Name Drop Behind the Curtain
Two teams sit on either side of a bedsheet held up by two people; when it drops, the two students facing each other race to say the other one's name first. It is a fast, funny way to learn everyone's names in the first week.
How to play
- Split the class into two teams of about 12 and have them sit on the floor on each side of the sheet, about 10 feet back (1 min).
- The teacher and one student hold the sheet stretched at eye level so the teams cannot see each other (1 min).
- Each team silently picks one player, who crawls up and sits right against the sheet facing the other side.
- On the count of three the sheet drops: the first player to say the other person's name wins the point. The other player joins the winning team, so nobody is ever out (8 min).
- Halfway through, players sit with their backs to the sheet: their team gives clues without saying the name and the player guesses who is behind them (4 min).
- Finish with a quick circle where everyone says the name of someone they did not know before (1 min).
Rules
- Use only real first names, never nicknames the person does not like.
- Sheet holders drop it straight down and slowly, never snapping it toward faces.
- Crawl to the sheet without pushing your teammates.
- If it is a tie, both teams score a point.
Variations
Easier
Before each round the chosen players say their names out loud so the other team can remember them.
Standard
Play with first names only, and the player who loses switches teams.
Harder
Players must say the name plus one fact they learned about that person in an earlier introduction.
Adaptations
- Students with limited mobility can hold the sheet or be helped to the front; move the sheet to where they are.
- For students who are deaf or hard of hearing, raise a hand before dropping the sheet and accept pointing plus saying the name.
- Shy students may answer together with a teammate during the first rounds.
Learning goals
- Learn and remember classmates' names.
- React quickly to an unexpected visual cue.
- Accept switching teams as part of the game without getting upset.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Large bedsheet: 1
Teacher tip
Keep the class roster handy in case someone forgets a name, and tally on the board so every student gets at least one turn.
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