--- title: "Name and Motion" description: "Participants stand or sit in a circle, share their name with a gesture representing an activity they enjoy, and cumulatively repeat the names and motions of preceding members." last_updated: "2026-09-07" canonical: "https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/name-and-motion-sel-3-signature-practices-playbook/" --- # Name and Motion Participants stand or sit in a circle, share their name with a gesture representing an activity they enjoy, and cumulatively repeat the names and motions of preceding members. **Time:** 15 minutes. Based on CASEL 5 to 15 minute band; 15 minutes allows a complete cumulative round for up to 16 people plus debrief. **People:** 4 to 16. Single circle up to 16 participants; split into parallel circles of 8 to 12 if the total group is larger. ## Choose this exercise **Purpose:** Help participants learn each other's names and personal interests through cumulative physical and verbal repetition. **Use it when:** Use at the start of a new cohort, workshop, or class when participants need to learn names and lower initial social tension. **Skip it when:** Skip with large groups over 16 people where cumulative memory chains take too long, or when participants strongly prefer not to perform gestures publicly. ## Materials and tools - No special physical materials required - Timer or watch for the facilitator ## Before participants arrive 1. Arrange chairs in a circle with clear sightlines between all participants, or clear standing floor space. ## Say this to open We are going to learn each other's names and an activity we enjoy. When it is your turn, say your name, name an activity you like, and do a simple gesture that matches it. For example: I am Sara, I like basketball, and I pretend to shoot a hoop. Then the next person repeats everyone who went before them before adding their own. ## How to run it ### 1. Introduce and prepare (3 minutes) Explain the goal and model the movement with your own name. Give everyone 30 seconds of quiet thinking time to choose an activity and a motion. Remind everyone that forgetting is normal and that anyone can ask the group for help at any point. ### 2. Begin the cumulative chain (4 minutes) The person to your left starts by saying their name, stating their activity, and performing their gesture. The next person repeats the first person's name and gesture, then adds their own. Continue clockwise around the first half of the circle. ### 3. Complete the full circle (5 minutes) Continue around the remaining participants. When someone hesitates or forgets, prompt them to ask the room: 'Can someone help me with the next one?' The circle demonstrates the gesture and speaks the name together, and the speaker continues. The facilitator completes the chain last. ### 4. Debrief (3 minutes) Gather reflections with the whole room. Take two or three brief responses from volunteers on what it felt like to support each other during the memory chain. ## Debrief questions - What helped you remember names and gestures during the chain? - How did it feel when someone forgot a name and the group stepped in to assist? - What is one common interest you noticed across our group today? **Finished output:** Every participant has spoken their name, shared an interest, and been acknowledged by the group. ## Remote Set the video conference to gallery view. Post a numbered speaking list in the chat box so everyone knows the cumulative order. Participants say their name, describe their activity, and perform their gesture on camera. ## Hybrid Establish a single unified order alternating between in-person and remote participants. Project remote webcams onto a room screen so in-person attendees can see virtual gestures, and position an in-room camera showing the circle. ## Access and participation choices - Participants may replace physical gestures with a single hand clap or a verbal sound effect. - Participants can sit or stand based on comfort, and any person may choose to pass their turn or simply state their name without adding a gesture. ## If the session gets stuck **A participant freezes and looks visibly stressed trying to recall six previous names.** Step in immediately and invite the whole circle to perform the next gesture and name together, removing individual pressure. **Physical space is too tight for large, sweeping gestures.** Instruct participants to keep motions contained to hand gestures, seated gestures, or small upper-body movements. ## Terms used here - Cumulative chain: A memory game format where each successive turn requires repeating all previous items in order before adding a new one. ## Sources and adaptation Observed in CASEL SEL 3 Signature Practices Playbook as an inclusive welcome activity. Retained core CASEL cumulative recall mechanic, movement modeling, and emphasis on collaborative recovery from memory lapses. Adjusted group maximum to 16 to keep round time feasible within 15 minutes, added structured timing, and adapted hybrid guidance. [CASEL](https://signaturepractices.casel.org/name-and-motion/) Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/name-and-motion-sel-3-signature-practices-playbook/