Charades is a popular party game for a reason. It’s fun. It gives participants a chance to be creative. Everyone loves solving a mystery. And it gives you a chance to be a little crazy. Fortunately, with a few little tweaks, it is also easy to play on a video conference.

Charades can be played, simply for fun, but it can also be used as a teaching tool. When you combine actions with a phrase or keyword, you make it more memorable. You can create categories based on key objects, key characters in a story, important places, or key events.

Introduction
The essence of Charades is pantomimes: you must act out a word or phrase without speaking or making sound effects. This is usually done in person, but it can also be done in an online video meeting.

Adapting for Online Video

Video
The first requirement is a video platform which allows everyone to connect by video. Each participant will need a camera and will need to connect by video. They can connect using a computer, a mobile phone, or even a tablet. Ideally, they will need to have a hands-free video setup. This can be accomplished with a tripod, or by propping the video camera up against a book.

Chat
The second requirement is the ability to group chat via text. Most video platforms will have a text chat option built-in. You can give group instructions via group chat and give the secret phrases to the mime using private chat.

Game Description
In this version, participants all can compete as individuals or as teams.

Game Materials
A numbered list of keywords or phrases. These can be created simply for fun, or they can be extracted from a lesson.

Game Preparation
You will need to create a list of items relating to your lesson. Number the list so that participants can randomly choose one using numbers. You can privately text them the clue so that only they know the next phrase.

Game Play

1. Divide players into two teams or have them play as individuals.
2. Choose who will mime first.
3. In teams, or as individuals, the other players must guess what is being acted out. The mime must rotate so that everyone is required to mime a clue before someone can go again.
4. Each time a new mime begins, he must choose a number for the next phrase to act out.
5. A timer can be used or simply set an alarm on your phone or watch. It must be something everyone can hear. You can also simply ring a bell or bang a pan to let people know time is up.
6. As one person mimes his teammates watch and try to guess the word. In the case of team play, his teammates start shouting out what they think is being portrayed. Players can guess as many times as they want. Guessing is NOT done in turn!
7. The mime usually starts by indicating through motions (no words allowed) some indication of what they want to mime
8. They will indicate how many words are in the phrase by holding up the same number of fingers as words. They might also indicate which word they are miming first by holding up a finger for that word. Usually, they will put the number of fingers flat against their arm to indicate the number of syllables in a word.
9. They can also use other clues along the way to guide the answers:
   • “sounds like”: cup your hand around your ear
   • “little word”: bring your thumb and index fingers closely together.
   • “Longer version of the word”: pretend to stretch an elastic band.
   • “Shorter version of the word”: chop with your hand.
   • “close, keep guessing!”: frantically wave hands to keep the guesses coming.
   • “Knows”: Point to your nose to indicate that someone “knows” the word and is correct.
10. Continue until all the words in the phrase are correct.
11. If the Mime’s team guesses correctly before the timer is emptied, the Mime’s team gets one point and post the score in the group chat. It is now the opposing team’s turn to mime and guess a new name or phrase from a new slip of paper.
12. If the Mime’s team does not guess correctly before the timer is emptied, they do not win the point. The opposing team then gets ten seconds to make one guess to win the point. If the opposing team guesses correctly, they win the point. It is then their turn to mime and guess a new name or phrase. If the opposing team does not guess correctly, no one wins the point. It is now the opposing team’s turn to mime and guess a new name or phrase.
13. Play then alternates between teams with each phrase to be mimed.
14. In the case of individual play, everyone else tries to guess and the first person to get the complete correct phrase wins a point. If time runs out no one gets a point.
15. At the end of gameplay or the end of your clues, the team with the most correct guesses wins!

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

Our “Destined to Win” series is a great follow up for youth who are new Christians or to emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum / Small Group Study has a sports theme and is great for athletes and works well as a tie in to what’s going on in the NBA and the current Linsanity.
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