In brief: To keep a balloon afloat while calling out names of members.
Intensity: High
Introduction: It was believed that the earliest balloons were made from animal bladders. The first rubber balloon was created by Professor Michael Faraday in 1824 for his experiment with hydrogen at the Royal Institution in London. Thanks to him, we don’t have to blow animal bladders for parties.
Prop(s): A balloon per group
How to play:
- All members of the group stand in a circle with a member in middle.
- The person in the middle will have an inflated balloon. He will throw it up in the air and call out a member’s name.
- The member whose name is called will need to catch the balloon before it drops to the floor.
- He must then immediately throw it up in the air and call another person’s name.
- And where does the previous person in the middle do? He will take the place of the person whose name has been called.
- This continues until someone fails to catch the balloon or when the group has had enough fun.
Variation(s):
- The wider the circle, the more challenging the game.
- Start with 2 balloons and 2 persons in the centre.
Notes to the Facilitator: Play this game only after members of the group have had a chance to get to know one another’s names.