source: www.youthwork-practice.com | 2000 Games, Devotions, Themes, Ideas and more for Youth Work
only for private using

The lively board game

The following idea was sent in by Hanna H. and has been tested out.

Game description:

The "lively board game" is a combination of dice games, movement games, action games and a quiz. This game is particularly suitable for a large group which is then split into smaller groups (5-8 players per group).

A large playing board with approx. 60 squares must be produced [We printed each of the numbers 1-60 on a piece of A3 paper and laminated them then laid them all out in the room as a giant playing board.]. Coloured playing figures large enough for the playing board must be produced for each team. Additionally one large die (or even better - one die per group) is required. The code cards must also be spread out around the house before the start of the game. These code cards should be printed on A5 cards and laminated if possible (so that they can be used more than once). There is one code card for each of the numbers 1-60.

The number must be printed large and a code with four digits underneath. The group leaders need these to check the numbers (do not forget a check list with numbers and code numbers for the group leader!). The task sheets are placed in numbered envelopes. It is recommended that you open up a "leader and materials" table at a central point to which only the group leaders have access. This keeps the chaos to a minimum and keeps the materials within everyone's reach. Each team sits at a group table. Everyone rolls the dice on the command. The playing figures are then moved along the game board according to the number rolled. If the square they already being used by another team they move onto the next square. The groups now spread out to find the number, which is shown on the square, somewhere in the building. They must find the number and give the four digit code to the group’s leader. They then receive a task envelope. In addition, the group leader provides the team with the materials they might require and jots down the number of points won. The dice are then thrown again. All of the teams play at the same time (= independently from each other).

The game should be ended when the leader decides. The aim is not to get to square 60 as quickly as possible but to collect as many points as possible. A group who reaches square 60 should start again at square 1. So that the materials are only required once for the task, all of the group leaders should watch out that any group landing on a square which has already been completed, simply moves to the next square. Additionally, the participants must be aware that they must return the code cards to the envelopes in their original condition and returned to the group leader so that other teams can do the task. The tasks should be adapted to suit the age of the children in the group.

