Material needed

  • 1 small soft ball

Description

The participants sit in a circle.

First round: They throw the ball to somebody and say their own name.

Second round: The person who is holding the ball says the name of the person to whom he/she is going to throw the ball.

Third round: The person who is about to throw the ball says the name of the person whom he/she would like to receive the ball afterwards. (For example: I will throw the ball to Peter, but I don’t say his name. I say the name Barbara. So Peter will throw the ball to Barbara and at the same time he’ll say the name of the participant whom Barbara will throw the ball to, etc.)

Suggestions for adaptations and variations

Instead of sitting, participants stand in a circle.

Instead of playing with just one ball, two balls can be introduced, and later even three. This activity is also a good example of not only remembering others’ names, but also as a method to practise listening skills and a method of transferring a message (or an example of the process of communication).