A fun way to spend some time while you’re at home is to play “Mystery Passenger”. We play this game at our overnight programs, but it can be done at home too! Let us show you how to create your own clues, and of course sing the song!
Here’s how it works! One person writes four clues (more on this below) to be revealed one at a time at the end of each meal. Everyone else at the table will try to guess the Mystery Passenger after each clue. The guesses are written down on slips of paper and passed to the clue-giver. At the beginning of the next meal any correct guesses will be revealed. If no one guessed correctly then the next clue is read. If there is a correct guess then go on to the reveal!
A refresher on the rules
The passenger is a plant or animal currently living on the Earth.
Everyone plays but you only get one guess per meal.
Guesses will be collected at the end of the meal by the host but you must write your name on the guesses. “No name no fame.”
Spelling doesn’t count and this isn’t a test. Many people get it right by guessing something out of the blue, don’t be shy.
Collect the guesses once they have been written, check them and wait for the reveal at the next meal.
The reveal
You can make your own sleuth board or read off names. Let everyone know not to shout out the answer if they got it right.
If someone has gotten it correct let the room know.
Read the rest of the clues for the passenger and have everyone shout out what it is at the end.
If you’re ready to play again then read the 1st clue for the next passenger.
Here's how to write your own at home, with tips from Ironwood.
First you need to think of your plant/animal. It should be something everyone knows and will be able to guess. Play to your audience.
IW Tip: I wrote one for a dandelion not realizing students in NOLA haven’t seen them.
The fun part. Do some research and look up cool facts that most people don’t know about your passenger.
IW Tip: I didn’t know koalas have two thumbs on each front paw when I wrote that one.
Write your first clue. We’ll use an example of a honeybee. “We live at home when we’re young. Proboscis is the name of my tongue.” Make sure to explain any terms that may be confusing. This could be any number of insects.
IW Tip: Remember the first clue is supposed to be tough/vague.
Second clue (a little more clear) “We wiggle and dance to help our family find food”.
IW Tip: I like to rhyme clues for Mystery Passenger, but you don’t have to.
Third clue “Our babies eat royal jelly. The wax for our home comes from our bellies.”
Fourth clue (The give away) “We live at home with a crowd and we buzz very loud. The food we eat is very sweet and humans think it’s quite a treat!”
Honeybee!