Games, warm ups and focusing activites
PEOPLE USE GAMES for all sorts of reasons. To focus pupils attention, to provide an analogy for some aspect of conduct in an enquiry, to liven people up, to get people to have a bit of fun together or to create an atmosphere of cordiality in a group. Most of the conceptual activities that can seem like games are included in the 'concept-stretcher' and 'inquiry builder sections'. As contributor Michelle Whitworth says of many of the games in this section:
"They are passed around adult trainers, youth workers and drama teachers and some have been around for years as children's party games. They often appear in print or on the internet under different names or with different rules. Your group members may well know different versions so you need to ensure at the start that they are playing to the rules you lay out. Some call for co-operation whereas others are competitive. Although many of them contain a strong element of fun, they can still be subjected to a debrief afterwards, and with some of them you can invite the group to challenge itself by setting targets, or devising its own variations.
Most of the games can be adapted to work with different age groups but some might be better with older children. Many of them games make good energizers for a mid session break. Also, we sometimes have an agreement that, if some small groups are faster at formulating their question, they may occupy themselves quietly with a game of their choice, or a game suggested by the facilitator. Games such as 'I have never', 'Who am I' 'Two Truths and a Lie' can be good for this purpose."
If you think you know who first devised any of the games in this section. Please let us know.
