Joke Mixer
Have simple, clean, one line jokes ready. Divide the questions and punch lines into separate pieces of paper. Make sure you have enough jokes that everybody gets a piece of paper (EITHER the question or punch line). Have
everybody mingle asking each other the questions and the answers. Eventually everybody will find their matching question and punch line.
From there, each group can share their joke with the group. This can also be used to partner people up, if needed.
List of Joke Ideas: Get More!
1. A magician was driving down the road. Then he turned into a drive way.
2. Two snowmen are standing in a field. One says to the other: Funny, I smell carrots too.
3. What are 30 rabbits in a row marching backwards? A receding hare-line
4. Why did the turtle cross the road? To go to the shell-station
5. Why do crows sit on telephone wires? So they can make long distance caws
6. What do you call a sleeping bull? A bulldozer
7. What did the hat say to the hat rack? You stay here I’ll go ahead
8. Why can’t bicycles stand by themselves? They are two tired
9. What do you call an alligator in a vest? An Investigator
10. What happens if you eat yeast and shoe polish? Every morning you'll rise and shine!
11. What's the difference between a guitar and a fish? You can't tuna fish
12. Did you hear about the race between the lettuce and the tomato? The lettuce was a "head" and the tomato was trying to "ketchup"!
13. What do you get from a pampered cow? Spoiled milk.
14. What do you call an elephant that doesn't matter? An irrelephant.
15. What gets wetter the more it dries? A towel
Ask me, Answer me
Have each chanich take two strips of paper. Have them place the same number on both sheets. Make sure nobody has the same number. Then have them place one of the numbers in the middle. Then have the kvutzah pick a different number. Each person should have their original number and a different number. Now have them write a funny question on the original number piece of paper and a funny answer on the different numbered piece of paper. Then go around the group saying the number and then asking a question, then have the person with the same number answer the question.
Criminal Dealing
You only need enough cards so each chanich may have one card.
One card needs to be a jack--the criminal, and one needs to be an ace--the cop.
All of the other cards should be below ten in rank. Let each person draw and keep a card, without showing it to anyone.
While standing in a circle, the participants must pass the object from person to person.
While the object is being passed around the criminal needs to recruit other criminals by winking at them, but without getting caught by the cop. Any chanich who sees a wink is to wait a few seconds, so as not to be obvious, and then say, "I committed a crime."
That person then turns in his card and is out of the game.
Play continues until the criminal recruits all players without being caught by the cop, or the cop identifies the criminal.
If the cop misidentifies the criminal, he loses the game.
*Variation - pass several objects at once or play several times and increase the number of objects each time.
Fanny Pictures
Make a maagal. Every person in the Kvutzah is given a piece of paper as well as a maker
The chanichim write their name and a ridiculous sentence at the very top of the page (holding the paper vertically) leaving plenty of room. ONLY USE ONE SIDE OF THE PAPER
Now, pass the paper to the person on their left. This new person is now in charge of drawing an image for the sentence that they see. This person then folds the paper back so that the sentence is not shown.
Pass the paper to the left, and this next person is now in charge of writing a sentence for the picture that they see. This same person folds their paper down, hiding the picture above their sentence. Pass the paper to the left.
Repeat step 5-7 until there is no more room on someone’s paper.
When there is no more room on the paper, unfold the paper, and return to the name that is on top.
When everyone has received their paper, let the chanichim present their original sentence, the pictures, and other sentences that are now on their paper.
Storytelling
Cut out different words and place them in a bowl or cup. Have the Kvutzah sit in a circle, and explain that each person will pick a word out of the cup. The madrichwill pick a word and begin the story with an opening statement. Go around the circle and touch someone's head, this person will continue the story, and then, when the person in his right is prepared to continue the story, touch this chnich's leg. The last chanich needs to wrap up the story.
Ballon Pop
Blow up balloons and tie a piece of string to them.
Tie the other end of the string to one of the ankles of each person
Aim of the game is to pop everyone’s balloon and prevent yours from being popped
You can only pop other balloons with the foot which has not got the balloon attached to it
Once your balloon has been pop you have to sit down, the last person left with a balloon wins
TP Relay Race
Split the Kvutzah into two teams and give each a roll of toilet paper. Instructions are given that they must pass the roll under their legs to the person behind them. The last person must begin passing it forward overhead until it reaches the first person again. Then back under and so on until the roll is out. This goes on and on until one team finishes. If the paper rips, they have to discard the ripped piece and pass it back to the front to start again. First one to finish is the winner.
*One person may hold the roll and run off lots of paper or they may roll it front to back on the floor without each person touching it. The team may be creative in ways to finish off the roll.
