This old fashioned parlor game can be a serious lesson in writing, or it can enable players to stretch their creativity.
Number of players: 4+
Ages: 10+
To begin, each player is provided with two slips of paper, and another sheet of full paper and something to write with. Each player writes a question. It can be any kind of question, bizarre, funny or serious. On the other slip of paper, each player writes a regular or proper noun. Each of the question slips is placed in one hat, each noun slip in another. The questions are mixed up, and then each player draws a random question and noun.
Each player then writes a poem that answers the question, and contains the noun they drew out. No matter how far apart the question and the noun are, the player must get them together somehow. You can put a time limit on the verse writing, depending on the ability level of the players.
For example, one player draws the question “What is the difference between doughnuts and sponge cake” and the noun is “Youth.” The poem might be
Sponge cake is delicate and sweet to the taste,
While doughnuts are tough as thunder;
And the youth who partakes of the first in haste
Will tackle the latter with wonder.
The game can get even harder by each player writing a verb or adjective on a third slip of paper to be distributed.
The results can be hilarious. If you’re teaching kids how to write, this can be a very fun, and potentially silly writing prompt. It forces kids, and adults to be creative, and to have fun with writing. At the very least, all the players can learn what nouns, verbs and adjectives are. It rewards players for thinking outside the box.