INSTRUCTIONS FOR "NUMBERED CHAIRS"

Okay,I'm going to try and share with you the best trivia game I have ever played with teens. It's loud and rowdy and fun, and even kids who don't know the answers to trivia questions can play. I'm going to use this game for my Harry Potter party this summer, but it can be adapted for a book character party or any other theme where trivia questions might be involved.

ADVANCED PREPARATION:

Decide on 30 - 50 trivia questions.

Print the answer to each question individually on a wordstrip. (So, if you have 30 questions, you will have 30 answer wordstrips, one for each question.) You will need a complete set of wordstrips for each team. Put the strips in envelopes, one for each team. Prepare a score sheet for each team. Ideally, you will want three adults to run this game: a moderator to ask the questions, a checker to check for correct answers, and a scorekeeper, but I have done all three at once many times!

ROOM SET-UP:

Decide if you are going to have three or four teams (You could even have more teams, but I've never done more than four). Ideally, each team should have 2 - 8 people, but one of the joys of this game is its flexibility.

In the front of your room, set up one chair for each team, in a straight line, preferably against a wall. Label each chair with a point value. (Teens seem to like big numbers, so I usually have a 1,000 point chair, a 5,000 point chair, and a 10,000 point chair.) The easiest way to label the chairs is with big signs taped on the wall. (For added fun, switch the point values around halfway through the game!) Provide a table and chairs for each team, with all tables placed equal distance from the numbered chairs in front. (The tables should be big enough to allow a team to spread out all of its answer wordstrips.)

BEGINNING THE GAME:

Have the teams sit down at their tables. Pass out the answer wordstrips. Read these directions to the group:

"This game is called "Numbered Chairs." This game can get pretty wild, so be prepared for some action. But please show sportsmanship! We don't want anyone getting hurt! Each team has been given an envelope filled with wordstrips. These wordstrips contain the answers to the questions that we will be asking you. Spread the wordstrips out face up so your team members can see them all. When I ask a question, find the wordstrip with the correct answer. Then send a runner, holding the wordstrip, up to the chairs here in front. The runner should sit in one of the chairs. Your team will be awarded the number of points designated for that chair IF your runner is holding the correct answer. Points will be DEDUCTED from your team if your runner has the wrong answer. In other words, accuracy is more important than speed."

PLAYING THE GAME:

The moderator asks a question. The teams search for the correct answer among their wordstrips. When they find the correct strip, they send a runner up to sit in one of the numbered chairs. The checker checks each wordstrip to make sure all of the runners have the right answer.. Add or subtract the points posted above the chairs on the score sheet, send the players back to their groups, and ask the next question.

The actual directions sound dull, but this game is hilarious! The race to get to the high-point chair gets silly. (I once played this game with a group of adults. That was even sillier!!)

Let me know if you have any questions. Your teens will love this game!! I've been playing it with teens for years, and they always ask for more.

Have fun!

Penny Johnson

Teen Library Specialist

Baraboo, WI Public Library