This game also serves as a tool for expanding a student's vocabulary. Use one 3x5 card for each student in the class. Write an emotion on each card, balancing the positive feelings ("cheerful," "elated," "joyous") with the negative ones ("furious," "terrified," "tearful"). Try to avoid basic words like "happy," "sad" or "mad." Explain to the class how many words exist to describe our emotions and how we can tell each other's emotions through facial expressions and body language. Assign a scribe to keep track of all the guessed words, as you'll need them at the end of the game. Have each student take a card and act out the emotion. When students guess correctly, it's the next student's turn. At the end of the game, display the list of words, and discuss with the class how the different words describe similar emotions. You can even make an emotion "thermometer," with the less intense emotions being on the bottom and the most intense being at the top. (For example, "disappointed" would be on the bottom of the "sad" thermometer and "depressed" or "despairing" might be at the top).
Create a worksheet with various "Find someone who" descriptions. (For example, "Find someone who is wearing a red shirt," or "Find someone who can speak another language.") There should be about 15 descriptions in the list, along with spaces for names to be written. Give each student a copy of the worksheet, and have students go around the room, finding other students who fit the descriptions. Once the majority of the students have completed their worksheets, have them return to their seats. Ask those who completed the entire worksheet to read off each name. Ask the students if they learned anything interesting about themselves and their classmates. Ask, "What questions would you have added if you could?"
This is useful in times of conflict or difficulty since it lets young people express their feelings. Have the students form groups of six, and encourage students to voluntarily share their feelings about current events. Every student should have a chance to speak without being interrupted. Hold listening circles whenever you feel they're necessary.
have students form pairs, and have pairs sit at opposite ends of a table. Put a book, piece of cardboard, or other barrier between them as if they were playing Battleship. Have one person from each team put her head down while you hand out pre-assembled LEGO structures. You can also use K'NEX or any other toy building set. Have the other team members raise their heads and give them the pieces that exactly match those used to make the pre-assembled structure. Have the team member with the pre-assembled structure examine it and instruct the partner about how to build the structure. Students can describe piece colors, sizes, and other characteristics, but no one is allowed to peek over the barrier. The goal is for both people to have exactly the same structure in the end. Have them compare when they're finished to see how close they came.