Up-Down

Up-Down is a simple, no-prep that's great for small groups in a classroom setting. Requiring only a single coin to play, it can be used as a 60 second intro game, or as a time filler while waiting for the pastor to finish his sermon.

1. Split the children into two teams on opposite sides of a table.
2. Give a quarter to one team. Any coin will work, but a quarter is best because of its size and heft.
3. The team with the quarter passes it back and forth to each other while the other side counts out 10 seconds. They can use any methods or trickery to pass the quarter around in an attempt to fool the other team, including pretending to pass it, or hiding their hands under the table.
4. After the counting team gets to 10 they shout, "Up!" At that, the team with the quarter must all raise their hands up with their fists closed. The quarter should now be hidden in someone's hand.
5. The leader on the counting team then shouts, "Down!" All the players with their fists in the air must now slap their hands on the table, palm down. The quarter should be under someone's hand.
6. The counting team has been watching and listening for the quarter. They discuss among themselves about where the quarter is, then the leader states their guess.
7. If they guess correctly, they take the quarter. If incorrect, the other team continues on with it. We like to swap it after 3 incorrect guesses.

Fun idea: you can easily create a simple points system for this game to make it more interesting.

• 3 points for a correct guess
• 2 points for guessing the wrong hand of the player with the quarter
• 1 point for guessing the player on either side of the person with the quarter