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School-Approved Games for Teens

Even though classrooms are designed for learning, they don't have to be tedious and dull. Teachers can incorporate the use of games and activities to entice teenagers to participate and learn. Familiarize yourself with your students by playing icebreaker games during the first week of class. There are many interactive games to engage junior high and high school students while still maintaining a level of professionalism and order. Even if the students are already acquainted with one another, it is good to start the school year with fresh energy and a new perspective on education.
  1. The Guessing Game

    • The teacher writes down a series of topics on individual index cards according to the subject. For example, an English teacher might write: Virginia Woolf, William Shakespeare, John Steinbeck, S.E. Hinton, etc. The teacher tapes the index cards onto students' backs without letting them know what the card reads and divides the class into groups of five. The students have to identify what is taped on their backs by asking questions within their group. They are only allowed to ask one question per group member but cannot pose a direct question. If they guess correctly, then they are rewarded one point. The group that is able to get the most correct answers wins the game.

    The Toilet Paper Game

    • A roll of toilet paper is passed around, and the teacher instructs the students to take as much as needed. They are not told why they will need the toilet paper. After the toilet paper has been passed around, students must state personal facts dependent on the amount of toilet paper they have taken. For example, if a student has taken two sheets of paper, then she must tell the class two things that the other students do not know about her.

    Never-Ever-Have-I-Ever Game

    • The teacher tells the students to raise their hands in front of their faces, keeping the fingers spread. Then, the teacher says the phrase, "Never ever have I ever" and finishes with a true statement. For example, the teacher could say, "Never ever have I ever tried a Hawaiian pizza." If the students have also never tried a Hawaiian pizza, they must keep all of their fingers up. If they have tried this pizza, they have to fold one finger. After the teacher's initial statement, the students take turns saying the phrase and mentioning something they have never tried.

    Straight-Faced Liar

    • Students write down four facts about themselves on an index cards, including three truths and one lie. They pass up their index cards to the front of the room, and the teacher reads out loud each student's name and facts. The teacher documents on the board which statement is false according to a show of hands in the classroom. After each judgment, the teacher lets the students know how well they really know each other by revealing the true statements.

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