Youth Group Game: Gossip Charades Remix

Bible: Proverbs 20:19

Topic: Gossip

Use this back to school game to challenge your students’ views on gossip.

As they play an interactive, silent version of the age-old game of telephone, students will take part in what gossip really is—blindly repeating words without having any idea if they’re true or not.

Supplies:

  • Pen & paper
  • Various props—since you will be creating the prompts, whatever props you have will work.

Before the game starts, write down several prompt sentences for students to act out.

Line the students up. Give the first student in line a prompt to act out for the next person in line to guess by using motions and the provided props—but no words.

While the first student acts out the prompt, everyone except the next person in line has to close their eyes.

Once the student guessing has an idea of what the answer is, they then turn to the next person in line (who then opens their eyes) and acts out what they think the prompt is.

Continue down the line this way, but make sure no one talks or opens their eyes when it’s not their turn!

Once the game reaches the end of the line, have the whole group open their eyes.

Have the first person act out the starting sentence, and then have the last person in line act out the sentence they guessed.

Tell the students what the sentence actually started out as, and go down the line to see what their guesses were.

Ask:

  • How big of a difference was there in what (first student) was trying to get you to guess and what (last student) was trying to get you to guess?
  • Was the game more difficult because you couldn’t speak up and say what you wanted to say?
  • Does this remind you of any real life situations?

Teach – Gossip

Say:

I have to say; it was pretty funny watching you guys try to communicate with no words.

It was even funnier to hear how drastically the original message changed as it went down the line.

Even though this game was hilarious, it was also reminiscent of a real life problem that’s not so funny.

Ask:

  • Does anyone know what I’m talking about?

Say: I’m talking about gossip, something that seems to exist in every single school.

Even if I don’t personally know you, your friends, or your school, I can guarantee you’ll be faced with gossip at some point this year.

It’s just a sad fact.

I know you guys had your eyes closed during the game, so why don’t I tell you what I saw?

I saw some written words start out pretty good, and then get twisted really fast.

The words got twisted so fast because once the game got going, no one was getting the story from the original source.

It changed from person to person, getting more and more mangled as the game went on.

This is exactly what happens with gossip.

What may start out as a true story or concern quickly changes as it is passed from person to person.

Ask:

  • Have you ever had gossip circulate around school about you?
  • Have you ever participated in gossiping about someone else?

Say: Gossiping is an extremely easy trap to fall into.

I mean, think about it. You overhear something interesting in class, so you want to repeat it.

If you want to be apart of someone’s conversation, it’s easy to just drop a few lines about what you overheard. It seems harmless, really.

But in reality, it’s anything but harmless.

You see, there was another similarity to gossip and our game, and that’s the fact that none of you were allowed to speak up.

Think how quickly the game would have ended if you were able to use words and ask questions instead of blindly gesturing and using props that were given to you.

This is exactly how gossip works.

All you’re doing is passing along words that were given to you.You’re doing this blindly, because really, you don’t know if they’re true.

And the person you’re talking about? They don’t get the chance to speak up for themselves.

Read: Proverbs 20:19

“A gossip betrays confidence; so avoid anyone who talks to much.”

Say: Ouch. Are you really betraying confidence when you repeat a little harmless gossip?

Absolutely.

This year in your school, you’re sadly going to be surrounded by gossip. And while you may not be able to stop gossip from starting, you can definitely stop it from continuing with you.

Ask:

  • How does it make you feel to realize that the Bible advises avoiding people who gossip?
  • Does this verse change the way you think about gossip?
  • Why do you think it’s so tempting to participate in gossiping?

Wrap up

When you’re tempted to join in with others gossiping this year, I want you to remember two things.

One, I want you to remember just how silly you all looked and felt as you were acting out your guesses that without knowing if they were true or false, and remember that gossip is very similar to that.

Two, I want you to remember this verse.

You don’t want to be the type of friend who betrays confidence.

And even more than that, you don’t want to be a person who the Bible recommends avoiding.

Just like in the game tonight, gossip would end so much quicker if someone spoke up.

So don’t be afraid to speak up and stick up for those who are being gossiped about.

Because those actions are the actions of a person you can be proud of.

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3 Replies to “Youth Group Game on Gossip”

  1. Cs go hacks
    • December 28, 2017

    I benefit from reading through your web sites. Kudos!|

    Reply 1 Response
    1. Kristy Preston
      • December 29, 2017

      Awesome! Thanks and we hope this lesson blesses you and your students!

      Reply
  2. Mrs. V
    • March 23, 2022

    What are some examples of prompts for the kids to do? I’m struggling to come up with some ideas.

    Reply

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