“Games shouldn’t only be fun. They should teach or spark an interest in other things.” Hideo Kojima
The “Hangman” game is a wonderful way to check participant retention at the end of a session. I learned about it from Linda Fleischman at the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia.
Here are the directions:
- Create groups to compete against each other. (Note: It works best if two groups compete against each other.)
- Provide each group with flip chart easel paper, markers and painter’s tape (if there aren’t enough easels).
- Give the groups 5 minutes to create their own lists of questions related to the content of the session.
- The groups should then take turns asking a question of their competitor group.
- If the competitor group gets the answer right, it is their turn to ask a question.
- If the group gets the answer wrong*, the group that asked the question will draw a piece of the hangman on the paper and the incorrect group must answer another question.
- Whether the competitor group answers the second question correctly or incorrectly*, it is its turn to ask a question.
- The game ends when the first hangman is completed and the unfortunate group loses.
- Until that happens, the groups should keep playing until either the facilitator calls “time” or both groups have asked all of their questions.
Have you used “Hangman” in your training programs?
May your learning be sweet!
Deborah
