The Names Stock Market Game

Names Stock Market is a very interactive card game to learn the names of the people in the new groups that are formed.

In advance, you’ll need a large bunch of blank index cards. Count and distribute five cards for every person who will participate in the exercise.

Using a marker, ask each person to write their own first name, or a name they prefer to be known by, on each of the five cards. Combine all of the cards and shuffle them.

Deal five random cards to each person, asking them to not look at their cards until the game starts. Make sure everyone has five cards before you move on.

Explain that the primary goal for each person is to be the first to collect a matching set of five (name) cards. To illustrate, this means that all five cards held by an individual will have the same name written on them.

It is not necessary for an individual to collect their own name, just any five cards with the same name.

No one starts with an identical set of five cards, so a series of trades will need to be negotiated. To govern a fair trading process, explain that there are three key trading parameters:

• Everyone plays at the same time, ie there are no turns
• All trades must be one for one, with no more than three cards exchanged at a time
• No one is permitted to show or disclose their cards at any time, ie all trades are ‘blind.’

Individuals may call out the number of cards they wish to trade to attract another person willing to trade an equal number of cards.

Trading continues until the first person announces that they have collected a matching set of five (name) cards. Or, If you wish, allow trading to continue until everyone collects five matching cards.

Moment of Reflection

• During the game, you would have seen many names in written form. Was this helpful? Why?
• In the beginning, did you try to collect all of your own name cards? Why or why not?
• What values or behaviours were exhibited during the exercise – good and bad?
• What behaviours would you like to see this group continue to practice? Why?
• Are there any behaviours your group could do without?

The topics of this publication: integration, interactions, distension, disinhibition