Animals Like Us

Topic
- Nature & ecology
- Movement & sports
Learning skills
- Logical thinking
- Attention & concentration
- Language, reading & writing
- Communication & expression
- Body awareness
Activity type
- Teambuilding game
- Role play
Materials
- Basic
- Self-made
Age
- 6 - 11 years
- 12 - 14 years
5 - 15 minutes
+5 players
Intermediate
Medium
Small (office, pavement)

Contributors

Mobile School

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Everything you need to play this game

1 letter wheel (alphabet)
1 action/method wheel (ways to express)
Paper (optional, for keeping score)
Timer (optional)
Cardboard or thick paper
Markers or printed letters (A–Z)
Markers or icons for action categories
Split pins (paper fasteners) for spinning wheels
Scissors
Optional: laminating sheets

Make it yourself

Step 1

Create the letter wheel

Draw a circle and divide it into sections.
Write a different letter of the alphabet in each section.

Step 2

Create the action wheel

Draw a second circle and divide it into 4 sections. Add the following categories:

✋ Only hands (gestures, no speaking)
🤐 No sound (mime only)
🗣️ Only speaking (no body movement)
🎭 Everything allowed (no saying the animal name)

Step 3

Make the wheels spin

Cut out both wheels.
Attach each to a base with a split pin so they spin.

Step 4

Optional add-ons

Add colors or icons to make categories clear for younger players
Include example animals for inspiration

Good job!

A step-by-step guide to play the game

Players split into teams or play individually.

On your turn:

Spin the letter wheel.
Spin the action wheel.

Think of an animal that:

Starts with the chosen letter
Can be expressed using the selected method

Act, describe, or mimic the animal according to the rules:

Follow the restriction (e.g., no speaking, only gestures)

Other players or your team must guess the animal.

If they guess correctly:

You/your team earns 1 point.

First team/player to reach 5 points (or chosen score) wins.

Extra game information

This game concept was developed during a StreetwiZe leadership expedition with Sanoma in a refugee center in Lanaken, Belgium.

Variations

Hidden letter version: The guessing team does not see the letter → more challenging.
Time challenge: Players have 30 seconds to act and get a correct guess.
Points by difficulty: Harder categories (e.g., no sound) = 2 points.
Reverse mode: The group acts together, and one player guesses.
Category expansion: Instead of animals, use: jobs, objects or emotions
Story mode: Players must include the animal in a short story instead of just acting.
Cooperative mode: The whole group works together to reach a target score.

What people said about this game

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