Web of Names

Name and Purpose

• Web of Names is a name-learning game that creates a visible web of connection across the group.
• Players practise names, turn-taking, and the idea that everyone is part of the group’s fabric.

a.k.a.

• String Web, Name Web, Yarn Toss

Age / Group / Time / Space

• Ages 8-16 | 8-25 players | 10-15 minutes | Any space for a seated or standing circle

Materials

• 1 large ball of string or yarn
• Scissors (staff only, for cutting string at the end if needed)

Quick-Run Card

1. Group sits or stands in a circle. One player holds the end of the string.
2. They say someone’s name and toss the ball of string to that person, keeping hold of their end.
3. The catcher holds their section of string and tosses to someone new.
4. A web forms across the circle.
5. To unwind, reverse the order: call the name of the person who tossed to you and toss back.

Setup and Boundaries

• Arrange the group in a circle, seated on the ground or in chairs
• Use a large, soft ball of yarn or string (easy to catch and hold)
• Signal: facilitator manages pacing; 1 whistle = pause; 2 whistles = gather
• Remind everyone to stay seated to avoid tripping on the string

How to Play

1. The group sits in a circle. One player (or the facilitator) holds the end of the string.
2. That player says the name of someone across the circle and tosses the ball of string to them, keeping hold of their own end.
3. The catcher holds their section of string taut and calls out another name, then tosses the ball to that person.
4. This continues until everyone has received the string at least once. A criss-crossing web forms across the circle.
5. Pause and admire the web. “Look at the connections we’ve made.”
6. To unwind: reverse the process. Each person calls the name of the person who tossed to them and throws the ball back. That person winds up the string as it returns.
7. The unwinding is the real challenge and the best part.

I-OPt Options

• A (Active): Full participation, tossing and catching the string
• S (Support): Help someone who can’t remember a name by whispering it
• Q (Quiet): Participate from their seat; the string comes to them
• O (Observer): Watch from just outside the circle, learn names, join when ready

Inclusion Adaptations

• Roll the ball of string along the ground for players who prefer not to catch
• Partner assist: a neighbour can help hold the string for players with limited grip

Stewardship Moment

• “We’ll rewind all the string so it’s ready for the next group. No waste.”
• Wind the string neatly back into a ball. Reuse, do not discard.

Consent

• Pre-brief: “This game involves tossing a ball of string and saying names. If you’d rather roll it on the ground, that works too. You can also watch and join in when you’re ready.”
• Mid-game check: After the web is formed, pause. “How’s everyone feeling? Ready to try unwinding?”
• Opt-out/re-entry: Sit just outside the circle. Join in during the unwind phase.

Risks and Mitigation

• Tripping on string: everyone stays seated; no standing or walking during play
• String around fingers or neck: remind players to hold string loosely, never wrap it
• Tangled web hard to undo: if the unwind stalls, it’s okay to cut and start fresh

Warm-Up Suggestions

• “Name Round”: go around the circle, each person says their name and one fun fact
• “Ball Toss Practice”: toss the ball of string around without holding the end, just practising the throw

Debrief Questions

• What? “What did the web look like? What happened when we tried to undo it?”
• So What? “What does the web tell us about how connected this group is?”
• Now What? “How do the connections we make in this group carry into the rest of camp?”

Cleanup and Reset

• Rewind the string into a neat ball
• Store for reuse
• Quick space check