What Animal Am I?

Name and Purpose

• What Animal Am I? builds creativity, non-verbal communication, and joyful group engagement.
• Players practise reading body language and expressing themselves without words.

a.k.a.

• Guess My Animal, Animal Mime

Age / Group / Time / Space

• Ages 8-16 | 8-20 players | 10-20 minutes | Circle space with open centre, indoors or outdoors

Materials

• No materials required

Quick-Run Card

1. One player volunteers to be the Performer and steps aside briefly.
2. The leader tells the Performer which animal to be.
3. The Performer returns to the centre and acts out the animal without sounds or words.
4. The circle calls out guesses freely.
5. When the animal is guessed, the Performer picks the next Performer or the group votes on the next animal.

Setup and Boundaries

• Form a circle with a clear open centre for the Performer to move in
• Signal: leader raises a hand to pause guessing; two claps to celebrate a correct answer
• Ensure the centre space is clear of trip hazards
• Keep the circle wide enough that the Performer has room to move without bumping into seated players

How to Play

1. Everyone sits in a circle with a clear open centre.
2. One player volunteers to be the first Performer.
3. The Performer steps just outside the circle while the leader quietly tells them an animal.
4. The Performer returns to the centre and acts out the animal using only movement and body language (no sounds unless the group agrees to allow them).
5. Players in the circle call out their guesses freely. All guesses are welcomed.
6. When the animal is guessed correctly, everyone celebrates.
7. The Performer chooses the next Performer, or the group votes on the next animal to make it collaborative.
8. Continue for as many rounds as time allows.

Note on the original prank version: The original game included a mechanic where the circle would refuse to guess ‘dog’ in order to confuse the Performer. This version removes that mechanic. Surprising or confusing a player without their knowledge can feel isolating. This version keeps the energy fun and respectful for everyone.

I-OPt Options

• Start
  • A (Active): Volunteer to be the first Performer
  • S (Support): Help the group call out guesses enthusiastically to encourage the Performer
  • Q (Quiet): Sit in the circle and call out guesses when you feel ready
  • O (Observer): Watch the first round from the circle before deciding to perform
• Mid
  • A (Active): Take a Performer turn and try a challenging animal
  • S (Support): Cheer warmly for every Performer, especially when the guessing is hard
  • Q (Quiet): Call out quiet guesses from your seat
  • O (Observer): Notice what kinds of movements make animals easiest to guess and share at the end
• Late
  • A (Active): Suggest harder animals for later rounds
  • S (Support): Encourage peers who have not yet taken a Performer turn
  • Q (Quiet): Continue guessing from your seat; there is no requirement to perform
  • O (Observer): Keep a mental list of which animals were hardest to guess
• End
  • A (Active): Lead a final round where two Performers act at the same time
  • S (Support): Lead the group applause after the final Performer
  • Q (Quiet): Join the debrief from your seat
  • O (Observer): Share the observation about which movements communicated most clearly

Inclusion Adaptations

• Players who do not want to perform in the centre can pass and remain in the circle as guessers; this role is equally valued
• Players with mobility differences can perform from a seated position; the leader can offer animals that are easy to mime while seated (e.g., a bird, a fish, a cat)

Stewardship Moment

• After the game, ask: ‘Which animals did we mime that live near our camp? What can we do to look out for them?’
• No materials and no waste

Consent

• Pre-brief: ‘In this game, one player at a time comes to the centre to act out an animal. Performing in the middle is always a choice. For those not comfortable performing in the centre, guessing from your spot in the circle is another option and just as important.’
• Mid-game check: After two or three rounds, pause: ‘Is anyone feeling left out or would anyone like a turn who has not had one yet?’
• Opt-out/re-entry: Performing is always voluntary. Any player can pass or return to the circle at any time.

Risks and Mitigation

• A player feeling mocked during their performance: set a warm, supportive tone before the game and redirect any unkind comments immediately
• Players repeating the same animals: keep a visible running list on the ground (written on a card) or have the leader track aloud
• Performer becoming anxious in the centre: keep rounds short (90 seconds max) and celebrate effort loudly and specifically

Warm-Up Suggestions

• ‘Animal Snapshot’: everyone freezes as their favourite animal on the count of three; no guessing, just a silly group freeze
• ‘Mirror the Animal’: leader slowly acts out an animal movement and the group mirrors it together before the game starts

Debrief Questions

• What? ‘Which animal was hardest to guess? What made it difficult?’
• So What? ‘What did you learn about communicating without words?’
• Now What? ‘How do you communicate things without speaking in your everyday life?’

Cleanup and Reset

• No equipment to collect
• Clear the centre space of the circle for the next activity
• Space is immediately ready