Lithuania Workshop

Game: “Three Words – the Code”

Duration: 1 – 1.5 hours

Participants: 12 - 30

Preparation

• Place 15 words on the board/table from three categories:

  • What kind? (adjectives): red, blue, funny, white…

  • Who/What? (objects, animals, characters): penguin, dog, tree, friend…

  • What action? (verbs): eats, dances, flies, laughs…

• The facilitator chooses one secret code (3 words).
  Example: “Blue dog dances”.

• Two teams know the code, two do not. Those who know the code try to protect it by misleading the others.

 

 

 

Flow of the Game

• Players are divided into 4 groups. Each group receives their mission instructions.

• All players can see the full set of words.

• The players who do not know the code try to guess the correct word combination. The facilitator confirms how many words are correct. The players who know the code stage guesses and discuss misleading tactics. Also pretends to make a guess.

• After the first guess, a discussion round is initiated based on given questions “What kind?”, “Who/What?”, What action?”. Players can only talk about that specific category and mention how many where correct. Each group delegates one member into the discussion.

• After returning from the discussion, teams have some time to consult and make a second guess.

• Another discussion round within category question is repeated.

• After returning from the discussion, teams consult again and make another guess.

• A final discussion within category is organized using the reflection questions. Delegates from each group gather and decide on the final code word in the category.

• Everybody comes back to a circle to get the last call.

• The “winners” are announced.

• Group reflection is done, group reveals its tasks.

 

If there are more participants than 12 you can add more teams, another category, etc.

 

 

Reflection questions after the Game

• How did you feel during the game – did you trust your team more, or did you doubt them?

• What was the most difficult moment for you – making a guess or trying to convince others?

• What helped your team focus and decide on the code?

• Which team strategies worked best?

• How did you notice when someone was bluffing or trying to mislead you?

• How did you react when your opinion was different from the rest of your team?

• How did you feel when your guess turned out to be correct (or wrong)?

• What did you feel when you had to pretend or deceive others?

• What did this game show you about trust in other people?

• What did you learn about communication, argumentation, or critical thinking?

• How could you apply this experience in real-life situations (e.g., at work, in group activities, in learning)?

 

 

SECRET MISSION: AGENT

You are one of the few who has been entrusted with the secret code – a three-word combination: What kind? + Who/What? + What action?

Secret code is: Purple flamingo is hugging a friend.

Your objectives:

• Pretend to have guessing sessions.

• Take the lead in the discussion – speak with confidence and propose versions that sound convincing.

• Insert the real code words into your suggestions, but mix them with false ones to confuse the others.

• Try to make the Seekers believe in the wrong code.

• Be persuasive – explain your reasoning and present “evidence” for your version.

Remember: silence is not an option – you must be one of the most active voices in the debate.

If the Seekers fail to guess the code, you and your fellow Agents win points.

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SECRET MISSION: AGENT

You are one of the few who has been entrusted with the secret code – a three-word combination: What kind? + Who/What? + What action?

Secret code is: Purple flamingo is hugging a friend.

Your objectives:

• Pretend to have guessing sessions.

• Take the lead in the discussion – speak with confidence and propose versions that sound convincing.

• Insert the real code words into your suggestions, but mix them with false ones to confuse the others.

• Try to make the Seekers believe in the wrong code.

• Be persuasive – explain your reasoning and present “evidence” for your version.

Remember: silence is not an option – you must be one of the most active voices in the debate.

If the Seekers fail to guess the code, you and your fellow Agents win points.

 

SECRET MISSION: SEEKER

Somewhere among 15 words lies the secret code – a three-word sentence: What kind? + Who/What? + What action?

Your objectives:

• Uncover the code.

• Listen carefully to the discussion.

• Spot who might be bluffing, misleading, or acting too confident.

• Never forget: among the teams there are Agents whose mission is to deceive you!

If you guess correctly – your team wins points.

 

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SECRET MISSION: SEEKER

Somewhere among the 15 words lies the secret code – a three-word sentence: What kind? + Who/What? + What action?

Your objectives:

• Uncover the code.

• Listen carefully to the discussion.

• Spot who might be bluffing, misleading, or acting too confident.

• Never forget: among the teams there are Agents whose mission is to deceive you!

If you guess correctly – your team wins points.