HOT POTATO TROUT
SUPPLIES:
•A whole, fresh trout
•A potato
•Baby wipes for students to clean their hands when finished playing
•Video projection system with PowerPoint software (optional)
PLAYERS:
Choose one or two people from each team, grade, or gender to participate in
this game.
SET-UP:
Have each player sit in a chair in a circle. If using multiple players from one
team, make sure they are spread out, not sitting next to each other. If you’re
using the PowerPoint element for this game, make sure you’ve prepared two
slides. The first slide should read “Hot Potato,” and the second slide should
read “Hot Potato Trout.”
PLAYING THE GAME:
This is a hilarious twist on a classic game. The key to making this game fun
is in the timing. First, explain to students that you are going to bring back
a classic game from when their parents were their age: “Hot Potato.” Put
the potato in the hands of one of the players and explain that when the
music starts they need to quickly pass the potato around the circle from
player to player. When the music stops, whoever is left holding the potato is
eliminated. The game will repeat until there is only one person remaining.
The last person standing (or sitting in this case) will be declared the winner.
Up until this point, if you’re using the video projection system, make sure the
first game slide that says “Hot Potato” is the only slide they have seen. Then
right before the music starts, interrupt by saying something like, “You know,
we need to mix this game up a little. Sure, passing a potato around a circle
was fun for your parents but we need something a little better. Let’s change
this game to HOT POTATO TROUT!” At this time, the second game slide comes
on the screen and you pull out the fresh trout and trade it for the potato.
The game then starts and is played as usual, but students pass a trout around
the circle instead of a potato.
**HINT:
After you’ve explained the details of the game, give students the opportunity
to sit down if they don’t want to participate. Never pressure or humiliate a
student into playing a game. If a student sits down, simply replace him/her
with another student.