Skip to main content
Heads Up, Seven Up: a sticker of a thumbs-up hand with a big number 7 on the thumbnail

Heads Up, Seven Up

Seven students secretly tap a classmate's thumb while everyone hides their eyes, then the tapped students guess who tapped them.

  • 15 or more
  • 10 min
  • Nothing to prepare
  • Kindergarten to 5th grade
  • Quiet
One page with all five steps

How to Play

5 steps
  1. Heads Up, Seven Up, step 1: Pick seven

    Pick seven

    Call seven students to the front of the room.

  2. Heads Up, Seven Up, step 2: Heads down, thumbs up

    Heads down, thumbs up

    Everyone else puts their head down, closes their eyes and holds one thumb up.

  3. Heads Up, Seven Up, step 3: Tap one thumb

    Tap one thumb

    Each of the seven tiptoes around, gently presses down one thumb, then goes back to the front.

  4. Heads Up, Seven Up, step 4: Heads up, seven up

    Heads up, seven up

    Say the line. Everyone whose thumb was pressed stands up.

  5. Heads Up, Seven Up, step 5: Guess who

    Guess who

    Each standing student guesses which of the seven tapped them. A right guess swaps places with that tapper.

Ways to Change It Up

  • Four UpUse four tappers for a small class or a short round.
  • Review UpA tapped student answers a review question before making a guess.

Play It With

More Quiet Games

All Quiet Games

Heads Up, Seven Up Questions

Plan the Game into the Week

Drop a game into any lesson plan in EMStudio, with the rules attached. Free to start.

Get Started for Free
Checked by a teacher