Motion Name Game

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Recall names and associated physical gestures across the group through cumulative vocal and physical repetition.

Use it when: Use at the beginning of an in-person or video session when participants do not yet know one another's names.

Skip it when: Skip when group members already know each other well, or when the group exceeds 16 people without being split into smaller circles.

Group arrangement: Single circle of 4 to 16 participants; split larger cohorts into circles of 8 to 12.

Timing: 15 minutes suggested by UWT for up to 16 participants using the reverse cumulative pattern.

Materials and tools

• No special materials.

Before participants arrive

1. Arrange chairs or clear floor space into an open circle where all participants can see each other clearly.

Say this to open

We are going to learn each other's names with a movement. When it is your turn, say your name clearly and make a brief physical gesture. It can be a hobby movement, a wave, or any simple motion. Right after you go, the whole group will repeat your name and motion, and then repeat every previous person's name and motion in reverse order back to the start.

How to run it

1. Set the circle and model 2 minutes

   Form a standing or seated circle. Demonstrate the mechanic as person one: say your name clearly and perform one simple motion (for example, say 'Alex' while tapping your shoulder). The group repeats your name and motion together.

2. Add participants cumulatively 9 minutes

   Pass to the person on your left. That person states their name and performs their chosen gesture. The entire circle repeats the new person's name and gesture, then immediately recites and mimics each preceding person's name and gesture in reverse order back to the first person. Continue clockwise around the circle until each person has introduced themselves.

3. Complete full final sequence 2 minutes

   Once the final person introduces their name and gesture, invite the entire circle to perform the complete chain in reverse order back to the start, followed by one optional forward run from the first person to the last.

4. Reflect and transition 2 minutes

   Conclude the activity by inviting one or two brief observations using the debrief prompts before moving to the main agenda.

Debrief questions

• Which gestures made names easier or harder to remember?
• How did repeating the sequence in reverse affect your focus compared to forward recall?

Finished output: Every participant has stated their name and chosen gesture, with the entire group repeating the cumulative sequence.

Remote

Display gallery view on the video platform. Establish a fixed speaking order in the chat window before starting. When called, the participant unmutes, says their name, and performs a screen-visible gesture. The rest of the group remains muted to avoid audio delay but speaks the names and performs the gestures aloud on camera.

Hybrid

Hybrid delivery is not recommended because camera sightlines make seeing in-room gestures difficult for remote participants. If required, assign one in-room camera dedicated to the speaker, have remote participants appear on a large room display, and strictly alternate between in-room and remote attendees.

Access and participation choices

• Gestures can be seated, small-scale finger or facial movements, or fully stationary expressions to accommodate limited mobility.
• Participants may choose to pass on performing a physical movement and instead state only their name, or designate a peer to demonstrate for them.

If the session gets stuck

A participant forgets the sequence of previous names during the reverse chain.

Encourage the whole group to chime in together rather than leaving the individual to struggle alone.

A participant chooses a complex or lengthy movement that slows down repetitions.

Remind everyone to pick a gesture that takes no more than two seconds so the cumulative recitation stays brisk.

Terms used here

• Cumulative repetition: A pattern where each new item is added to an expanding list that is recited again from memory.