The teacher starts by stating, One up, one down . Only the teacher knows that that refers to the position of the teacher s arms: one is holding his/her chin, the other is crossed against his/her chest. The students try to figure out what one up, one down means. Each student tries to test out a theory. Tell the students that they can say two up , two down , or one up, one down . Look at how their arms are placed and tell them if they are correct. Students will just guess randomly at first, so they will be surprised when they are correct. Eventually, some of them will be able to figure out the pattern. Get them to go along with you to tell the other students whether they are right or not. Eventually, most of the students will figure it out, but there will always be one or two who just don t get it! This can also be done with the position of the fingers on the right or left hand (not including the thumb): one up, three down . Similar game: Whoops Johnny. Can be played with one other person or blooming crowds of admirers. With one finger from one hand, point to and touch the tips of each finger (of the opposite hand) in succession and say: Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, WHOOPS, Johnny, WHOOPS, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny. The Whoops is accomplished by sliding the finger down and up on the inside of the fourth and final finger. Your audience of admirers must repeat your actions exactly. The magic of it is that you do the above scenario, but you fold your hands in your lap discreetly after you finish the final Johnny. Your audience will probably be baffled and will repeat the Johnny, Johnny actions, performing them beyond perfection except for the final act the folding of the hands on your lap! Hints are worthy after ten tries. When someone catches on, announce that they are in the Johnny Club and get them to perform the Johnny act. Keep going until everyone gets it. Similar game: Canoe-head. Tell your audience to do exactly as you do. Scratch your head very discreetly, then say, I like to canoe. I LOVE to canoe. Emphasize the LOVE, it s always worth gallons of giggles. Do some crazy paddling actions to show how much you love it. Get the students to do exactly as you do. If they scratch their heads first, they ve got it. Similar game: Wakaranai. The basic idea is that you cough, then chant some crazy thing and do some crazy action and then get the students to mimic you, one by one. Then you tell them if they are correct. The only thing that you are looking for is whether they cough at the beginning. Similar game: Counting 1. Arrange some objects on the floor (or draw some lines on the chalkboard) and announce to the class what number your arrangement represents. Use numbers from one to ten. The trick is that the number has nothing to do with the objects or the drawing. In fact, you are arranging your fingers after you finish making your arrangement. For example, you draw some crazy thing, then put your hands on your lap, with four fingers of your right hand extended, then announce that it is four. Students have to try to figure out your game. Similar game: Counting 2. Show the students the Basic number by raising your right hand and raising some fingers. For example, say Here is the basic number. Then raise two fingers. Then change your fingers to something else, and ask the students to guess what number they represent. For example, raise all four fingers and your thumb. Ask What number is this? The students will probably say five, but the correct answer is two . Then raise your fingers again. The trick is that the number that went before is the real number for the next time. For example, if the basic number is 3, then you raise four fingers, the correct answer is 3. Then you raise two fingers, and the correct answer is 4. Then you raise five fingers, and the correct answer is 2. Then you raise four fingers and the answer is 5. Get it?