Cinderella’s Shoe
Have the kvutzah find a partner and have the pair sit next to one another in a maagal. Now that everybody has a partner, take blindfolds and blindfold one of the partners in each pair. Once at least one chanich per pair is blindfolded, tell the non blindfolded person to take off one shoe and throw it in the middle of the circle. When a madrich says go, all the blindfolded people have to go to the middle and bring back the right shoe that belongs to their partner. Their partner can scream and yell from their seats, but cannot touch them or physically guide them to their shoe. The blindfolded person must bring back the right shoe in order for the game to be stopped.
Masks
You will need crayons or paints, markers, scissors and white card for this activity.
Give each chanich a white card. Ask them to draw and cut out a life-sized facial shape. They can also cut out eyes and a mouth if they wish. Each chanich is then asked to decorate their card face. One side represents what they think people see/know/believe about them i.e. on the outside. The other side represents what they feel about themselves i.e. things going on the inside, what people do not necessarily know or see.
This is best used in an established group where the chanichim are comfortable and at ease with each other. 'Masks' is also a good discussion starter on self-image and self- worth. Make sure no one feels bad about this game, and use it in a positive way to talk about some problems the Kvutzah might have.
Kvutzah's Flag
You can make this activity in the beginning of the year, to make the Kvutzah's flag.
This Peulah will help the chanichim express what's important to them or to tell more about themselves. Provide large sheets of paper, crayons, markers and paints. Ask each chanich to draw a flag containing symbols or pictures describing who they are, what's important to them or what they enjoy.
Each segment can contain a picture i.e. favorite emotion, favorite food, a hobby, a skill, birth place, family, faith. Give everyone 20 minutes to draw their flags. Ask some in the group to share their flags and explain the meaning of what they drew.
Then, make one single flag from all the segments, and write down the name of the Kvutzah. Explain to the chanichim that we all have our own history, reality and life, but we are a Kvutzah, and here at the Ken they will learn to love each other as a family.
People Bingo
Great for new Kvutzah. Make a 5 by 4 grid on a card and duplicate it for everyone in your group. Supply pens or pencils. Each box contains one of the statements below. Encourage the group to mix, talk to everyone to try and complete their card. If one of the items listed on the bingo card relates to the Chanich they are talking with, have them sign their name in that box. End the activity after 10 minutes and review some of the interesting facts the group has discovered about each other. You can add your own statements appropriate for your group.
* Has brown eyes
* Has made the longest journey
* Has eaten the weirdest food
* Plays Tennis
* Is wearing blue
* Speaks a foreign language
* Knows what a muntjak is (it's a small deer)
* Plays a musical instrument
* Has 2 or more pets
* Has been to the most foreign countries
* Hates broccoli
* Has 2 or more siblings
* Name begins with an 'S'
* Loves Chinese food
* Loves to ski
* Knows what a quark is (A quark is a tiny theoretical particle that makes up protons and neutrons in the atomic nucleus. So there!)
* Loves soccer
* Likes to get up early
* Favorite TV show is CSI
* Is over 6ft tall
A variation of this same game is to do it in more detail, and can work even for a Kvutzah that already knows each other. It is the same idea as Bingo, but instead of just statements, you add a yes or no statement to a Chanich. For this to be funny, you have to do at least 5 different statements for one Chanich. Chanichim will go around meeting each and every-one on the group and asking them silly questions about themselves.
Examples of statements: Can touch his toe with his mouth; loves singing in the shower; has an Oedipus complex, etc.
Organize a scavenger hunt. Arm each chanich or team with a list and a treasure box or bag. If you'd like, offer a few tools, such as binoculars, magnifying glasses, disposable cameras, and plant field guides, to inspire closer observation. Set a time limit and let them explore. Display the chanichim' findings for the remainder of the party. Offer prizes for completing the list and finding unique or difficult items, or let the children select other award categories.
Conversation
Each Chanich is given a sheet of paper with a series of instructions to follow. This is a good mixing game and conversation starter as each Chanich must speak to everyone else. For example:
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Count the number of brown eyed boys in the room.
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Find out who has made the longest journey.
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Who has the most unusual hobby.
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Find the weirdest thing anyone has eaten.
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Who has had the most embarrassing experience.
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Who knows what 'Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia' is a fear of?
Once a chanich finishes, ask the question out loud, and check the answers – as a way to know them.
Name that Chanich
Divide the Kvutzah into two teams. Give each Chanich a blank card. Ask them to write five known facts about themselves on their card. Include all leaders in this game too. For example, I have a pet iguana, I was born in Iceland, my favorite food is spinach, my grandmother is called Doris and my favorite color is vermillion. Collect the cards into two team piles. Draw one card from the opposing team pile. Each team tries to name the Chanich in as few clues as possible. Five points if they get it on the first clue, then 4, 3, 2, 1, 0. The team with the most points wins. (Note: if you select the most obscure facts first, it will increase the level of competition and general head scratching!)
