Name Five

Name and Purpose

• Name Five builds quick thinking, vocabulary, and teamwork in a low-pressure competitive format.
• Players practise listening and contributing under a light time constraint, with the whole team working together.

a.k.a.

• 5 in 5, Letter Blitz, Alphabet Sprint

Age / Group / Time / Space

• Ages 8-16 | 6-30 players | 15-25 minutes | Classroom or large indoor space with circle or row seating

Materials

• Timer (phone or stopwatch)
• 26 letter slips in a hat or bag (one per letter of the alphabet)
• Optional: whiteboard or flip chart for tracking scores
• No proper names allowed (rule posted visibly)

Quick-Run Card

1. Divide into teams of 4-6 with one timekeeper per team or one for the whole group.
2. Draw a letter from the hat.
3. Ask the team: “Name 5 things that start with the letter [X].” Each player names one.
4. The team has 30 seconds to collect all 5 answers.
5. First team to 10 points wins. No proper nouns allowed.

Setup and Boundaries

• Seat teams so they can hear each other but are clearly separate from opposing teams
• Post the one rule visibly: no proper names (people, places, brand names)
• Signal: raised hand = time is up; two claps = next team’s turn

How to Play

1. Divide players into 2-3 teams of 4-6. Each team sits together.
2. Choose one timekeeper for the whole group, or assign one per team.
3. Draw a letter from the hat. Read it aloud to all teams.
4. Call on one team to answer. They have 30 seconds to name 5 things that start with that letter. Each player on the team must contribute at least one answer.
5. One point is awarded for every valid answer. A full set of 5 earns a bonus point.
6. The letter is set aside. Draw a new letter for the next team.
7. Rotate through teams until every team has answered the same number of letters or until all letters are used.
8. The team with the most points at the end wins.

I-OPt Options

• Start:
  • A (Active): Call out answers quickly and encourage your team
  • S (Support): Help your team brainstorm before the timer starts
  • Q (Quiet): Prepare one solid answer and wait for the right moment to share it
  • O (Observer): Watch the first round to understand the pacing before joining
• Mid:
  • A (Active): Take on a harder letter and push for the full 5
  • S (Support): Prompt a quieter teammate with a category hint
  • Q (Quiet): Focus on one clear answer per round
  • O (Observer): Track the score for your team
• Late:
  • A (Active): Rally your team for a strong final round
  • S (Support): Celebrate good answers from teammates out loud
  • Q (Quiet): Stay consistent and contribute one answer per round
  • O (Observer): Announce the final score at the end
• End:
  • A (Active): Lead the cheer for all teams
  • S (Support): Help pack up the letter slips
  • Q (Quiet): Take a breath and reflect on your favourite answer from today
  • O (Observer): Share one moment that stood out

Inclusion Adaptations

• For players who need extra time, allow teams to use 45 seconds instead of 30 for specific rounds
• Allow written answers: players can jot their answer on a slip of paper rather than calling it out

Stewardship Moment

• Letter slips can be stored and reused for many sessions. Keep them in an envelope.
• Reflection: “We used the same 26 letters over and over. What else in your day gets reused in ways you might not notice?”

Consent

• Pre-brief: “This is a fast-thinking team game. For those who prefer a quieter role, tracking the score or managing the letter hat is a full way to play. You can always pass your turn to a teammate if you are stuck.”
• For those not comfortable with any part of this activity, sitting out or joining as an observer is another option.
• Mid-game check: After a few rounds, pause. “Is the pace working for everyone? Thumbs up, sideways, or down.”
• Opt-out/re-entry: Any player can pass their turn without comment. Rejoin whenever ready.

Risks and Mitigation

• One player dominating their team’s answers: remind teams that each person must contribute at least one answer per round
• Arguments over whether an answer is valid: the timekeeper’s call is final; keep it light and move on
• Quieter players feeling on the spot: frame the team format as a safety net, not a spotlight

Warm-Up Suggestions

• “Alphabet Walk”: walk around the room and touch one object that starts with each letter on a list
• “Word Association Sprint”: leader says a word; players each add one word that connects to the last one, going around the circle as fast as possible

Debrief Questions

• What? “Which letter was the hardest? Which was the easiest?”
• So What? “What did it feel like when your team needed you to come up with an answer quickly?”
• Now What? “Where in your day do you need to think fast and stay calm at the same time?”

Cleanup and Reset

• Collect all letter slips and return to envelope or hat
• Store for future sessions
• Erase scoreboard if used