Can You Guess It?

To prepare for this activity, you will need to create three word decks:

1. 1. Deck 1 - Write simple words that are objects Eg: lamp, fork, whisk, egg - one word on small pieces of paper, 10-20 depending on the size of the group (different on each piece)
   2. Deck 2- Write more complicated words, that designate more ‘structural’ concepts, that are found in everyday contexts Eg: politics, constitution, rights, meeting, vote, resources, economy, ecology, etc.
   3. Deck 3 - you will need abstract concepts. Think of words that get people excited when getting into conversations, because they are quite intimate and personal perceptions, as well. Eg: love, hate, equality, equity, discrimination, gender, sexuality, God, faith, etc.

1. Divide the group into pairs – you can do this or ask them to do it themselves.
2. Ask the pairs to stand opposite each other in two long lines. Decided if the left or right line will go first- play will alternate
3. The game goes in 3 rounds, and each round gets increasingly challenging for participants- rules and words wise.

Round 1 (distribute deck 1) Participants looking at the piece of paper are supposed to make the person facing them guess the word that only they have seen. They are allowed to use words, sounds and movements to help their partner, but not the word on the piece of paper.

Round 2 (distribute deck 2) Participants now are not allowed to use words but can use sounds and body movement.

Round 3 (distribute deck 3) This time, participants are not allowed to use sounds or words. They can only mime the word (also drawing works if they ask).

4. Distribute one face-down piece of paper in front of the participants who will go first (left or right, as above)
5. Remember, as the game leader you give the signal for the guessing round to begin, which should be a maximum of 1 or 2 minutes.
6. When time is up, ask who correctly guessed their word and who didn’t.
7. Now, move the line along one place, so that partners change.
8. Repeat step 4 & 5 for each deck. You can also play as many times as you like, just remember to change the word sets and have the people move places.
9. Once all decks have been played and as many rounds as you like, gather the group together to debrief.

Please refer to the Learning Objectives above for each age group when explaining, facilitating, and recapping this activity. Select the questions relevant to the age group and their objectives.

• How did you find the game?
• What did you notice about the words?
• Which round was the easiest/ most difficult? Why?
• What was easy/ difficult about making the other person guess
• What was easy/ difficult about guessing the word?
• How do you see communication happening in real life based on perceptions?
• How do differences in perceptions affect/ shape our interactions?
• How did you think of explaining the word on the piece of paper? How do you think the other person related to your vision?
• What can you take from this exercise and integrate into the way you relate to those around you?

Perceptions are what we experience first and foremost through the data input from our surrounding environments. It is how we make sense of the world around us. What is more interesting, is that we share some core concepts, whereas we also have differences which are dictated by our culture and language- for example, there is no word for ‘passion’ in Norwegian. How do we find our common grounds and how do we build upon that, all the while taking perceptions into account?