Up Nelson
Up Nelson is a team-based guessing game that fosters collaboration and sharpens observation skills. Teams strategically hide a coin while the opposing team tries to find it, creating suspense and friendly competition.
Use this activity to energize a large group and encourage teamwork through non-verbal communication and tactical decision-making.
Solves: Lack of engagement in large groups, difficulty fostering collaboration under pressure.
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Step 1: Divide participants into two teams and seat them facing each other at a long table. (2 minutes)
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Step 2: Designate one team as the 'hiding team' and the other as the 'searching team'. The searching team nominates a Captain. (3 minutes)
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Step 3: The hiding team secretly passes a coin (or pretends to) under the table for 15 seconds. (2 minutes)
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Step 4: The Captain calls 'UP NELSON,' and everyone in the hiding team raises their fists and slams their elbows on the table simultaneously. (1 minute)
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Step 5: At any time, a member of the searching team can call 'DOWN NELSON,' prompting the hiding team to slap their palms down on the table. (1 minute)
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Step 6: The searching team can instruct members of the hiding team to 'squiggle' their hands. Touching a hand reveals what's underneath. (5 minutes)
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Step 7: If the coin is revealed before the last hand, the hiding team wins. If the searching team reveals the coin with the last hand, they win and gain possession. (5 minutes)
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Step 8: Rotate roles and play multiple rounds as time allows. (5 minutes)
- Encourage the searching team to communicate and strategize before calling 'DOWN NELSON'.
- Remind the hiding team to be convincing, even if they don't have the coin.
- Increase the number of coins to make it more challenging.
- Introduce a time limit for the searching team to find the coin.