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A consensus game that energizes the whole school! Fun discussion prompts for everyone

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.

Many people have likely struggled when trying to build relationships in their class or club.

That’s where “consensus games” come in handy! These games are learning tools in which group members share opinions and work toward the best answer, helping them understand each other’s values and improve their communication skills in the process.

They go beyond a simple icebreaker, offering a valuable experience that deepens the bonds within a class.

In this article, we introduce concrete examples of consensus games that can be implemented immediately in schools, along with effective ways to facilitate them.

A consensus game that fires up the whole school! Fun discussion prompts for everyone (11–20)

Invisible Invaders

Consensus Game: Invisible Invaders — Rules Explanation

Invisible Invaders

This content discusses whether, in a situation where a virus is spreading, families should gather and stay at home or go to work to make a living.

The focus is on how to address the contradiction that prioritizing safety reduces income, while attending school or working in offices increases the risk of infection.

Each member has different positions and opinions—such as the desire to protect children and the elderly and the sense of responsibility to support the economy—leading to a clash of values.

Through speaking, participants not only express their own views but also develop the ability to understand others’ thinking.

If the discussion is held in class, it becomes a deeply educational theme that allows students to simulate the challenges faced by society as a whole.

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In conclusion

Consensus games hold great potential for building human relationships in schools.

As students acknowledge differences of opinion and reach agreement while respecting each other’s ideas, the bonds within the class will surely grow stronger.

The compassion cultivated through discussion will undoubtedly become an invaluable learning experience.