Hangman

Hangman is a classic participatory activity that promotes learning, teamwork, and creativity. Participants guess words related to a specific topic, one letter at a time, while trying to avoid completing the hangman figure. It’s ideal for educational activities, team-building sessions, and as a fun energizer.

Positive alternatives to the name "Hangman"

Let’s be honest—“Hangman” doesn’t exactly sound cheerful. If you’d like to reuse the game structure with a more positive and constructive tone, consider choosing a name that highlights learning, collaboration, and group creativity. This change also helps remove negative connotations and promotes a more inclusive environment.

• Word Builders
• Guess the Word
• Letter Challenge
• Key Words
• Word Quest
• Hidden Letters
• Find the Clue
• Words in Action
• The Letter Puzzle

Preparation

1. Define the purpose:
   • Reinforce knowledge on a specific topic in a fun way.
   • Encourage collaboration and team decision-making.
   • Promote strategic thinking and creativity.
2. Prepare the materials:
   • Whiteboard, flipchart, or large sheet of paper for drawing the figure.
   • Markers or pens.
   • A list of words or phrases related to the session’s theme.
3. Set up the space:
   • Ensure all participants can see the board clearly.
   • Create teams to boost interaction and teamwork.
4. To run the activity virtually:
   • Use collaborative platforms that allow screen sharing or interactive drawing tools for guessing as a team.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Explain the activity:
   • Begin by explaining the rules: one team must guess a word or phrase letter by letter before the drawing is completed.
   • Teams take turns proposing letters.
2. Select words or phrases:
   • The facilitator chooses words connected to a relevant theme (e.g., organizational values, scientific terms, etc.).
3. Start the game:
   • Draw blank spaces for each letter of the word or phrase on the board.
   • Teams guess a letter on their turn. If the letter is correct, write it in the appropriate space. If incorrect, draw part of the figure.
   • The team loses if the drawing is completed before the word is solved.
4. Wrap up the activity:
   • Once the word is guessed or the figure is completed, debrief with the group and reflect on what was learned from the words or phrases used.

Purpose

The purpose of Hangman is to reinforce knowledge, encourage teamwork, and promote learning in a dynamic and engaging way.

Required materials

• Whiteboard, flipchart, or similar surface.
• Markers or pens.
• List of words or phrases related to the activity’s topic.

Platforms

• Flippity
• Skribbl.io
• Drawasaurus
• Whiteboard.fi
• Miro
• Mural

Practical recommendations

• Adapt the words to the participants’ context and knowledge level.
• Balance the difficulty of the words to maintain interest and active participation.
• Encourage teams to discuss strategies before guessing letters on their turn.
• Introduce themed rounds to dive deeper into specific topics (e.g., sustainability, leadership).
• Reflect at the end on the words used and how they relate to the group’s or workshop’s purpose.

Inspiration

Variations to make the activity more participatory and reflective:

• Additional clues: Before each turn, teams may request a clue—but doing so lowers their final score.
• Collaborative turns: Each team can openly discuss their answer before proposing a letter.
• Themed Hangman: Both the words and the drawing relate to a specific topic (e.g., a historical figure, a current project).
• Cumulative rounds: Teams earn points for each correct word and compete across multiple rounds.
• Final reflection: Ask teams to connect the guessed words to a shared theme or group challenge.