Mystery Classmate Clue Relay
Each student secretly writes three clues about themselves; cards are hidden in hoops at the far end of the blacktop and teams run relays to collect them and guess whose they are. It is an active way to discover surprising things about classmates.
How to play
- Give each student a card and a pencil: they write three clues about themselves that you cannot see by looking (no name) and fold the card (4 min).
- Collect the cards, shuffle them, and split them among 4 hoops placed about 65 ft from the starting line (1 min).
- Form 4 teams in lines. On the signal, the first runner goes to their hoop, grabs one card, returns, and hands it to the team; the next runner goes (8 min).
- The team reads the clues and writes down its guess for whose card it is. If the card belongs to someone on the team, that student cannot help.
- When the hoops are empty, each team reads a card aloud and gives its guess; the author stands up and confirms (8 min).
- Score one point per correct guess. Finish by asking which clue surprised them most (2 min).
- If time allows, repeat with clues about favorite sports (2 min).
Rules
- Clues must be true and something the person wants to share.
- Take only one card per trip and run in your own lane.
- Do not write clues about other people or about appearance.
Variations
Easier
Students write two clues with the help of a topic list (pet, sport, food, place).
Standard
Use three secret clues, the relay, and sharing with one point per correct guess.
Harder
Clues go from hardest to easiest, and teams earn more points for guessing after only the first clue.
Adaptations
- Students with limited mobility can be the team's reader and recorder, or run a shorter course.
- Students who struggle with writing can draw their clues or dictate them to the teacher.
- For fitter students, require a different locomotor movement on each relay leg.
Learning goals
- Discover personal details and hobbies of classmates.
- Reason as a group from clues to make a decision.
- Run relays quickly and in an orderly way.
Equipment for a class of 25
- cards: 25
- pencils: 25
- cones: 8
- hoops: 4
Teacher tip
Skim the cards as you collect them and pull any clue that might make someone uncomfortable; put two examples on the board before students write.
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