Partner A will be the first partner to give one-word clues about the first word on his or her list. Partner B will get one guess after each clue. Set a timer for 30 seconds (or longer, depending on the difficulty of the words) and ask students to begin the first round. Visit Christmas Scavenger Hunt, also available without a subscription charge. Www.myvocabulary.com offers more than 645 word lists. To see more vocabulary word lists and the above Christmas Scavenger Hunt word list, go to the home page for interactive worksheets, word puzzles, word games and themed content that align with Common Core. 2500 pages of free content are available only online.
What it is: A talking, guessing game for four players
Best for: Teens to adults
What you need:
- Only a list of words (and I’ve gotplenty for you)
How to play: You play password with two teams of two. There’s one word (the password) that one player on each team knows, and both are trying to get their teammate to guess the word first by taking turns giving one-word clues.
Here’s how it works.
Let’s say our players are Ben and Brooke (on one team) and Dan and Donna (on the other team).
Each team chooses one player to go first. We’ll say Ben and Dan. Using a word generator or paper slips or cards with words written on them, one word is chosen, the word that will be the password for both of them. We’ll say it’s “key.”
Ben and Dan both know the password, while it’s kept secret from Brooke and Donna.
Once Ben and Dan both know the password, the game can start. One of them will go first, say Ben. He gets a chance to get his teammate Brooke to guess the password. The trick is, Ben can only give a one-word clue. He might say “lock.” With her one-word clue, Brooke thinks and makes a one-word guess as to what the password might be. She might say, “door?” Because she guesses incorrectly, it’s now Dan and Donna’s turn.
Dan can now give Donna a one-word clue. He might say “metal.” Now Donna has the benefit of knowing Dan’s clue (metal) as well as Ben’s (lock). But she might still guess incorrectly and say, “safe?”
Now it’s Ben’s turn again. He thinks hard and gives the clue “unlock.” It’s Brooke’s turn to guess, and now she has three clues to work with: lock, metal, and unlock. That might be enough for her to correctly guess, “key?”
Play goes back and forth between the two teams, as many turns as it takes, until someone guesses the password. Once someone correctly guesses the password, the round is over, that team gets a point, and you start another round. Switch roles first, so Brooke and Donna are giving the clues and Ben and Dan are guessing. Every two rounds, switch which team goes first.
That’s the basic gameplay! It’s simple and might even seem boring, but it can actually get really funny. You might have seen the game played on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
The game is also a fun test as to how well two players know each other. The more you know about your partner and the way they think, the better chance you have of figuring out their clues. For example, once when my husband and I were playing, the password was stomp. The other team had given the clue foot, and it was my turn to give my husband a clue. Our three-year-old daughter was going through a very stubborn phase where she was apt to throw mini tantrums, so I only had to say Annelise for my husband to know exactly what I was talking about. ?
As for what words to use, the word lists for catchphrase, either easy or medium, might work well. My online or app form word generator is a great resource. Multi-meaning words like organ and wave are always interesting, because the clue-givers can say any one-word clue they want, even if they use a different definition of the password that has previously been used. The same goes for words like coach or bruise that can be either verbs or nouns.
Rules: Like in catchphrase, rhyming words are not allowed as clues. So, for example, if the password were sassy and someone, after a few rounds, tried to use the word Lassie as a clue, that would be against the rules, because sassy and Lassie have no relation except for the fact that they rhyme (well, unless you have a pet dog named Lassie with some serious sass). The same goes for using clue words simply because they have the same first letter as the password.
Variations: The game is similar to catchphrase.
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We all know the importance of using strong passwords, updating them regularly, and creating unique passwords for different websites. But what is the best way to keep track of potentially dozens of complicated passwords, including when to update them? Options range from password management software to spreadsheet templates to scribbling a list on a sheet of notebook paper.
The best tool for storing and organizing passwords will depend on whether your needs are business or personal, the volume of passwords, and who needs to access the information. One simple option is to use a customizable template to keep all of your login details in one place. Below you’ll find a variety of free templates for tracking and organizing usernames, passwords, and other info. Options include Excel, Word, and PDF templates, which you can encrypt and password protect for heightened security.
