Master List of Games
ICEBREAKERS
2 TRUTHS, ONE LIE
This is a fun one to play before or after class just to wake people up and have a little fun. A person will
tell the group 3 things, one of which is a lie. The group then needs to guess which of the things is a lie.
 Variation: have each person write one thing about them on a piece of paper then mix all the
things in a hat and read the fact aloud and have the group guess who the person is that wrote it.
ANIMAL GAME
Each person gets a slip of paper with an animal on it (cow, dog, frog, pig, horse, etc) they must act out
their animal in order to find the other people with the same animal.
AUTOGRAPH SIGNING
Have a list of get to know you games with questions:
Find someone who has the same favorite color as you______________________
Who has the same birthday as you_____________________?
Who is the same age as you ______________________
Who has the same favorite soccer team as you____________________?
Who has an older sister____________________?
Who plays soccer________________________?
Who has a grandparent living with them___________________?
Who plays netball ________________________?
Who has done volunteer work _______________________?
Who has taken care of a baby_________________________?
Who knows what AIDS is ___________________________
Who is the youngest in the family _______________________?
Who is the oldest in the family _________________________?
Who has traveled to another region in the country _____________________?
Who has broken a bone __________________________?
Who loves school _________________________?
Who hates school __________________________?
Who has used a computer ____________________________?
Who rides a bicycle ____________________________?
Who has a girlfriend/boyfriend _____________________?
They have people sign on the piece of paper as they get to know each other. They can not ask “which
one are you? Sign here!” You can only ask three questions before going to a new person.
CHARADES
The leaders must make cards for all the participants in advance. These cards have the name of the
participant on one side and the group name on the back. The leader hands each participant a card after
cards are handed out, no talking. One by one, each participant goes to the center of the room and must
mime the group name written on the back of the card. This is to indicate what his/her group is.
However the participants are not allowed to yet” all participants sit in a circle. Once everyone has taken
some candy, the participants then go around in a circle, giving their name, and telling things about
themselves. The number of candies they grab is the number of things they should tell about themselves.
COMMA-DOS-DOS-DOS (SPELL YOUR NAME)
This is a fun song that gets everyone clapping & laughing. Have the group stand in a circle and begin
to clap and sing, “comma-dos-dos-dos, comma-dos-dos-dos.” Then the leader points to someone and
says (in rhythm) “you spell your name.” The format for spelling in this game is that before every letter
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you must say “comma.” So my name, Megan, would be called out, “comma M, comma E, comma G,
comma A, comma N.” After that person has spelled his or her name, the group again sings “comma-dosdos-dos, comma-dos-dos-dos.” Then the person who just spelled his/her name picks the next person by
pointing and saying “you spell your name.” Keep going until everyone has had a chance to spell his/her
name.
ELVES, GIANTS, WIZARDS
This game is based on the same concept as rock, paper, and scissors. In this game; Elves beat Wizards
(they can run through their legs) Giants beat Elves (they stomp on their heads) Wizards beat Giants
(because they are smarter) the group needs to be split into 2 groups. Each group needs to choose one of
these signs. The two teams come face to face in parallel lines about 2 meters apart. Both groups will
yell, "Elves, Giants, Wizards ...” (chosen sign goes here). The side that won chases the other team back
to their home and tries to tag them. The players that are touched must join the other team. The object
is to get everyone on your team. If both teams do the same sign, it is a tie.
ELVES- swat low to the ground and put one finger to either side of your head like little pointed ears.
GIANTS- stand up on your tip toes and stretch your arms high over your head
WIZARDS- turn body 90o to the left. Stretch right arm out in front and put left hand by left shoulder.
Wiggle your fingers like you are casting a spell.
GUESS WHO
You put the names of people on paper (cartoon characters, sports players). Put the paper on people’s
backs. The person tries to guess what person they are by asking only “yes” “no” questions.
HEADS UP 7 UP
Choose 7 people to be “it”. Everyone else puts their heads down with the thumb sticking out. The 7
people walk around and gently put the persons thumb down. After all 7 people have picked one person
they come to the front. The ones who had a thumb put down stand and try to guess who put their
thumb down. If they get it right they get to switch places with the person, if they guess wrong they
must sit back down.
