Directions for Hangman

Rules

• Any number of people can play hangman, but the game is best with three to five players. If more play, then each round can earn a point and the group can play to a certain number of points.

  Begin with one player as the Hangman. He will draw a scaffold on the paper, then choose a word or phrase and draw lines to the side representing each letter in the phrase. He should leave space to write down the incorrect letters chosen during the game so no letter is guessed twice.

  The players then take turns guessing letters. The Hangman writes all the instances of the letter in his word or phrase, or else writes that letter in the space for incorrect guesses. For each incorrect guess, the Hangman draws a part of the hanging man on the scaffold, starting with the head attached to the scaffold. The parts of the stick figure are usually the head, body, two arms and two legs. For easier guessing, sometimes parts can be added such as hands and feet, or even fingers and toes. If the letter is a correct guess, that player has an opportunity to guess the word or phrase. A correct guess wins the round. The player earns a point and becomes the next hangman. An incorrect guess causes another part of the hanging man to be drawn and the next player has a turn. If the hanging man is completed before the word or phrase is guessed, the Hangman earns a point and continues in his role.

Variations

• Drawing the gallows can be part of the game. First, determine how much of the drawing constitutes a piece.

  In Halloween Hangman, the Hangman can use phrases from popular Halloween movies. Also, the Hangman can draw witches, goblins, skeletons, or other scary icons instead of the usual stick figure. Determine beforehand how many pieces of the figure will be included.

Tip

• Since every word in the English language contains a vowel, those are the best letters to choose first. The most commonly used letter is "E." The most commonly used consonants are "T" and "N."