Clan & Tribe |  |
Tell kids that they're going to form different groups or "clans". Ask group members to choose from the following list of animal they most identify with. Keep choices secret. After everyone has chosen a clan, have group members walk around silently shaking hands with everyone else in the room. Each person should shake the number of times specified by his or her clan. Have kids continue shaking hands until they've grouped themselves according to their clans. Name enough clans to form small groups of five to nine members each. For example, if you have 25 kids, name only five clans from the following list.
- Bear Clan: one shake.
- Turtle Clan: two shakes,
- Wolf Clan: three shakes,
- Raven Clan: four shakes, etc.
Then have kids follow the instructions for the five rounds of play described below.
Round 1: After group members are in their clans, direct them to introduce themselves. Then have each member tell about one beautiful place her or she has seen in the world.
Round 2: Choose one clan to be chief clan. Instruct the members of this clan to make sure that every clan has an equal number of members. After the chief clan has evened up the clans, ask everyone to talk in their clans about places they have had to say good-bye to in their lives.
Round 3: Direct each clan to trade one clan member for a member of another clan. Then have the traded clan member ask their new clans three questions. For example, kids may ask about hobbies, interests, or favourite foods.
Round 4: Instruct each clan to trade two clan members for two members of another clan. Then have the old members of each clan ask the new clan members three questions.
Round 5: Gather the clans together and have kids share new things they learned about each other through this activity.
Stumble it! 
Add to del.icio.us 
Digg this!
Comments
We need to use discernment on what games we utilized. What are we teaching youth about tribes and clans of Native Americans?Native American peoples grouped in tribes and clans are existent today and this game may be offensive to them because it is taking something that is sacred to their identity and turning it into a game.
I think its a good mixer with the handshakes, but I would change the theme. ie. sports teams that do trade members Or if you are going to do this theme make sure you are backing it up with education or making it a relevant lesson.
Students are our leaders of tomorrow. "What we as leaders do in moderation our students will do in excess." - a wise mentor
Thank you.
- Youth Minister (4 Dec 2007)
Great point and well made. Thankyou for your feedback.
- admin (10 Dec 2007)
i think this is a great mixer game. An awesome way to get everyone feeling comfortable in the new environment. I think the idea of having 'tribes' is funny as the tv show survivor is really popular amoungst youth today. Also i would reccomend having funny tribe names for example: nacho tribe...or even getting the kids to come up with tribe names and then splitting them into a group.
- Youth Leader (23 Oct 2008)
i think this is an excellent game for sharing with Aboriginal students/children, it introduces the Clan system to them if they don't already know it. miigwech, Ojibway helper
- bhc (24 Nov 2009)
i see your point but sometimes we take things to the extreme and make everything into a negative or demonic element; we need to use judgment based on your group and be sensitive- I just came back from a reservation where are group leaders (Native American) did a game using the African tribes and cowboys- it was great and they weren't worried and I wasn't the least offended
- (22 Apr 2010)
great but if offensive, the names of the tibes can always change. but otherwise, it's a great way of involving everyone and making them feel good and appreciated. i liked it.
- julianne (11 Oct 2011)
Post your own comment