Leadership Inspirations Activities

Yours, Your Neighbors

Keep the rhythm of the game going without making any mistakes


10 minutes

Team Stage

Any Stage

Type Of Activity






This energizer activity requires all group members to learn and continue a fun beat. Try to be the last one to keep the beat going as the pace speeds up!



  • Have everyone sit criss-cross in a circle with their knees touching.
  • If you have members of your group who are not able or comfortable sitting on the ground, have them form a close circle with chairs.
  • Facilitator Note: This is a difficult activity to explain without first seeing it played. It is recommended that you observe the activity at least once before attempting to facilitate the activity.


  • Participants play by (lightly) tapping theirs and their neighbor’s knees throughout the activity. Please make sure that your group is comfortable enough with each other to do this before proceeding.
  • This activity follows a certain order in time to a beat. It is preferable to explain this activity by demonstrating the beat and steps.
  • The order of steps is as follows:
    1. Say “Yours” and tap your knees four times. When you say “Yours”, you should be tapping your knees simultaneously.
    2. Then, say “Your Neighbors” and tap your right knee and the left knee of your right side neighbor four times. When you say “Your Neighbors”, you should be tapping your knees simultaneously.
    3. Repeat step a.
    4. Repeat step b but on the left side.
    5. The next part of the sequence: Say “Yours” while tapping your knees, “Your neighbors” while tapping your right knee and the left knee of your right side neighbor, back to “Yours” while tapping your knees, and then “Clap” with one clap. The beat on the four count should sound like this: “Yours, Your Neighbors, Yours, Clap”
    6. Repeat step e but with the opposite neighbor.
    7. Repeat steps a-f to keep the game going.
  • Note: Each of the above steps should take up a four-count in the beat.
  • Once everyone gets the hang of the activity, speed up the tempo of the beat.
  • To make the activity an elimination game, tell participants that if they make a mistake, they put their hands up to show that they are out. Play until there is only one student left.
  • Tip: It is often easier to explain steps a-d and once the group has the hang of them, add steps e and f.
  • Tip: To help participants get the beat, say it out loud for them while tapping: “Yours-2-3-4, Your Neighbors-2-3-4…”


  • “Snap” instead of clapping.
  • Change the direction that you start the activity – go left first, then right.


  • What was the goal of this activity?
  • Did your group do well? What could have improved?
  • How did your group manage conflict that arose?
So What?


  • What are you currently accountable for as an individual and a group? Who holds you accountable?

Inclusion & Involvement

  • What does it mean to be inclusive or exclusive?
  • Why is inclusion and involvement important for our group?


Now What?
  • What’s one commitment each person can make?
  • What can you do differently moving forward?