Hangman is a classic participatory activity that promotes learning, teamwork, and creativity. Participants guess words related to a specific topic, one letter at a time, while trying to avoid completing the hangman figure. It’s ideal for educational activities, team-building sessions, and as a fun energizer.
Positive alternatives to the name “Hangman”
Let’s be honest—“Hangman” doesn’t exactly sound cheerful. If you’d like to reuse the game structure with a more positive and constructive tone, consider choosing a name that highlights learning, collaboration, and group creativity. This change also helps remove negative connotations and promotes a more inclusive environment.
- Word Builders
- Guess the Word
- Letter Challenge
- Key Words
- Word Quest
- Hidden Letters
- Find the Clue
- Words in Action
- The Letter Puzzle
Preparation
- Define the purpose:
- Reinforce knowledge on a specific topic in a fun way.
- Encourage collaboration and team decision-making.
- Promote strategic thinking and creativity.
- Prepare the materials:
- Whiteboard, flipchart, or large sheet of paper for drawing the figure.
- Markers or pens.
- A list of words or phrases related to the session’s theme.
- Set up the space:
- Ensure all participants can see the board clearly.
- Create teams to boost interaction and teamwork.
- To run the activity virtually:
- Use collaborative platforms that allow screen sharing or interactive drawing tools for guessing as a team.
Step-by-step instructions
- Explain the activity:
- Begin by explaining the rules: one team must guess a word or phrase letter by letter before the drawing is completed.
- Teams take turns proposing letters.
- Select words or phrases:
- The facilitator chooses words connected to a relevant theme (e.g., organizational values, scientific terms, etc.).
- Start the game:
- Draw blank spaces for each letter of the word or phrase on the board.
- Teams guess a letter on their turn. If the letter is correct, write it in the appropriate space. If incorrect, draw part of the figure.
- The team loses if the drawing is completed before the word is solved.
- Wrap up the activity:
- Once the word is guessed or the figure is completed, debrief with the group and reflect on what was learned from the words or phrases used.
