Still looking for some games you can play with your group while social distancing? This week we played Bingo, and it’s fairly simple.

You can do this many different ways. However it is easiest to use Zoom or Facebook live as long as you can share your screen.

Admin Playing Bingo Over Zoom for Kids. One fun activity that can easily be done over Zoom is playing a game of Bingo! Everyone prints-out their own unique sheet and you then use a bag full of the numbers or a randomizer application on the internet to call-out the Bingo spots, playing until someone wins and yells, 'Bingo!' This bingo card has a free space and 24 words: dog barking, doorbell ringing, forget to mute, can't get video to work, painfully loud echo, freeze frame, food eating on camera, talking while on mute, kid runs by screen, someone wearing headset, hear a flush in the background, call stops to announce who just joined, request all go on mute, multi-tasking with a second call, choppy audio. Online Team Building Bingo is a fun and easy game you can play with remote employees. Other names for Online Team Building Bingo include Virtual Team Building Bingo and Remote Team Bingo. The game is quick to setup, great for virtual team engagement, a little nostalgic, and a familiar format. Here is a free game board you can use.

Step 1 – Bingo Cards

Option 1: Printed or Online Cards

The first step was to find Bingo cards for everyone. MyFreeBingoCards.com makes this easy and free for up to 30 players. Click on the link that says 30 cards for free.

Once you do you’ll be given the option to download the cards in pdf. Instead, you can get an individual link for each card that can be texted or emailed.

The online cards actually allow you to play virtually and mark them as you play using your phone, tablet or computer.

Email or text the cards out to everyone playing. I would suggest doing this earlier in the day or the day before so that you can start

Option 2: Make Your Own

With a small group it might be easy to have everyone make their own cards. Post some instructions ahead of time on what the letters and numbers should be. It needs to be a 5×5 grid with Bingo in letters across the top. Then they choose 5 numbers under each letter from the following choices B 1-15, I 16-30, N 31-45, G 46-60, O 61-75.

Bingo Calling

Some of you may have a bingo set at your house. However, for the rest of us I found a great option. Go to letsplaybingo.io. This is a simple and absolutely free bingo caller program that automatically calls and displays called numbers. Everyone seeing the screen can hear and see each ball called.

Other options could include using a bingo cage you have at the church or at home. Or you could make slips of paper with the numbers on them and call out that way.

Video Set Up

Here is where you have a few options.

Option 1 – Cell Phone Video

The first option is to set your phone in front of your computer screen and broadcast to instagram live or Facebook live. Those who get a bingo could text you.

Option 2 – Zoom

A second option would be to use the screen share function of Zoom to share the bingo caller window with everyone. In addition, make sure and share the audio as well.

Option 3 – Zoom and Facebook Live

Finally you can use the screen share function of Zoom to then share on Facebook live. This is what the guys at stuffyoucanuse do with their trivia games.

Online Bingo Games For Groups

It’s a little more intricate set up but it will allow many people to follow along. And you won’t have to worry about zoom invitations and so many people in one call.

I hope that this is helpful as we continue to all look for ways to engage our youth and church during the coronavirus lockdown. For more coronavirus resources please check out our Covid-19 Resource Page

How To Play Virtual Zoom Bingo

The holidays are officially underway and you’ve probably already attended a few online parties, but now the time has come for you to throw your very own virtual festivities. By now, you’re a professional at hosting a holiday party on Zoom. Invitations have been sent, food has been made (or ordered), and all that's left is to decide which games and activities will give your guests the fun they know they're in for.

After playing the perfect icebreaker game, you and your guests are ready to move into the classics. Many have been taking the modern route with new gaming platforms like Jackbox and Houseparty, but don’t forget about the original games that many take after today. You know what I’m talking about: scavenger hunts, Never Have I Ever, Charades, and of course, Bingo.

The history of Bingo is said to go back to the 1500's in Italy from a traditional lottery game, Il Giuoco del Lotto d'Italia. As it traveled throughout Europe, the game landed in the U.S. in the 1920’s and has since become the party time favorite that it is today. One great thing about classic party games is that most (if not, all) can be played virtually.

Give your next holiday party a classic look, and read all about how to have a virtual Bingo party for the ages.

Step 1: Set A Theme

Of course your party needs a theme! While holiday is pretty broad, narrow your party theme down by focusing on your favorite (or friends' favorite) things about the holiday. You can have a winter wonderland theme, gingerbread theme, or just do classic holiday colors like red and green. Once you're all set, you can customize your invitations around said theme.

Step 2: Get The Invitiations Ready

As with any holiday party, you're going to want to get the word out to your friends before the big day. Customize your own invitations with online tools like Smilebox and Paperless Post.

Step 3: Create Bingo Card Items

Time to get those Bingo cards ready for the big night. You can make randomized Bingo cards that have the traditional numbers or you can customize your Bingo cards to have specific words that fit the holidays and your party's theme. Once you've created enough random cards (or have your friends create their own cards), send them out to your guests either before or at the beginning of your party.

Step 4: Ready, Set, Play

You're now completely set up to play virtual Bingo with your friends. Grab a festive cocktail, look over some key rules (maybe read them before drinking), and get ready to watch your friends go to virtual war to see who will fill their card the fastest.As the host, you can also join in on the fun by having another friend or a randomized website choose the clues to be called.

Step 5: Choose Prizes (Optional)

Bingo is one of those games where most expect to leave with something, especially if they win. Treat the winner (or, heck, treat all of your friends) to some virtual goodies that will make everyone's evening a little more merry.

You can't go wrong with this nostalgic favorite. Guaranteed a great time for everyone, have fun putting a modern twist on this classic. Eat, drink, be merry, and bingo!