Password Storage and Security Tips
Simple passwords might be easy to remember, but that can also make them easier to crack. A strong password generally contains a combination of upper and lowercase letters along with symbols and numbers. Ideally, a user would memorize passwords, not share them with anyone, and update them regularly in order to keep them secure. Even then, security breaches are still possible due to internet hacking or unethical behavior by employees or others who have access to sensitive online data. Most individuals have numerous online accounts to manage, not to mention the user credentials and account information that fall under the purview of businesses. Here are some tips for safely storing and recovering passwords quickly when needed:
- The One Password You Must Remember: If you’re going to save passwords or other sensitive information in digital files, encrypting the files adds an extra layer of protection. Encryption basically scrambles the data and locks the file, which you can only open with a password. So, if you’re storing your login information in an encrypted, password-protected Excel file, for instance, you’ll need to remember that master password to open the file and access the information. You can encrypt Microsoft Excel and Word files by following a few steps under the File menu, and you can encrypt Adobe PDF files by following steps under the Tools menu. You can do a quick online search to find detailed instructions on encrypting files on Mac and Windows.
- Consider Storage Options: For extra security, you can store your password log on an encrypted hard drive. If you need to access a file from more than one location or device, you can use cloud storage services that are password protected, such as Dropbox or Google Drive. Those services support two-factor authentication, also referred to as two-step verification, which involves entering an initial password that you set, and then a second code that is sent to your mobile device.
- Think Twice Before Sharing: Occasionally, you’ll need to share a password with others, and multiple users may update that password. However, you risk having information get passed to others anytime someone has access to login details. Limit access to that information to the necessary parties, and never share sensitive password details via email, which is not secure.
- Schedule Updates: Get into the habit of updating passwords regularly, and keep track of when changes are made. Change passwords immediately if you suspect a leak.
Finding a balance between convenience and security can help you operate efficiently while reducing concerns about lost or stolen passwords.
Password Log Template
This password logbook template provides columns for storing passwords along with answers to security questions and other login details. List website URLs, usernames, and any additional information you want to track. You can download this log in Excel, Word, or PDF formats, so you can choose a spreadsheet option or an easily printable template.
Download Password Log Template
Excel | Word | PDF
Password List Template
Create a basic password list for your login details to email and online sites. This Excel template provides a simple layout with room to list multiple entries. Add passwords and other important details for all of the websites you use. You can easily edit or expand the template to include additional information.
Password Game Show Word List
Download Password List Template
Excel | Word | PDF
Website Administrator Password List
Designed for developers and other website management roles, this password list template includes sections for adding login details for database access, hosting, and other admin account information. Small businesses or independent developers can use this list to manage passwords for a single website or multiple clients.
Download Website Administrator Password List
Excel | Word | PDF
Basic Password List Template
Keep things simple with this password template for Word, which you can save to your computer or print and complete by hand. List usernames and passwords for various websites on an easy-to-read template. Create a password book for a family or multiple users by printing copies and adding them to a binder.
Download Basic Password List Template
Excel | Word | PDF
Password Spreadsheet Template
A password spreadsheet template can help you organize and track login information for email, social media, banking, shopping sites, and more. Create a comprehensive Excel spreadsheet for all the details you don’t want to forget, including notes about each account. You can organize accounts by category, create an alphabetized list, or simply add new entries as they arise.
Password Manager Template
Use this password manager template to organize a large number of accounts by separating them into individual sheets. Alternatively, you can create separate sheets for multiple users. Keep track of account details, usernames and passwords, security questions, website URLs, and any other important information, such as when a password was last updated.
Printable Password Keeper Template
Often, a paper document is arguably safer than a digital file when it comes to storing passwords, as long as you keep it in a safe place. This printable version of a password keeper offers a simple solution for those who want a basic list of passwords with minimal information included.
Download Printable Password Keeper Template
Excel | PDF
Family Password Organizer
Designed for families, this password organizer template provides a range of layouts and color schemes in a single file. Parents can manage passwords for their kids while helping them learn about the importance of password security. Individuals can also use this template and customize it to suit their specific needs.
Download Family Password Organizer
Excel | PDF
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