Let’s be honest, teachers like structure and enjoy a rules-based environment. So here are a few party games to run across your New Year’s Eve evening if you are spending it with fellow education professionals. .
We must stress that they are not drinking games and we do not endorse or encourage teachers drinking to excess if they choose to consume alcoholic drinks. They are simply fun ways to pass the time before Big Ben strikes 12.
1. The ask Nick game
At the start of the evening, one teacher is assigned the role of Nick Gibb. ‘Nick’ is the rules master and throughout the evening he/she must impose short-notice rules on the group that must be abided by immediately - any dissenters have to do an immediate forfeit. Each rule must be stated once, then followed with no additional explanation, no matter how obtuse or confused the rule may seem on first hearing. Each rule should only exist for a maximum of five minutes.
2, The leveller game
Members of the party are assessed for engagement and participation at half hourly intervals. This should be done by the person to their left using an obtuse scale hastily devised by someone on a serviette. Each assessment must be peer moderated by the person on their right. A league table must be constantly updated, ensuring maximum transparency.
3. The when SATs attack game
Appoint someone ‘The Invigilator’. Their job is to, at random moments, shout the name of one of the KS1 or KS2 assessments and everyone has to immediately shout back a word that best describes their thoughts about that exam. Prizes awarded for most ingenious use of swear words (please check the vicinity for children and the easily offended before proceeding).
4. The glitter master game
This is sure to be a hit with primary teachers. If you are familiar with the ‘thumb master’ then this game will be familiar. One person starts with a box of glitter and at some point they have to ‘glitterise’ a person or object. Everyone else must watch out for this and when they spot it they have to kneel and pay homage before the glittered object or person. The last person to do so receives a forfeit, like taking on playground duty for the other participants for the first week back, inherits the box of glitter and then is in charge of the next round of the game.
5. The progress late game
This is one for those out on the town this evening. Each member of the party is assigned a subject (Maths, English, Biology, Music etc) apart from one person, who is assigned the role of ‘Head’. Whenever the party moves between venues, the ‘head’ has to ensure staff leave one and enter another in order their subject appears in Progress 8 buckets. So Maths and English first, and so on… Failure to adhere to the correct order results in all guilty parties wearing a Nick Gibb mask.
6. The bus monitor game
Less a game, more a necessity - at the start of the evening everyone should agree who is the most responsible member of the party. That person should be appointed bus monitor. This role is key as it is their responsibility to ensure the group stays together. Any members that look like absconding can be punished. A whistle and a clip board is optional, a disappointed face is essential.
7. The data dictator game
If it moves, measure it. This game is all about collecting data and it should run across the evening. Every member must try and outdo each other in trying to produce data for the most innocuous tasks. Walking? Rate it. Drinking? Rate it. Breathing? Yeah, we’ll measure it. At the end of the evening a prize is given to the member that has identified the most pointless data collection process possible.