KIDS CLUES
This is an elimination game focusing on gradually giving clues about yourself so that at the end of the
fifth clue you are the last one standing out of the whole class.
Learners think about 5 clues about themselves. Then write them on a piece of paper, 1 thru 5, from most
general to most specific. The teacher collects the paper. All the learners start standing up and the
teacher reads the first clue. If the clue describes the person, then they stay standing. If it DOES NOT,
the learners sit down. Continue reading clues until there is one person standing. The last clue should
belong to the last learner standing.
NEVER HAVE I EVER
The person in the middle is surrounded by people in chairs. The person in the middle makes up a
category of people who have done something or not (or all people wearing a certain color speak a certain
language, do a certain activity, etc.) When the person in the middle announces the category they must
quickly exchange places with another person. The one left standing becomes the new person in the
middle.
SILENT COMMUNICATION
Learners will need to get into a certain order without speaking at all. For example, they will need to
stand in a line in order of age, shoe size, number of siblings, etc. Encourage them to use their hands and
other types of non-verbal communication to accomplish their end goal.
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ENERGIZERS
7 UP
For this game you stand in a circle and go around the circle counting to 7. As you count you place your
hand on your chest in the direction you want the next person to count, the person who gets the number
7 must put their hand over their head while saying the number. As people make mistakes they are
eliminated from the game.
8—SHAKE IT OUT
This is a simple warm-up. You start by lifting your right hand and shaking the wrist 8 times. Then
continue with the left hand, right foot, left foot, and shaking the hips (all for counts of 8). Then do 4
counts on each, then 2, then 1, speeding up as you go. This shakes out all the kinks and gets the blood
flowing so participants are awake & ready to begin the next session/activity
BINGO
Everyone stands in a circle, the leader says “bingo, bingo” the group responds “hey yah yah.” The
leader repeats “bingo bingo” and the groups respond again. Everyone says “hey nakumona, hey
nakumona pi” When people say “Hey nakumona” the leader leans forward the people on either side of
the leader lean back and look at each other. When people say “Hey nakumona pi”, the person to the
right of the leader leans forward and the people on either side of that person lean back and look at each
other. The group continues saying “Hey nakumona, hey nakumona pi” and leaning forward and
backwards until someone makes a mistake. The person leaning forward and backwards continues
shifting to the right with each “Hey nakumona.”
BUBBLE GUM
The kids stand in a circle the counter will pound fists with the people in the circle while saying “bubble
gum, bubble gum in a dish, how many pieces do you wish?” the person who it lands on gives a number
1-20. The counter will go around the circle pounding the fists until the number is reached. Whichever
hand it lands on the kid has to put it behind their back. Once both hands are gone the kid is out.
CAMPING TRIP
It starts with one person saying “I’m going on a camping trip and I’m going to bring a sleeping bag.”
The next person must bring the next item BUT it has to start with the last letter of the first person’s
item. So they would say “I’m going on a camping trip and I’m going to bring gorilla” If the kid gets it
right all the kids respond with “OK YOU CAN BRING THAT ON OUR CAMPING TRIP” if the
person did not respond correctly and they said “I’m going on a camping trip and I’m going to bring a
lantern” the kids would respond “NO YOU CAN”T BRING THAT ON OUR CAMPING TRIP” keep
playing until everyone catches on!
COCONUT
Everyone stands up and together spells the word coconut using their bodies. This is quick and fun,
especially if you’re dramatic when you’re doing it.
DO AS I DO
Everyone stands in a circle. One person comes into the center of the circle and dances or moves saying
“Do as I do” and the rest of the circle copies the moves and says “I do I do.”
DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE
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The players sit in a circle on person is chosen to walk around and tap the other players on the head
saying “duck, duck, duck” when they say “goose” that person has to get up, run around the circle and the
one who doesn’t sit in the open seat is it for the next round.
ELECTRICITY GAME
All the participants sit in two lines facing each other. The facilitator stands at one end and another
facilitator or participant stands at the other. Have the people sitting in each row hold hands with the
two people sitting next to them and close their eyes, forming a chain in each line. The facilitators hold
hands with the people at the ends of the line. The facilitator will squeeze the hands of both the people at
the end of the line. When your hand is squeezed you squeeze the hand of the person sitting next to you.
It is a race to see which line transmits the “current” quickest. Which ever row squeezes the hand of the
facilitator at the other end first is the winner.
FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN
Everyone runs around the room while the facilitator chants “Fire on the mountain run, run, run” When
the facilitator calls out a number, the participants get into groups of that number. Who ever is not in a
group or in a group of the wrong number is out, continue until only one or two people remain or it’s
time to move on.
FRUIT SALAD
Everyone sits in a circle. The participants are assigned types of fruit by counting off, for example,
mango, papaya, orange, maguni. mango, papaya, orange, maguni. Give instructions that we are going
to make a fruit salad; one chair should be removed from the group. You will call out one or more type of
fruit, all the participants whose type of fruit is called must change places. The person without a seat will
call then next fruit or combination of fruits.
Math variation Assign each participant a number, call out calculations that are at an appropriate level
for your group. The learners whose numbers solves the calculation are the ones that have to switch
seats. In this case, you continue to call out the equations. This can be adapted for any subject. Parts of
the digestive system, you call out the functions. Products of chemical reactions, you call out the
reaction, etc. You get the idea.
LINKING
There probably isn’t a real name for this game but basically you put the learners into groups of two and
instruct them to sit on the ground with their backs to each other. They then need to link arms and try
to stand up without touching the ground. If they are able to get this you can try putting them into a
group of 3, then a group of 4, etc. The only rule is that they cannot touch the ground and the must be
facing back-to-back. It practices teamwork and communication and is fun!
LONGEST LINE
Put your learners into groups. Instruct them that they must try to make the longest line possible only
using what is on their bodies. For example learners can use their shoes, shoe laces, hair ties, bodies,
pencils, necklaces, etc. The group that makes the longest line is the winner.
MAKE A PICTURE
This game can be done as an improve game or as a game where learners are given time to prepare. Put
them into small groups, about 5 or so and instruct them to make a picture in front of the class. What
does this mean? Well for example, maybe one kid will be the table, another will be the chair, another
will be a pencil, another the paper, and another the person sitting and writing. The only rule is that
only one of them can choose to be a person, this will prevent the game from becoming a string of
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dramas. Tell them to be creative with it, and either gives them time to choose what they will be or do it
on the spot. You will be quite amused by how creative and funny this game can get.
MIME THE LIE
Participants stand in a circle. One person will come to the center of the circle and begin miming an
action. The next person will call out, “What are you doing?” and the person in the center will reply
with a lie. The person who called out will then replace the person in the center; miming the action they
were just told. The next person asks “What are you doing?”, and the new center person says another
lie. For example, person A mimes sweeping the floor. When person B asks, person A says he is
brushing his teeth (a lie). Person B must then go to the center and mime brushing his teeth. When
person C asks, person B says he is reading a book (a lie). So person C then mimes reading a book. The
game continues this way until all people have been to the center to mime.
MIRROR
Put the learners into pairs. One learner is the mirror of the other so he or she has to do everything that
that the other learner does.
MY NEW FRIEND
You’re sitting in a circle on chairs and one person is standing in the middle (you are short one chair).
The person in the middle says something about themselves that they also have in common with others
standing around the circle. For example: “my new friend who is wearing Chaco’s” and then everyone
who is wearing Chaco’s has to find a new place to sit. The person without a seat is in the middle.
ONE, TWO, OOPS!
Participants should form a circle. One person will begin by saying “one” and the next should say
“two.” The third person, instead of saying “three” will say “OOPS!” (Or another silly sound, like beep,
honk, etc.). This continues around the circle, with every multiple of 3 being replaced by “OOPS!”. So it
should go like this: one, two, OOPS, four, five, OOPS, seven, eight, OOPS, and so on. If someone says
the wrong number, they are out of the game and the other participants can begin again with “one.”
RAINMAKERS
All of the participants need to sit in a circle. This activity will create a rain storm at your camp without
actual rain. Each action that is to be done will start with the leader. As the action comes to each player,
they will join in. You can not start the action until it is your turn. The action sequence is; - Rubbing
hands together - Snapping - Clapping - Slap thighs - Stomp feet then reverse the whole process. This
will sound like a rain storm starting and then slowing down again.
RED LIGHT GREEN LIGHT
The learners stand together on a line and when you say green light run as quickly as they can towards
you. When you say red light they must stop immediately and freeze where they are. To make it a little
more fun even the slightest movement is not allowed. If a person moves after you have said red light,
they must start back at the beginning. The first person to reach you or the finish line is the winner.
