name one thing about themselves. IV. Name memory. Have one person say their name. The next person says the first person ’s name and then adds their own. The third person says the first person ’s name, then the second person ’s name, then adds their own ….. V. Name recipe. Give each person a recipe card and have them write one word about themselves which begins with the same letter as their name. For example, “John ”writes “jovial ”, or “Betty ”writes “basketball. ” Participants sit in a circle and one by one say their name and their term. Participants toss their recipe card into the middle and 2-4 volunteers place the recipe cards in front of the right people. VI. Sitting in a circle they say their name and then introduce the person to their right and left and you can add one thing the person likes to do. i.e. My name is Nancy and to my right is Betty and she likes to dance and to my left is Greta and she likes the band Green Day. You can do this in rows in a class room by introducing the persons in front behind and to each of their sides. VII. Students pass a ball (or wrapped up scrap paper ball) to each other. When passing the ball they say their name and the name of the person they are passing the ball to. VIII. I have spent an entire day with the same students trying to get them to learn each others name. There was a TV show a few years ago called "Dog Eat Dog "and I structured my day around that game. The game had contestants(students) that would compete against each other. I would play a round of a learning name game similar to John's suggestions and then do a "Dog Eat Dog "round. The students would vote for one person to compete. The two with the most votes would go head to head in name recognition games for elimination. Can be played as one large game with everyone in the class or in rounds with smaller groups of 4-6. After elimination do another learning game then a recognition game. Continue until you have a winner that "knows everyone in the class " IX. Stand facing a chair with hands on the back. (Another student sits on chair for stability) Go around the room and point at all the students one at a time. Competing students must name the children you are pointing at (Alternate) If they make a mistake the chair moves forward one tile. Continue until one falls. X. Stand on two desks. On a wrong name move the tables out one tile until one student falls. Don't forget to stabilize. XI. Spinning tops. On a wrong answer you spin once. Second wrong answer spin twice... Continue until one topples. Have students stand around them in a circle to catch and save. XII. Add last names to any recognition game XIII. Drop the curtain. Split the class in half and have them sit behind a blanket held up. Each team brings one person to the blanket and you drop the blanket. First person to say the name wins. Loser switches teams. A. Variations: Sit backwards and team helps without saying name.Stick your foot through and ques from shoes. etc XIV. Name Tag Switch. Each person gets a name sticker. You must switch with another person without talking until you all have the right name tags. A. Variation: Count the number of switches and try to improve. You may only switch with the person on your tag by your approach or if you are approached by the person with your tag. I.e You can not seek out your own mane, it must come to you. XV. Order Up. Pick five or more names and they need to place them in the same order. Could pick names from a hat. First person to get it correct wins. XVI. Seat switch. Have a few students switch seats while players are blindfolded or out of room. First person to figure them out wins. XVII. Hangman. Students name students that teacher points to. Wrong answer means spot on hangman. Continue until one loses. XVIII. Another name game that we played at AAS-Moscow is Name Chain Tag. Decide on 3-4 "taggers ". When a person is tagged they must join the chain and introduce themselves, they then "huddle "as a chain and decide who will be their next "victim ". The kids LOVED it! XIX. Have each person come up with an adjective to describe him/herself that begins with the first letter of their name. For example, happy Hannah, joyful Judith, Mischievous Matt, Caring Charis... Then go around the room and each person must say each person's description and name before them in order and then add him/herself to the list. I ’m sure there are lots of other ideas out there. If you have one idea please share it with the list to make our first week of teaching that much better. (You can hit reply to this email or send it to: ciraously@redeemer.ca ) Have a great school year! John Byl president@ciraontaio.com