Names

How can we communicate with each other to build positive relationships? Remembering people’s names, their interests and preferences is necessary to build healthy and positive relationships with each other.

During the “Names” activity, the students will need to remember the name, favorite activity and corresponding movement of each participant, and then repeat them in the correct order. If a new student joins our class, we can play again to get to know each other better.

1. Split the class into two groups. If online, determine an order for students to share in advance. Tell students to think of something they like to do in their free time and an accompanying action or motion. For example, if I like to run, my action could be running in place.
2. Choose one student to go first. The student will say their name, favorite thing to do and the motion. All the participants repeat the name, their favorite thing, and demonstrate the motion. (e.g., “My name is Karina, and I like to read.” Karina claps her hands and opens them like she is reading a book. All students repeat: “Her name is Karina, and she likes to read.” Students then repeat the action) .
3. Then the next student will represent themselves in the same way. After each student shares his/her name and hobby, the whole class will repeat the name, favorite thing to do and the motion of the previous participants as a whole group.
4. At the end, point to a few students out of order and see if the class can remember what they said and their motions.

• What about this game was hard for you? What was easy?
• What strategies helped you to remember the names, the things and the motions of other participants? What strategies did you hear other people use that you want to try?
• What new information did you learn about your classmates? What are some other ways you can learn new things about others? Where and with whom would you like to play this game again?

For primary school students:

• Try a variation to play in less time. Instead of having students state their favorite thing to do, students can say their name and the movement which represents their favorite hobby at the same time.
• Make sure everyone can clearly see and hear the teacher who can help prompt them to remember what each student shared. When you notice that a child has forgotten the name, favorite activity or movement of another participant, help them by naming and reproducing the movement together.
• Ask students to share the name of an activity that begins with the same letter as their name.

For students in grades 5-6:

• Encourage students to share more complicated statements in more details. For example: “My name is Karina. I like to read fiction, especially detective stories and comics.”