RIVER BANK
The learners will need to stand on a line, just have them draw a line in the sand. The line they are
standing on separates the river from the bank. When you say bank they need to stand on or jump to the
bank. When you say river they need to stand on or jump to the river. If they jump to the wrong place
or even start to move at all when they are not supposed to, they are out. You say the words river and
bank quickly while they are jumping back and forth between the river and the bank.
SIMON SAYS
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There is a leader and he tells the kids what to do. They can only do it if he starts the sentence with
“Simon Says touch your toes” if they do it with out the leader saying Simon says they must sit down.
SINGING IN THE RAIN
Everyone stands (in a circle is best) and sings “I’m singing in the rain, I ‘m singing in the rain, what a
glorious feeling, I’m happy again” The person leading does an action before starting the song and the
group does the action of the leader throughout the whole song. First one is thumbs up; everyone sings
the whole song with their thumbs up. Second elbows back, everyone sings the whole song with their
thumbs up and elbows back. Third, knees together, sing with thumbs up, elbows back, and knees
together. You get the picture. Fourth, head back, fifth, tongues out.
TELEPHONE
You know this one, have the learners sit is a circle. One learner thinks of a sentence and whispers it to
the person sitting next to them who then whispers it to the next person, and so on, the last. You can
also do telephone in a line where the last person will be next to the chalkboard and will have to write
out the phrase on the board.
THREE LINES- SA, NAM, ZAM
Have participants form a straight line, one behind the other. The leader will stand and face the
participants, explaining that the line they are standing on represents Namibia. One hop to the right is
South Africa, and one hop to the left is Zambia. The point of this game is to hop to the line the leader
SAYS but not necessarily to where the leader goes. The leader will attempt to confuse
participants. People who hop to the wrong line are out of the game. For example, if the leader calls
“South Africa”, all participants should hop to the right once (even if the leader misdirects them and hops
left instead).
TOUCH SOMETHING BLUE
This is a great game for younger kids, and you can easily substitute local color words for the English
words. The group should stand in an area where they can walk/run around. The leader calls the name
of a color, and all participants must rush to touch something that color (usually ends up as another
person’s clothing). Keep going with different colors until the kids are tired or you can’t think of new
colors!
GAMES
AIR RAID
First begin by marking out a starting line and a finishing line approx. 50 ft. apart. Find 5 or 6 obstacles
that are large enough to be hidden behind, for example a table or a wheelbarrow. Place the obstacles
approx. 10 ft. apart in a zig- zag pattern between the start and the finish.
Assign two people to be “bombers” and give them each a bucket full of water and about 10 small
sponges. Place one of the “bombers” 10 feet past the finish line and one halfway between the start and
finish lines. The object of the game is to get from start to finish with out being hit by a wet sponge
going from obstacle to obstacle. The “bombers” will try to hit the person running through. The
“halfway bomber” may only hit the person running through up to the point that they pass them. They
may not throw it at their backs. For every obstacle the runner gets by they receive an assigned point
value. Their total points equal their score.
AMOEBA TAG
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Two people are “it”. They have to hold hands and chase people; the person they catch joins the chain.
The chain can break off into even numbers and can link together whenever they want. This continues
until no one is left
BALLOON BATTLE
Inflate balloons and tie on a string for each team member. Each player ties the other end of the sting to
their ankle. Divide into two teams. The goal is to burst the other team’s balloons before all of yours are
gone. As your balloon is burst you must with drawl from the game. The last player with an inflated
balloon wins.
BALLOON BUNS
You put a message in a balloon (bark like a dog, run in a circle, stand on one leg) the balloon is passed
around. Each person must sit on it with all of their weight. If the balloon busts the person must do what
is on the paper.
BATTLESHIP
The entire playing area is broken down into different parts of a ship. The leader explains the location of
each part for example:
Bow: the front of the playing area
Stern: the back of the playing area
Port: left side
Starboard: right side
They can also be divided into corners (1-4)
When the leader calls out a certain corner the teams must run to that corner and do the designated
motion at that corner
Example:
Port: get in a straight line and row to your left
Starboard: get in a straight line and row to your right
Bow: lie down on back and raise one foot in the air
Stern: freeze in this corner and do not move until a new location is called
The last person in each corner is eliminated until one player remains.
