Group Icebreakers - "The Prince of Paris"

"The Prince of Paris" is a fun game you can play at parties, or with a scout or youth group (even adults may enjoy it)!

Here's how to play it:

First, pick a leader. The leader stands by himself/herself. The leader can also keep time, as this is a timed game, but i'ts better to have a separate timekeeper because the leader is involved in the game.

Everyone else playing gets into some kind of line, either standing up or sitting down. Each player gets a number starting with 1 from the first person in line to the last, and is known by that number for the rest of the game.

Now that everyone has a number, it's time to play.

The leader says:

"The Prince of Paris lost his hat,
Some say this, and some say that.
What do you say, number # "
(# is the number of any player the leader chooses)

The player whose number is called must reply with, "Who sir? Me sir?" before the leader can say, "Number # to the foot". The leader usually gives a second or two for the response, but not much more time. If the player does not respond in time, he or she must go to the "foot", or the end of the line.

If the player responds in time with, "Who sir? Me sir?", here is what is said for the player's turn:

Player: Who sir? Me sir?
Leader: Yes sir, you, sir!
Player: No sir, not I, sir!
Leader: Then who, sir?
Player: Number #, sir!
(The player picks any number he or she chooses, but should try to pick a number near or at the front of the line so he or she can move up. If a player accidentally picks his or her own number, they must go to the "foot", and if they call the number of the player who is at the "foot", they have to switch places with that player!)

After the player picks a number, the leader waits only a second or two and tries to say, "Number # to the foot" before the next player responds. If the player responds, they have the dialog above with the leader. If they don't respond in time, they must go to the "foot". And so the game goes on until time runs out. The game gets very fast after everyone gets the hang of it and is a lot of fun! The winner is the player at the front of the line when time is up.

Have a lot of fun with this game!