STUFF THE TURKEY

A funny, simple Thanksgiving game for a youth group.

Overview

Students will use inflated balloons to fill trash bags worn by team members

Supplies

Large plastic trash bags, scissors, lots of balloons, and a watch/timer

Prep

Cut two leg holes in the bottom of each trash bag.  You'll need one trash bag for each team of four to six people.

Play

Divide the group into teams of four to six people (make the teams as even as possible).  Ask one person from each team to serve as the "turkey" and one to serve as the "farmer."  Hand each turkey a prepared trash bag.  Ask that turkeys wear the bags as shorts, with the legs placed through the holes.  Give each farmer several balloons.  Hand all the other players one balloon each.  Position teams around the room, mixing players from different teams.  Once positioned, tell players with balloons that they may not move during play.

Explain that players are to inflate and tie off balloons while turkeys run around and try to "feed."  To feed, turkeys must run around so teammates can drop balloons into the trash bags they're wearing.  To keep the balloon players supplied, farmers run around and distribute new balloons - but farmers can't feed the turkeys.

Start the game, and call time after three minutes (or more depending on group size and how things are going).  Declare the team whose turkey has the most balloons the winner.

Play the game several times so other players can be turkeys!