BEACH BALL GAME
Get a beach ball (or other available ball) and write the numbers 1-20 on it. For each number, have a
corresponding note card with a question or silly activity. Participants should throw the ball to one
another or pass it along until the leader calls “Stop!” The person who has the ball at that time must call
out the number that is facing him/her and answer the question or perform the action. For example, #5
might say “hug three people in the circle” or #12 might say “tell us about your best memory.” This
game helps people get to know one another. I have also used the numbered beach ball for self-esteem
activities. When a person ends up with the ball & sees the number, she must either tell the group that
many nice things about herself OR dance in the center for that many seconds.
CAPTURE THE FLAG
Divide into 2 teams… Team 1 has the front area, Team 2 has the back. They have 5 minutes to hide
their flag on their side. Once the flag is hidden you call out you are done. The goal is to get the other
teams flag. If you get caught and tagged while on the other person’s territory you have to go to “jail”
(set on each teams side) and can only get out when a teammate grabs you while the other team is not
looking. The first team to capture the flag and bring it back to their side wins.
CLOTHES PIN TAG
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Hand any number of clothes pins to all the kids. Have them pin them to their clothes (they must be able
to be seen). Then have them all scatter on the playing field. On the signal, everyone runs around
snatching clothes pins from one another, kneeling down to attach their newly acquired prizes. You are
never out of the game; even if you have lost your clothes pins you may still take other peoples. At the
end of the game (usually a time limit), the one with the most clothes pins wins.
CRAB WALK SOCCER
Players take crab walk stance and try to get the ball into the other team’s goal. Once a goal is scored the
ball comes back to the middle.
CROCODILE CROSS THE RIVER
One person stands in the middle of box. Everyone else stand on the far side. The group asks “Crocodile,
crocodile may I please cross the river?” The person in the middle responds “Only if you’re wearing
____” If a person is wearing what they say they are free to pass. Everyone else must try and get by with
out being tagged. If you are tagged you have to join in the middle and help the Crocodile.
CROSS HAND PASS
Players divide into two teams. Each team should have its players pick partners and stand in a line facing
their partners. The participants cross their arms in front of their bodies and grasp the hands of their
partners. Holding hands in this position, each team attempts to pass a ball, block or bean bag down the
line. If the object is dropped, the line must stoop to retrieve it while holding hands. If it is necessary to
break grips to retrieve the object, the positions must be assumed before the ball can be passed on. The
first team to pass the object down to the end of the line wins.
CROWS & CRANES
Divide the kids into two equal teams. Have teams face each other across from an imaginary line (You
can use a rope divider). Assign one side to be “crows” the other “cranes”. The leader stands at the end of
the group in the center so all the players can see him/her. The leader calls out either “cranes” or
“crows”. If “crows” are called, the cranes must turn and run a short distance to their base before the
crows tag them. If any cranes are tagged, they become crows, and head to the other side for another
round. The same applies with “Cranes” are called. Play until everyone is on one side.
FISH & SHARK
This game should be played in a relatively open space. All participants should close their eyes and begin
walking slowly around the room. One person is selected as the Shark and all others begin as
Fish. When people bump into each other, they must whisper what they are, Fish or Shark. If two Fish
bump into one another, they remain Fish. If a Fish and Shark bump into one another, the Fish then
changes into a Shark. Keep playing until almost everyone is a Shark. If you are playing outside, it may
be a good idea to have some monitors to ensure kids are not wandering too far from the group while
their eyes are closed.
HANG MAN
Choose a word or phrase and make the blank lines to symbolize all the letters in the word or phrase. If
you’re doing this with a class it helps to have learners in groups and give each group a chance to choose
a letter. They continue to choose letters either until they run out of chances and complete hangman or
manage to guess the word or phrase.
