The messaging feature in Share can be used to play a variety of games with your residents who log into the app or utilize Share In-Room TV! This can be especially useful while following social distancing protocols or in other situations where residents cannot be present in the same room for group activities.
WHO AM I?
Have residents submit three facts about themselves. You could gather this info manually, or have residents submit their facts using the Messages area of the Share app.
Send out messages using the facts as clues. People try to guess which resident the clues refer to, based on as few clues as possible. They can submit their reply via the Messages section of the Share app. So for example, Clue 1 could go out as a message saying "Who Am I? I once backpacked through Europe for 6 months." And the residents could reply to the message and guess "Jane Smith."
You could either play until someone guesses the right resident and "wins" the round or you could do a point system where you get more points for guessing with fewer clues, and all clues are given out to allow people to keep guessing. After the three clues have been shared, send out a message with all of the clues listed and attach a photo of the resident who they match.
This game could also be done with clues about celebrities or staff members.
BABY/KID PICTURE GUESS
Allow residents to submit baby pictures or pictures from when they were younger using the Messages area of the Share app. Send a message to everyone with a picture attached, and ask them to guess who it is. You could send a picture multiple times each day. Whoever gets the most correct wins.
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE
Have the residents submit two facts about themselves and one thing that is made up. Send out a message to the residents via the Share app with a photo of the resident, and their three "facts." The other residents submit their guesses, sharing which facts they believe are true and which one is the lie.
RIDDLE/TRIVIA OF THE DAY
Look up fun riddles or trivia questions. Send one out in a message to residents. You can assign point values for the difficulty of the riddle/question. Residents can respond in the Share app with their answers.
WHERE IN THE WORLD
Send residents a message with pictures and landmark clues about a city, state, or country. See if the residents can figure out where in the world those clues describe.
WORD GAMES
Send an anagram puzzle or scrambled word in a message for them to solve. If it is an anagram, you can pass out sheets in advance for the residents to record all of their words. If you pre-determine the number of word puzzles you will send in a day or week, you can create an answer sheet for residents to continue playing all week on the same sheet.
BINGO
Send out the letter/number via messages, or use Announcements and keep editing it to show the next call. Residents submit BINGO via a Message to staff.
SCATTERGORIES
Send residents a message with a letter and a list of things. Have them message their answers.
Ex: Send a Person’s Name, Food, Game, Place, Clothing all beginning with S
FINISH THE STORY
Get the creative juices flowing by sending a message with a story starter. Have residents on a separate piece of paper complete the story. Gather the responses. Record yourself reading the stories and send those in messages to the residents. Residents can vote on their favorite.
GUESS THE MOVIE OR BOOK
Message residents with a string of emojis that describe a well-known movie or book title. Have residents respond via Messages with their guess.
NAME THAT CROON
If you have an insertion or in-house channel, you can create an announcement to let residents know you will be playing “Name that Croon” at a certain time. Pick a genre of music that you know well because you will have to know the answers. Send a message at the start telling them to tune in to your in-house channel to play. Ask them to respond to the message with the names or artists of the next 3 songs.
20 QUESTIONS
Send a message to residents saying “I am thinking of an animal.” Prompt residents to respond with questions to figure out the animal. Respond to everyone with answers to the clues. Once you hit 20 questions, prompt for guesses in response to your message.
CATEGORIES
Work out residents’ brains by sending a message with a category and directions. For example, “Think of as many brands of cereal as you can.” or “Think of a sport for every letter in your name.”
MAD LIBS
Message the residents with a list of types of words you need them to submit to fill in on a mad lib (ex: noun, verb, adjective). Send each resident a message response with their completed mad lib. Share the funniest ones with everyone, perhaps as a recording of yourself reading them.