| The game Charades originated in France and takes its | | | | act out the entire word in one pantomime scene. |
| name from an old French word meaning "talk." This | | | | When a word is guessed or time is called, the other |
| may seem strange, because the actor in a game of | | | | team takes its turn in acting out a word. The game |
| charades is not allowed to speak at all. The "talking" | | | | may continue as long as the players wish. |
| in charades is entirely in pantomime-actions and | | | | The other version of charades is so popular that it is |
| gestures in place of words. | | | | sometimes just called "The Game." In this game, only |
| To play charades, a group divides into two teams. | | | | one person does the acting. He pantomimes entire |
| Each team takes turns at acting and at guessing a | | | | phrases for members of his own team. Sometimes |
| word or words within a set time limit. If time is called | | | | he acts out the titles of songs, books, or movies. |
| before the word is guessed, the actors must stop. | | | | Nursery rhymes and well-known proverbs are other |
| The audience team tries to guess the word before | | | | good subjects. |
| time is called because the team having the lowest | | | | The two teams gather in separate groups, and each |
| time score at the end of the game wins. Charades | | | | team selects several phrases for the other team to |
| may be played in either of two ways: simple | | | | act. Each phrase is written on a slip of paper. The |
| charades and "The Game." | | | | person who is going to be the first actor gets a slip |
| In simple charades, several people on a team act out | | | | from the opposing team and reads it. He is timed |
| the different syllables of one word. The group is | | | | from the moment he says he is ready to begin. The |
| divided into two teams. One team leaves the room | | | | other members of his team may ask questions, but |
| to choose a word to act out. The word must have | | | | the actor may answer only with actions. When he is |
| two or more syllables, each of which can be acted as | | | | finished, a person from the other team draws a |
| a shorter word. If, for example, the word "decorate" | | | | phrase and begins to act. The game should continue |
| is chosen, the team might first act out the word | | | | until all players have had a turn as actor. |
| "deck," then "oar," and then "ate." The last step is to | | | | |