HOT AND COLD
One person leaves the room. The people who stay in the room hide the object, when the person comes
back in they can only tell them if they are close (hot) or not close (cold)
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HOT POTATO
Everyone stands in a circle. When the music starts you pass the “HOT POTATO” when the music stops
whoever it lands on is out
HUNGRY LION
Ask all participants to stand in a straight line, side by side. The Lion (usually best to begin with group
leader) stands several yards away, with his/her back to the other participants. The line of people should
call out, “What time is it?” to which the Lion will respond with “___ o’clock!” Whatever time the Lion
said, the others must take that number of steps toward the Lion. This is repeated until the Lion feels
the others are close enough. This time, when the participants yell “what time is it?” the Lion will yell
back “DINNER TIME!” and run after the group. The first person to be caught by the Lion becomes the
new Lion. Repeat until kids are tired of running!
I SPY
Take turns finding an object and saying “I spy with my little eye something ____” until everyone has a
turn.
KNOT
Make a circle of 8. Grab hands with the person in front of you then with your left hand grab the hand of
someone from another group. Now try to untangle yourself with out letting go of each others hands
LEAP FROG
Split into teams and compete in a relay. The team that finishes first wins
MURDER HANDSHAKE
In this game, one person is chosen to be the murderer. Everyone sits in a circle and closes their eyes. A
non-playing adult goes around and secretly taps one person on the head. That person is the murderer.
To murder someone, the murderer must wink at a person. The victim must count to 10 then act out a
dramatic death. The others must try and catch the murderer in the act before they become one of the
victims.
Murder handshake works the same way, except the players meet each other and shake hands. The
murderer presses their index finger against their victim's wrist to commit murder.
MUSICAL CHAIRS
Make a circle of chairs (1 chair less than the number of people participating). Play music. When the
music stops they must sit in the chair. If you don’t get a chair you are out. This continues each new
round continue to take away one chair.
RED ROVER
Divide the kids into two even groups. They stand in a line a hold arms. One side says “red rover, red
rover send Name right over!” The person runs, if they break through they get to take one person back
to their side with them, if they don’t break through they must stay on that side. This continues until
everyone is on a side.
ROOSTER FIGHTS
Each camper hops on one leg, holding the other foot by the ankle up at his rear. To win, he must force
his opponent to lose balance and let go of his ankle, fall down, or step out of the circle. The only contact
allowed is bumping shoulders.
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WATER BALLON TOSS RELAY
Make a start and finish line and form two or more teams. Spread each member of the team about 3-5 feet
apart. Each member must toss the water balloon to the next team member. If the water balloon breaks
or falls onto the floor they have to start from the very beginning. The object of the game is to send 3
water balloons successfully down the line and into the team bucket.
WHEEL BARROW RACE
Partners take wheel barrow position and go down; once they reach the turning point they switch
positions and turn around.
SONGS
THE MOOSE SONG
With each line the leader sings it and then the groups repeat it back.
There was a moose! (Make moose antlers with hands out and thumbs on head)
Who liked to drink a lot of juice (motion drinking from a bottle with two hands)
There was a moose (same)
Who liked to drink a lot of juice (same)
Chorus:
Oh way, oh way (wave arms above head)
Oh way, oh way, oh way, oh way (move fists around in circle and moves hips around in opposite circle)
Way-o, way-o (two big circles with hips and fists)
Oh way, oh way, oh way, oh way (kick legs up in the back and arms straight out in front)
His girlfriend was a deer (make fists with thumbs out on head and pinkies up to make deer antlers)
Who liked to drink a lot of cool drink (drinking motion)
His girlfriend was a deer (same)
Who liked to drink a lot of cool drink (same)
Chorus
They went out on a date (march feet)
But they stayed out much to late (tap wrist like where a watch would be)
They went out on a date (same)
But they stayed out much to late (same)
Chorus
He's a mooooooooooose! (Make moose antlers with hands and tilt head back to yell)
Full of juuuuuuuuice! (Make drinking motion and tilt head back to yell)
On the loooooooooose! (Tilt head back to yell)
Chorus
SI-NA-NA-KA
For this game/song, everyone needs a chair. The song goes like this:
Si-Na-Na-Ka
Si-Na-Na-Ka
Ruka-Ruka-Ruka
Si-Na-Na-Ka
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On Si-Na-Na, everyone should stand on their tip-toes. On Ka, everyone should sit on his or her
chair. On Ruka-Ruka-Ruka, everyone should march in place and move their arms in a chugging train
motion. The leader can speed the song up to see if participants can keep up, or use misdirection & do
the incorrect actions to see if participants are following the original directions.