Balloon Hugging:
Select three boy/girl couples to help you with this game. Give each couple three balloons.
The couple must inflate and knot all three balloons. When this is accomplished, they must place one balloon under each of the girl's armpits and one between them as they face each other. The couple then has to burst the three balloons simultaneously by hugging each other. The winning couple is the pair who burst all their balloons first.
Melodrama:
Objects are placed in the center of the room. Enough objects for all chanich. Objects should be varied (e.g. a tour hat, a menu, sun lotion). Each chanich should choose an object. The madrich should begin a story e.g.
"It was a hot night when the tour from Britain first landed in Israel. Ben Gurion airport was packed with tourists. The mystery began when a body was found in the suitcase of a participant…" The Chanichim should continue the story, one by one, and include in their story the object they have chosen.
Berg Jump
Play this indoors or outdoors. All you need is newspaper, paper and maybe duck-tape to make a square shape. Set out various squared papers and tell kids they are Lilly Pads or Ice Bergs! The children are either frogs or penguins. Have them run around until you shout: " Here comes the hungry fish, or hungry walrus!" They must jump onto a lily pad or ice berg to be safe. When the creature says: "No food here I guess" it is sake for the kids to come off the paper. Continue by removing one of the squares, keep doing it until you are down to the last one. Any frog or penguin that gets caught or falls off the safe spot has to help you catch the others.
Would you rather…?
Questions may range from silly trivia to more serious content. On the way you might
find out some interesting things about your Kvutzah. Ask them to sit down in a chair or floor.
When the madrich asks "Would you rather?" they have to jump to the left or right depending of their answer. Each question will have two options, if the chanich chooses the first option, he will move right; if he chooses the second option, he will move left.
Examples of questions:
Would you rather..?
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Visit the doctor or the dentist?
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Eat broccoli or carrots?
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Watch TV or listen to music?
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Own a lizard or a snake?
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Have a beach holiday or a mountain holiday?
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Be an apple or a banana?
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Be invisible or be able to read minds?
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Be hairy all over or completely bald?
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Be the most popular or the smartest Chanich you know?
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Make headlines for saving somebody's life or winning a Nobel Prize?
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Go without television or fast food for the rest of your life?
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Have permanent diarrhea or permanent constipation?
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Be handsome/beautiful and dumb or be ugly and really smart?
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Always be cold or always be hot?
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Not hear or not see?
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Eliminate hunger and disease or be able to bring lasting world peace?
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Be stranded on a deserted island alone or with someone you don't like?
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See the future or change the past?
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Be three inches taller or three inches shorter?
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Wrestle a lion or fight a shark?
Song Scramble
Before the youth meeting, on a piece of paper, write down the first lines from several well-known songs. Then take some cards and write down only one line per card (two or three cards per song, each card only one line of the entire song - specify how many cards will be per song). Make sure there is one card for each person present. The cards are then scattered on the floor. Once the game begins each person grabs a card and looks for the holder/s of the other card/s which will complete the verse or section of the song. The winning group is the first one to correctly assemble and sing their song. Tape the songs to playback later.
Charade Relay
Make a list of 20 popular TV programs or movies. Divide your group into smaller teams and tell them to sit together and make a big circle of teams! You will stand in the middle. The game begins by each team sending one person to you. Show them the first TV program or movie on your list. They return to their team and silently act it out in front of the group. As soon as someone guesses it, that person runs to you for the next movie on the list and they start all over. The wining group is that which acts out and guesses 20 programs or movies. Make sure there is no cheating.
Bang
Everyone writes their name on a piece of paper, and then wads it up into a ball. All the paper balls are tossed into a hat (or cupped hands if no hat is available). The madrich will then go around and everyone will draw a ball. Each chanich will adopt the name drawn, telling nobody the adopted name. When a name is called by the madrich, the Chanich with the adopted name ducks. If the madrich calls names quick and looking at the Chanich with his real name, the game become funny. If a chanich draws his own name it is ok.
Name Grid
Divide the Kvutzha randomly into teams of three/four. Each group needs paper and pens. Ask them to draw a grid on which they write their forenames.
Give each team three minutes to write down as many words (three letters or more) that they can make only using the letters in their names. Letters must adjoin each other in the grid, but do not have to be in a straight line.
When the time is up each team adds up their score.
3 or 4 letter words = 1 point
5 letter word = 2 points
6 letter word = 3 points
The team with more points wins.
If… Yes or No
Ask the kvutzah to sit in a circle. Write 20 'IF' questions on cards and place them (question down) in the middle of the circle. Each chanich will have two cards, one with the word YES and other with the word NO.
