The "Um" Game
submitted by Anna Mallard of Activity Therapist at New Hope for Children, Jedburg, SC on September 11, 2003

Size: any

Equipment: A small bag of random familiar items

Objective: concentration, listening skills, promote use of vocabulary

Description: Sitting in a circle have each child take turns describing an item given to them from the bag. The child then has one minute to describe the item. If the child says the word "Um', pauses for more than five seconds, or uses another word such as "and" or "so", they will sit down and wait until the next round to participate. If the child is sucessful at descrbing the item he/she will receive a point. Peers will be encouraged to raise their hands if they hear "Um" or count five seconds of silence.