S.M.I.L.E.
First divide the group into three groups and assign one group to the the HAs, one group the HOs, and
the last group the HEs. When each group’s part comes they stand up and yell their line. Each verse we
sing together as a group and clap our hands to the beat.
Now, it isn't any trouble just to SMILE. No, it isn't any trouble just to SMILE. So, smile when your in
trouble, it'll vanish like a bubble, no, it isn't any trouble just to SMILE.
HA, HAHA, HAHA HAHA HAHA, HA
HO, HOHO, HOHO HOHO HOHO, HO
HE, HEHE, HEHE HEHE HEHE, HE
Now, it isn't any trouble just to LAUGH. No, it isn't any trouble just to LAUGH. So, laugh when your
in trouble, it'll vanish like a bubble, no, it isn't any trouble just to LAUGH.
HAs, HOs, and HEs
Now, it isn't any trouble just to GRIN, grin. No, it isn't any trouble just to GRIN, grin. So, grin when
your in trouble, it'll vanish like a bubble, no, it isn't any trouble just to GRIN, grin.
HAs, HOs, and HEs
THE TARZAN SONG
Leader says a line and does an action and then the group repeats it back.
Now, Jane (put hands up by face to make a bright smiling face)
Was swingin' from a weather vane (act like you are hanging onto something and swinging)
When she was spun by a hurricane (big motion of being spun around)
Oooo, that's bad (hand near mouth then at side)
Now Janie has a painie (walk like a grandma with a cane)
And I hope she doesn't peel (jump with one leg and put arms up and flick wrists)
Like a banana (pound chest like a gorilla to make voice quiver)
Now, Cheetah (make a claws near face and a mean face like a cheetah hunting)
Was rockin' to the beat-a (swing hands and hips like rockin')
When he slipped on a pizza (make slipping motion)
Now Cheetah is velveeta (circle/rub hands together)
And Janie has a painie (same Janie motion)
And I hope she doesn't peel (jump with one leg and put arms up and flick wrists)
Like a banana (pound chest like a gorilla to make voice quiver)
Now, Tarzan (make strong arm muscles)
Was swinging from a rubber band (make swinging on a vine motion)
When he smacked into a frying pan (clap one hand onto the other)
Now Tarzan has a tan (show off both arms)
And Cheetah is velveeta (circle hands around each other)
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And, Janie has a painie (walk like a grandma with a cane)
And I hope she doesn't peel (jump with one leg and put arms up and flick wrists)
Like a banana (pound chest like a gorilla to make voice quiver) but make this one extra loud and long
cuz it is the end!
TONY CHESTNUT
This is a great song with actions. The song goes:
Tony Chesnut Knows I Love You
aka
Toe Knee Chest Nut Nose Eye Love You
Tony Knows
aka
Toe Knee Nose
Tony Knows
aka
Toe Knee Nose
Tony Chesnut Knows I Love You
aka
Toe Knee Chest Nut Nose Eye Love You
That’s What Tony Knows
aka
That’s What Toe Knee Nose
As you sing the song, touch the body part it refers to:
Toe (touch toes) Knee (touch knees) Chest (touch chest) Nut (touch head) Nose (touch nose) Eye (touch
beside eyes) Love (cross arms in X over chest) You (point to someone).
On the last line, spin around once when singing “That’s What.”
This song is truly hilarious, especially when you get it going very quickly. A good idea is to run
through it twice slowly, then increase the pace until everyone is frantically reaching for toes, knees, and
noses.
TUTTI-TA
This is a sing-along, act-along activity. The leader demonstrates and then all participants repeat. The
song goes like this each time:
A Tutti-Ta
A Tutti-Ta
A Tutti-Ta-Ta
The first command is “Thumbs Up”, and all participants stretch out their arms and put their thumbs up,
kind of bopping side to side as they sing the song. Each time the song is sung, a new command is
added. Next is “Thumbs Up, Elbows In”, followed by the song. The commands are:
Thumbs Up
Elbows In
Feet Apart
Knees Together
Butt Out
Head to the Side
Tongue Out
Turn Around
Remember to add a command for each repetition of the song. People’s posture and actions get funnier
and funnier as the game goes on! I’ve also heard this game done with “Singin in the Rain” or a Jesus
song instead of “Tutti-Ta”.
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