No.	Task	Solution and judging	Material
	Find the pairs of memory cards as quickly as possible. The normal rules apply.	10 points – 1 point is deducted with each passing minute	Memory cards
	Everyone gives their jumper to the person on their left and pulls on the right-hand player's jumper. Keep going until you have your own jumper back again.	1 point per player
	Build a Jenga tower as high as possible!	1 point for each second layer	Jenga game
	Solve the following word jumbles and bring them to the leader! 1 – FLOW 2 – GERIT 3 – MDAASLRENA 4 – HPRIAAN 5 – THSLO 6 – ALKOA 7 – FGIRFAE 8 – ANEPETHL	3 points for each: 1 – Wolf 2 – Tiger 3 – Salamander 4 – Piranha 5 – Sloth 6 – Koala 7 – Giraffe 8 – Elephant	Attachment with texts
	Everyone paints a portrait of the neighbour to their right. Bring the portraits to the group leader who must guess who it is.	2 points for each	Paper and pens
	Drive a member of the group to the group leader in a wheel barrow and back again!	5 points
	Sing your group leader a current hit song!	5 points
	In which British towns are the following sights to be seen? Jorvik Centre, Discovery Earth, St Pauls Cathedral, The Cavern	One point for each correct answer Jorvik Centre – York, Discovery Earth – Edinburgh, St Paul’s Cathedral – Dresden
	Write down the text of the 23rd Psalm from heart!	10 points
	Write a four line poem about today!	4 points
	Sing a summer song of your choice!	5 points
	Name 20 English counties	1 point per county
	Everyone brings a cuddly toy (or an object or something they do not really need to travel)!	2 points per object
	Mule: Every player receives two matches. Everyone now takes turns to lay one match on the neck of an empty bottle until all matches are packed onto the “mule”	5 points	Empty bottles, matches
	Bring us a chain of hairs knotted together! The number of hairs must match the number of players.	3 points
	Everyone takes turns to eat a biscuit as quickly as possible and then whistle. The whistle is the signal for the next player to start.	1 point for each player	Biscuits
	Make a 4 line poem using the words “peg, clothes, washing line and wind”!	4 points
	Name 5 examples of how Solomon uses nice descriptions of his girlfriend – you will find some hints in the book “Song of Solomon”. (Time: 2 minutes)	2 points for each
	Bring us at least 3 different translations of the bible	2 points for each
	Each participant must burst a balloon. The bang is the start signal for the next player	5 points	balloons
	Everyone must climb through a postcard (a post card is cut so that it makes a circle which the players can climb through)	10 points	Post cards & scissors
	All participants stand on each others shoulders (= build a pyramid)	3 points
	Name Jacob’s 12 sons (you may use the bible!)	Section of the bible: 1. Moses 35, 22ff; give them a clue if necessary! 1 point each
	Bring us at least 5 different items of clothing!	1 point each
	The dice are rolled in turn until all 3 dice show the same number (keeping numbers rolled is allowed!)	5 points	3 dice
	Build a chain of nouns with 4 letters. The next word must start with the last letter of the previous word!	1 point each
	Make a form of headwear from something!	2 points
	Using the bible for assistance, name all of the towns which Simon visited on his missionary travels – 2 minutes time Note: most bibles have a map.	Solution: Antioch, Seleucia, Perge, Attalia, Paphos, Salamis 1 point each
	Knot you own clothes together into a chain 10 metres long!	5 points
	Bring us the left shoe of each group member	2 points
	Name the towns which the 7 letters in revelations 2 and 3 are sent to	Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardes, Philadelphia, Laodicea 4 points
	Break time! Sit down and wait until 2 minutes are over. Then you can carry on.	3 points
	Pass a tennis ball along the line using your chins! (Hands must remain behind your back)	3 points per exchange	Tennis ball
	Tell your group leader a joke!	2 points
	You may only carry on playing when one of you has rolled a six!	5 points	Several dice
	Make up a sentence with exactly 50 letters!	5 points
	Cackle like a chicken for 30 seconds without laughing!	5 points	Stopwatch
	Sing a birthday song!	5 points
	Name 10 current premier league football players!	Solution: if the names do not ring a bell, …. ask... 1 point for each
	Everyone performs either 10 push ups or 15 knee bends	10 points
	Make as many new words as possible from the word “Establishment" within two minutes!	0,5 points per word	Stopwatch
	Name 10 prophets in the Old Testament!	Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jona, Micah, Naoum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zaccariah, Malachi 1 point each
	Sing a well known Christmas song of your choice!	5 points
	Name 15 European capital cities!	Reykjavik, London, Dublin, Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Brussels, Berlin, Warsaw, Prague, Vienna, Paris, Bern, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest, Sofia, Tirana, Rome, Athens, Ankara, Madrid, Lisbon, Andorra, Monaco, Vaduz, Luxemburg, San Marino, Vatican, Minsk, Kiev, Riga, Vilna, Tallinn 1 point each: maximum of 15
	How many of the 150 psalms in the bible were written by David? Time: (3 minutes)	Answer: 73 5 points, 3 points for the nearest guess	Stopwatch
	Bring us one of each coin in circulation at the moment!	2 pounds, 1 pound, 50 pence, 20 pence, 10 pence, 5 pence, 2 pence and 1 penny 1 point for each
	Run outside and bring us three objects typical of this season!	2 points for each
	Count up all of the people on Noah’s ark!	1. Moses 7, 13; give a clue on the solution if required: Sem, Ham, Japhet, his wife, Noah and his wife 1 point for each
	Bring us three objects and find a passage of the bible where they are mentioned.	1 point for each
	Pictionary: one player is whispered a phrase by the group leader which he must draw. The others guess what it is!	Shoe lace, snail, beach, ant hill, birthday, … 2 points for each
	Work out how old …., ….. , ……and …….… are all together!	Solution: ………….. 10 points
	How many books are in the bible?	66 books – 2 points
	Look for the bible passage Matthew 5, 9-13. Why are these words so familiar?	Solution: that is “Our Father”! 2 points
	Everyone draws a little picture: what do I like about …………………… the best?	2 points for each
	A one minute break – sit down and relax until the time is over.	2 points	Stopwatch
	Pantomime: the group leader whispers a phrase into a player’s ear which he must act out. The others guess what it is!	Lemon tea, washing up, summer, cheese, breakfast, sunset, …, 2 points for each
	Write down as many words as possible with two or more meanings! Time: 2 minutes	Example: Court, coach... 2 points each	Stopwatch
	You have two minutes to cleverly question your group leader and find out all about his life and characteristics – then you can write a wanted poster!	1 point each	Stopwatch
	Work out how old you are if all ages are added together!	3 points
	Write a short poem mentioning each member of staff at least once by name!	2 points per member of staff