The first Chanich takes a card, reads it out loud and thinks his answer not sharing with the rest untill every one has chosen their own answer. Then, the fist chanich say his answer and the rest of the Kvutza share its answers too. If the majority said as the fist chanich, he wins. The card is returned to the bottom of the pile before the next Chanich takes their card.
Examples:
1. If you could go anywhere in the world, you will go to Israel.
2. If I gave you $10,000 and you need to spend it today, you would you spend it on doing fun things?
3. If you could watch your favorite movie now, you would watch Titanic.
4. If you could interview anyone in the world, you would interview Obama.
5. If you could wish one thing to come true right now, you would ask for snacks.
6. If you could live in any period of history, you would choose the 60'.
7. If you could change anything about yourself, you would change your body.
8. If you could be someone else, you would be your mom/dad.
9. If you could have any question answered, you would ask if god is alive.
10. If you could watch your favourite TV show now, you would watch "How I you’re your mother?".
11. If you could have any kind of pet, you would choose a monkey.
12. If you could do your dream job 10 years from now, you would choose being a doctor.
13. If you had to be allergic to something, you would choose avocado because you hate the smell.
14. If you sat down next to Moshes on a bus, you would ask him he truly part the see into two.
16. If you had one day to live over again, you would choose yesterday.
17. If you could eat your favourite food now, you would eat pasta.
18. If you could learn any skill, you would learn to beat.
19. If you were sent to live on a space station for three months and only allowed
to bring one Chanichal item with you, you would choose a family photo.
20. If you had to choose one number from 1-10, you would chose 7.
Tell a Story
Everyone writes a quote/sentence on a piece of paper, wads it up, and throws it into a hat. The madrich chooses two chanichim, known for being good at improvisation, and ask them to sit down at the center of the cheder. Then, the Madrich starts a story (can be an educational topic such as Hertzel, Ben Gurion, Obama, etc) and the chanichim siting in the center must continue it. Time to time each chanich will take out one paper and must introduce the sentence into the conversation. This game is better to play just one time, although you can change the topic throughout the peula – it is not recommended to ask the chanichim to write down papers after they already know the game.
Who am I?
Put a name of someone famous (Moshe or Bart Simpson, etc) on a chanichim' head. The chanichim has to go around asking people yes and no questions like "am I on TV?", until they figure who they 'are'.
Paper Bag Dramatic:
Give teams of about 5 a paper bag with a bunch of junk in it: scissors, pens, bottles, a hat etc. Each group must think of and perform a skit with all of the group members and all of the props included the paper bag.
Breaking the Ice:
The chanichim are split into teams and each team receives a large block of ice (you can hide something inside). The first team to literally break the ice (with whatever utensils you give them) wins.
Water Balloon Toss Game:
Fill a lot of balloons with water. Ask each chanich to get a partner. Give each team of 2 a water balloon. Have the chanichim stand very close together and throw the the balloon back and forth. Each time after the balloon is tossed, the chanichim must take one step backwards. The farther they go, the more likely they will not catch the balloon and it will break. The last team to have an intact water balloon wins.
Chocolate Chomp (Remember: No one is allowed to throw away food)
Ask everyone to sit in a circle on the floor. In the middle of the circle place a large bar of chocolate on a plate, a knife, a fork and three items of clothing – gloves, scarf and a cap. (Don't forget to remove the wrapper from the chocolate!) Each person in the circle takes a turn at rolling a dice.
On throwing a six they run to the middle of the circle, put on the items of clothing and try to eat as much chocolate as possible. However, they can only cut it with the knife and pick it up with the fork. As soon as someone else throws a six, they run to the middle, put on the gloves, hat and cap, and take over. Continue until all the chocolate is eaten.
Egg Race Relay (Remember: No one is allowed to throw away food)
Divide the kvutzah into two teams. Provide each team with a spoon and a carton of hard-boiled eggs. One player at a time from each team must go to a designated spot (15- 20 feet away) and back holding an egg on a spoon. If he/she drops the egg, he/she must start over with a new egg. The first team where each player has successfully traveled back and forth with an intact egg, wins!
Use those games that involved food, in order to do a meal after the games instead of throwing it away.
Banana Relay (15+) (Remember: No one is allowed to throw away food)
This activity is very similar to the “Neck Race.” However, in this game, a banana is placed between the knees of the first person, and it must be placed between the next person’s knees - without using any hands. If the banana drops, it starts with the first person in line. The last chanich, need to eat the entire Banana. The first team to finish successfully wins.
Watermelon Roll Relay (Remember: No one is allowed to throw away food)
This is similar to the potato sack race, but instead of jumping in a sack the children must roll the watermelon. The first team where each child has successfully rolled a watermelon back and forth wins!