PLAYING THE GAME
Object of the Game
The object of Being in Control Bingo is to cover four squares on a bingo card—
horizontally, vertically, or diagonally—with a calling card that matches the anger
management term or concept printed on each square.
Materials
• Bingo cards (one per participant or per team)
• Calling cards (cards printed with anger management terms)
Starting the Game
• Special tokens (for use as “wild cards” by participants under special conditions)
There are several ways to begin the game. The educational and support staff who
know the participants are the best judges of which method or combination of
methods will be the most effective for a specific group.
The facilitator of the game or another educator or staff member may take the role
of caller. The caller does not play, but instead draws the calling cards and reads
the anger management terms on them aloud.
A participant may also serve as the caller. Participants can alternate in this role and
take turns from round to round or from session to session. The participant caller
may be chosen by (a) asking for volunteers; (b) randomly selecting names drawn
from a container; (c) systematically choosing a name by alphabetical order; or
(d) rewarding participants who have excelled at using appropriate anger management or other social skills in a given time period. If participants do serve in this
role, let as many as possible take a turn.
Number of Players
The game can be played individually or in teams of up to four participants. If the
game is played individually, each participant gets a bingo card. If it is played in
teams, each team receives one bingo card.
The anger management terms and concepts appear on more than one bingo card.
The first person to signify that his or her bingo card has a square that matches the
anger management term on the calling card gets the first chance to respond.
Participants may create their own orderly rules for how an individual makes this
announcement. For some groups, raising a hand works well. For others, calling
out, “I have it!” works well. Some groups even choose a special term to call out:
“abracadabra,” “hip-hop,” or “Rumpelstiltskin,” for example. Feel free to let the
group choose or make up a word to use if you think doing so would be effective.
The more you can create an environment that combines learning and fun without
sacrificing order, the more successful this activity will be.
From Being In Control BINGO, Copyright © 2007 by Millicent H. Kellner
Research Press (800-519-2707; www.researchpress.com)
10
Earning Calling Cards and Special Tokens
The caller randomly selects a calling card and reads it aloud. The first player with
a square on his or her bingo card that matches the term on the calling card signifies this according to the rules that have been established.
Individual Players
In order to earn and place the calling card on the bingo card, the player must exhibit
knowledge of the anger management term or concept named. In other words, the
player must either give a definition of the term or concept on the calling card or
demonstrate how it applies to managing anger. For example, if the calling card
says, “Where I got angry,” the player may reply with the concept anger setting or
with a specific anger setting—for example, “I got angry in gym yesterday.” Or, if
the card says physiological tool, the player can respond with the definition “using
the body to help stay calm and in control”; with an example of a physiological
tool (“I count to 10”); or with an example of a physiological technique (for
example, by actually taking some deep breaths).
If the player cannot answer or answers incorrectly, he or she may have one opportunity to ask another player for assistance. If the other player’s bingo card also
contains the term, and that player responds correctly, both players get to cover
the square—the first player with the calling card and the second with a special
token. If the other player does not have a square that matches the calling card and
successfully answers, he or she may choose to put a special token on any square
of the bingo card. If neither the original player nor the “helper player” answers
correctly, the round is over, and the caller reads another calling card.
To accommodate a range of learning styles, the facilitator—or the player—may
also suggest demonstrating knowledge by directing a role-play scenario to earn the
calling card. To do so, the facilitator (a) encourages the player to choose a main
actor and coactor(s) for the role-play, (b) instructs the other players to observe carefully and be prepared to say whether they think the role-play illustrates the term
or concept, and (c) helps the player describe the situation and direct the role-play,
if necessary. After the role-play, the facilitator asks the observers the following questions:
Did the role-play demonstrate good anger management or anger mismanagement?
Do you think the player earned the calling card? (In other words, do you think
the role-play illustrated the term or concept?)
If the role-play illustrated anger mismanagement, the facilitator has the actors
conduct the role-play again, this time illustrating good anger management. The
facilitator should be ready to stop a role-play of anger mismanagement if the players
begin to take things to an extreme.
From Being In Control BINGO, Copyright © 2007 by Millicent H. Kellner
Research Press (800-519-2707; www.researchpress.com)
11
Teams
When playing in teams, the responding player may consult with team members
before answering. If the team cannot answer or answers incorrectly, it may ask
another team for assistance. If the other team answers correctly, the original team
covers the square with the calling card; the “helper team” may cover any square
of its choosing with a special token.
Winning the Game
The first individual or team to cover four squares on the bingo card—horizontally, vertically, or diagonally—with special tokens or with calling cards that
match the squares is declared the winner. The winner may be acknowledged by
a round of applause or with rewards from any system used by your school or
program. Possibilities include earning special privileges, such as extra time on the
computer, extra points, or a special certificate.
Unanswered Cards
If a participant cannot define a term or concept, he or she could be given the
opportunity to earn extra credit or another type of reward by doing some
“homework” to define this term or concept. Or the entire group could be given
the option of providing the definition for any unanswered calling card as homework. Anyone answering correctly could be given recognition on a bingo wall
of honor or be given any other small reward the facilitator chooses.
From Being In Control BINGO, Copyright © 2007 by Millicent H. Kellner
Research Press (800-519-2707; www.researchpress.com)
12