Follow the leader is a fun game to explore leading and following and get the group to learn how to pick up on physical cues.
Getting Started
Ensure everyone in the group can see each other.
Someone volunteers to be the guesser and leaves the group briefly.
While they are away, choose somebody to be the leader. Explain to the group that they must copy the actions of the leader but that they should not make it obvious who the leader is. They do not want the guesser to be able to tell who is leading the action.
Follow the Leader
The leader starts an action that everyone copies. They then change action and everyone follows them. After this has been done a few times for practice, invite the person who is guessing who the leader is back into the space.
The guesser watches the actions and tries to guess who the leader is.
Take it in turns with different people playing the role of leader and guesser.
Understanding the game
After a few rounds, discuss how you found it.
- How could you tell who the leader was?
- What gave it away?
- Was it hard for the leader to change action without the guesser seeing?
- If someone new came into your group, would they be able to guess who the leaders were? How?
- What do leaders do?
- What do followers do?
Take it Further
If you enjoyed Follow the Leader you might like to try Bus Stop or Codebreaker.
There are also loads of other games – many of which can be adapted to work socially distanced – in the book Games, Games, Games, a publication with around 250 group games. The games are essentially co-operative in nature and develop skills and attitudes which encourage learning together and supporting one another.