Overview: “WAG” (Word Association Game) has students responding to the word a previous student has spoken.
Logistics:
Ideal for ages 12-22
Best played with 5-8 students
No equipment needed
Time: 3-20 minutes
How to Play “WAG”:
Stand or sit in a circle close together facing inward. One student starts by saying a word, and it can be any word. The student to his or her left listens to the word and says the first word that comes to mind, but it must relate in some way to the previous word spoken. The next student to left says the first word that comes to mind and again must in some way relate to the previous word spoken (not to the starting student’s word).
This continues around the circle, with everyone saying a word or short phrase triggered by the previous word spoken. When you get to the student who gave the first word, you continue to go around the circle again and again as long as you want. It is a fun way to relax around a campfire, dinner table, van ride or on a rainy day with nothing to do.
If a student says a word that does not seem to relate to the previous word, anyone can challenge the word. The student giving the new word must be able to explain the reasoning for coming up with the new word and how it relates to the previous spoken word.
If you want to make the game a little competitive: If the player cannot explain the reasoning for the word he or she selected, that person is out for that round. You also could add other ways for players to be eliminated: by failing to come up with a new word within three seconds or using a word or phrase that already has been used during that round.
At any point during the game, the student who started the round can call an end to the round. If you are playing with the competitive slant to the game, at this point everybody who got out jumps back into the game. The student to the left of the student who started the previous round begins a new round with any word he or she chooses.
An element that makes this game fun and interesting is the tangents the group will take. Here is an example of how the game might go:
Student #1 – football
Student #2 – ESPN
Student #3 – TV
Student #4 – radio
Student #5 – 98 rock
Student #6 – heavy metal
Student #1 – gold
Student #2- filling
Student #3 – dentist
Student #4 – teeth
Les Christie, a veteran of four decades in youth ministry, is the Guru of Games and author of 15 books, including Best-Ever Games for Youth Ministry. He chairs the Youth Ministry Department at William Jessup University in Rocklin, California.
Josiah Gelsinger is one of his favorite students.
