This Is My Nose

Name and Purpose

• This Is My Nose is a quick, playful warm-up that gets everyone laughing together.
• Players practise listening, coordination, and mental flexibility in a low-stakes setting.

a.k.a.

• Body Mix-Up, Cross-Wired

Age / Group / Time / Space

• Ages 8-16 | 4-30 players | 5-15 minutes | Any space, standing circle or pairs

Materials

• No materials required

Quick-Run Card

1. Stand in a circle or pairs.
2. Player A points to a body part and names a different one (“This is my nose” while pointing to elbow).
3. Player B points to the named part and calls it something else, then points to a new part with another wrong name.
4. Continue around the circle or back and forth in pairs.
5. No “outs.” When someone gets tangled, everyone celebrates and keeps going.

Setup and Boundaries

• Stand in a relaxed circle with enough room to gesture comfortably
• Signal: raised hand or “pause” to slow the pace
• No running or physical contact required

How to Play

1. Stand in a circle. One player starts.
2. Player A points to any body part (e.g., their elbow) and says the name of a different body part (e.g., “This is my nose”).
3. Player B must point to the part that was named (nose) and say a different name for it (e.g., “This is my elbow”). Then Player B points to a new part and names it differently.
4. Continue around the circle, each player completing the chain.
5. When someone gets mixed up, everyone laughs together, that player picks a new body part to restart the chain.
6. Play for as many rounds as the group enjoys. No score needed.

I-OPt Options

• A (Active): Jump in quickly, go fast, help keep the chain moving
• S (Support): Cheer players who get tangled, keep energy light
• Q (Quiet): Take a longer pause before your turn, go at your own pace
• O (Observer): Watch a full round before joining, then step in when ready

Inclusion Adaptations

• Players who are not comfortable pointing to their own body can name a nearby object instead (“This is my chair” while pointing to the floor)
• Seated version works just as well for all players

Stewardship Moment

• No materials used. Prompt: “This game needed only your attention. What other games can we play with nothing but ourselves?”

Consent

• Pre-brief: “This is a mix-up game involving pointing to parts of your own body. For those not comfortable with that, pointing to objects around you is a great option too.”
• Mid-game check: “How is the pace? Do we want to go faster, slower, or mix it up?”
• Opt-out/re-entry: Pass on your turn at any time. Raise a hand to rejoin when ready.

Risks and Mitigation

• Players feeling embarrassed by mix-ups: normalise the confusion from the start (“Getting mixed up IS the game”)
• Game stalling if someone is anxious about their turn: allow passing freely at any time

Warm-Up Suggestions

• This game IS a warm-up. Use it to open a session or transition between activities.
• Follow with a game that builds on the group energy created here.

Debrief Questions

• What? “What happened in your brain when you tried to say one thing and point to another?”
• So What? “What does it feel like to be confused and still keep going?”
• Now What? “Where else does it help to laugh at mistakes instead of stopping?”

Cleanup and Reset

• No materials to collect
• Transition directly to the next activity