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KIM Games: Memory and Observation Games

The Kim-games get their name from Kim, the hero from Rudyard Kiplings novel „Kim“, who took upon himself the training of his memory and perception abilities. Kim-games use the senses to learn. These can be used for any age group.

Fast Lists

All players write down within a few seconds, the names of all the businesses on the main street of town in the right order. Variation: Everyone writes the names of all the restaurants in town.
Computer Brain

6-8 stones are laid out in a row or on a checkerboard. Players have 10 seconds to note the positions of the stones. The stones are then covered. Everyone must lay out the stones exactly as was shown.
What’s Changed?

A couple of players are sent out of the room. 10 things will be changed in the room. Can all the changed be found? Variation: a number of clothing pieces can be changed (Shoes, jackets, pullovers, pants, caps). Variation: 5 people exchange places.
All in a Row

While blindfolded, players must lay various objects in a row according to their lengths.
Sort and Pick Up

Various objects are placed within a playing field. While blindfolded, the player must pick up one item after another and place them in a suitable container or box. The winner is the first person who finishes and correctly sorts the objects. Only one item at a time can be picked up.
Blind Circles

One player is blindfolded, receives a piece of chalk and sits on a chair. He is given the task to draw a circle on the floor exactly 2 meters around his chair, before finding and then sitting back down on the chair. Then he must draw another circle, this time 1 meter away from the first circle, afterwards again finding and sitting on his chair. In the 3rd round, he must draw another circle 1 meter away form the last circle and then again sit down on his chair. In the last round, he must draw a small cross inside of each circle. Being blindfolded, this it will be difficult to draw the 3 crosses exactly in the middle of each circle.
Blind Way

A player is shown a goal about 30 meters away (Tree, etc.). This player is then blindfolded. How long will it take to reach the goal? The other players can call out hints to help the player. Be careful that no one runs into a tree or trips and can hurt themselves. The playing field and goal need to be chosen to suit the age of the players. Choosing the appropriate obstacles and path, this game can also be played inside.
Show It and Tell

Various objects are shown for 30 seconds and then a blanket or cloth is placed over them. Who can correctly name the most objects?

Cinderella

10 corn kernels, 10 grains of rice, 10 dried peas, and 10 dry beans are mixed. The player is blindfolded and must sort these items. Who can correctly sort the most within 60 seconds?
Ghosts

2-3 children are chosen as the ghosts. The rest of the group members spread out in the room and close their eyes. The ghosts now try to stand behind a child for 10 seconds without being noticed. If they manage the 10 seconds they must then tap the child on the shoulder and the child must sit down. If the child believes that a ghost is behind him, he can ask “Is a ghost there? “ If there is really a ghost behind him the child may become a ghost, if not, he must sit down.
Feeling letters

The player must guess the letters which another player draws on his back with their finger. The 10 letter which the fellow player has to draw are shown on cards. There is one point awarded for each correctly guessed letter.
Double statue 1

The members of the group all split into pairs. One of the players is blindfolded while the other ones take position as a statue by making a pose (lying down, on one leg or arms bent etc.). The blindfolded partner now tries to copy the same position.
Double statue 2

The group splits into teams of 3. One of the players is blindfolded while another one takes position as a statue by making a pose (lying down, on one leg or arms bent etc.).
The remaining player now tries to explain to the blindfolded player how the other playing is posing. The blindfolded player tries to follow the instructions and adopts the pose. The remaining player is not allowed to say if the taken position is correct or not, but only describes (even if he has to repeat himself), how the statue is posing.
Finding Lids

In a box full of lids, cut a hole on both of the shorter sides of the box (children’s hands should be able to fit through them). In the box put different sized jars with lids. One child sits on both sides of the box. Both children should try together to find the matching lid for the jar and to screw it on (inside the box). To make it harder, each child could put just one hand into the box.
Whose Item of clothing is it?

Next everyone should look at each other, in particular observe what clothes each person is wearing ( jumpers, shirts, jackets, hat). After this, one of the children (should volunteer) is blindfolded. He receives a piece of clothing in his hand belonging to one of the other group members, and has to guess who it belongs to. The game is even harder the more similar the items of clothing are . Thus it makes sense to give items of clothing which can be distinguished as different from one another.
Sent in by Eva B.
Sniff test

Various foodstuffs are chosen (e.g. mustard, onion, vinegar, garlic etc.) these are cut up if necessary, placed into beakers and covered with a cloth. The children come individually – eyes blindfolded and have to guess what is in the bowl. Whoever has the best nose, wins)
Taste Test

Various foodstuffs are chosen (e.g. mustard, milk, vinegar, fruit juice etc.) These are dyed using food colouring and placed into beakers. Then the children come individually and have to discover what is being placed in their mouths. Because the foodstuffs look different this will have an affect on the sense of taste. Whoever guesses the most foodstuffs correctly, wins.
The traffic light game

Three coloured circles are stuck onto the wall – one to the right, one slightly higher and in the middle, and one to the left. Two teams are formed standing behind each other. The last in each row is told a colour code which they have to ‘tap’ onto the person in front.

Left colour: left shoulder, right hand colour: Right shoulder, middle: head.

The first player in each row has to say “stop” once he is sure of the colour code. If he guesses correctly then the team can move forwards by one; the player at the front of the row now moves to the back. As soon as the first player reaches the front of the row again this team wins.
I am packing my suitcase… and taking…

One person starts (e.g. the group leader) and says: “I am packing my suitcase and I’m taking … with me…” (e.g. a radio). The next person repeats the phrase and says the things mentioned by the previous person in addition to another object. Whoever says something wrong is out. After 2-3 rounds it becomes really difficult to remember all the things.
1 Minute guessing

Place a crate of empty bottles several metres away from an empty crate. The players are given the task to take bottles from one crate to the other for one minute. The goal is not to take as many bottles from one to the other crate; rather the goal is stop after exactly one minute. Points can be given e.g. distributed after the game in that you first just write down the times taken and then afterwards award points to the best 10 etc.