Assassin is a game in which students must find the Assassin(s).
How to Play:
1. Students put their heads down and JTE/HRT taps the shoulders of those who are to be Assassins. 3 students is a good amount, but adjust this amount as needed.
2. Students are given a Question and Answer (Q and A). You may use any question you would like, ideally matching it to the target grammar.
Example:
Q: Where did you go during the summer vacation?
A: I went to_________.
3. Students find a partner and ask each other the target question.
4. If one of the students is an assassin, they will wink at their partner at the end of the conversation. Their partner is eliminated and must quietly take a seat.
5. If neither student is an assassin and do not wink, then the students will find new partners.
6. If a standing student thinks they know who an assassin is, they will raise their hand calling for the JTE\HRTs attention. They will say "The Assassin is_________. "
7. JTE\HRT or ALT asks the student if they are the assassin. If the student is correct, one assassin is elimated and will sit down.
8. Repeat until students find all (3) assassins or until time runs out.
9. If students cannot find all (3) assassins before time is up, the assassins are the winners.
Additional information and rules:
- Assassins cant kill assassins.
- Best to leave selection of assassins to the JTE\HRT, especially if you dont know students names.
- JTE/HRT or ALT can be an assassin as a fun suprise.
- While it sounds like it might be easy to spot an assassin in the act, expect some students to be falsely accused. A good assassin elimates with descretion. Between finishing their conversations and walking to find a new partner, it can be hard to discern who was just eliminated and by who.
- 3-4 minute time limit per round is reccomended. You can change the number of assassins and/or the Q and A in the next round. This does not include the time explaining HTP, practicing the Q and A, or the selection of the assassins.
Title Variations
Depending on your audience and/or preference, you can call the game Wink Game, Killer Game, etc. It is inspired by the game Warewolf or 人狼.
It's assassin, not assasian (Freudian slip?).
@sean1112 one 's' was assassinated.
@Sean112 Yes, sorry about that. Just an ALT who can't spell! But the game is very fun no matter what you call it! I personally ask the JTE/HRT to explain in Japanese the first time we play because it can be a little difficult to understand the first go of it.
Afterwards, I usually get requests from students to play next time we meet and then its easy to just jump into!
This sounds very fun!
What do the elimited students do while they wait?
Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but if the only way to be eliminated is to be killed by an assassin, isn't it immediately clear who the assassins are? Is it just relying on students not paying attention to who is speaking to who?
@AVGKF They usually aren't waiting for very long. But, usually they watch the others in anticipation that the standing students are able to identify the assasssins. I also try and chat with them while they are sitting.
What time limit do you recommend?
@srunyon415 I would say 3-4 minutes is a good time for each round. Introducing the activity, practicing the Q and A, and selecting the assassins may take roughly 5-7 minutes. Perhaps, less time if your students have played before. I like to play multiple rounds so more students have the opportunity to be the assassin. I also tend to change the Q and A between rounds if I see an opportunity to do so. We like to start w 3 assassins in the first round, and 5 in the second.
@Mendoza It's usuallly not immediatly clear as all students are in their own conversations. It may become more clear who the assassins are as the number of students dwindle. It really depends on the descretion of the assassian. It is interesting to see what tactics some of the assassians use to go undetected. Some make it more obvious than others. But some students are quiet and and choose targets carefully. It's usually fun and suspensful. And It's a great way to practice speaking while making eye contact.
My kids loved it!! They asked to play again haha. Thank you!
I will try this out a JHS. I've always wanted to do "Werewolf" but was leary of the set up. Thanks for this.
I do a varient on this called zombies. Where I put the Zombie answer to the question on the blackboard. if you hear the zombie answer you become a zombie and answer that way too. In that varient students have to get answers from five safe friends before they can sit down.
I'd reccomend the target number of people asked for non assasin players. otherwise the optimum stratergy for them would be to hide away in groups and not ask anyone anything haha
This is a great version of "AMOUNG US" app. I was thinking of how to do this game in class, and you nailed it.
As to keep the assassin hidden, whoever is out cannot give any hints who their partner/pair is?
They can't react or say something to avoid getting the other student's attention to them?
It's like wink murder but not in a circle and using dialogue.
what class size(s) have you used this in?
@natashio The class size is your typical Elementary School class. Roughly 24 students.
I think this activity is best suited to an average to large class size. However, you can certianly make tweaks to fit into whatever parameters your working worth. Like, choosing more or less assassins.
If we are talking about a school with very low enrollment, like less than 12 students in the class it might prove a little more tricky to make work.