Duck Duck Goose
Duck Duck Goose is a classic children's circle game adapted as an improv warm-up. One player circles the group, tapping heads and calling out "duck" until choosing a "goose" who must chase them around the circle before they can claim the vacated spot. In improv contexts the game is used to raise physical energy quickly, lower inhibitions through familiar childhood play, and establish a physical permission structure early in a session.
Structure
Setup
All players sit in a circle on the floor. One player, designated "it," stands outside the circle.
Progression
The standing player walks slowly around the outside of the circle, tapping each seated player on the head and saying "duck." At a chosen moment, they tap a player and say "goose." The tapped player immediately leaps up and chases "it" around the circle. "It" must run a full lap and reach the vacant spot before being tagged.
If "it" reaches the spot safely, the chasing player becomes the new "it" and the game continues. If "it" is tagged before sitting, they must return to the center and the same player continues as "it."
Improv Adaptations
Facilitators sometimes replace "duck" and "goose" with improv-relevant pairs: "block" and "yes-and," "no" and "offer," or character categories. The substitution adds a light layer of concept reinforcement without changing the physical structure of the game.
Conclusion
The game runs for a fixed number of rounds or until the group's energy has clearly risen. It is not competitive -- the point is the physical engagement, not winning.
How to Teach It
Objectives
Duck Duck Goose targets physical energy, playful presence, and the willingness to be "in it" without overthinking. The game's familiarity as a childhood activity makes it immediately accessible and removes the need for long explanation, making it useful at the very start of a session.
How to Explain It
"You already know this game. Circle up, sit down, and let's play it."
Scaffolding
No scaffolding is needed. The game's rules are culturally pre-loaded for most participants. Facilitators with groups who may not know the game should give a thirty-second demonstration before starting.
Common Pitfalls
The game can feel childish to professional audiences who do not yet understand its purpose. Naming the intention briefly before starting helps: acknowledging that it is deliberately simple, and that the simplicity is the tool. Groups who are physically reluctant or have mobility limitations may need the game modified -- for example, by tapping shoulders instead of sitting on the floor.
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Related Exercises
One Duck
One Duck is a rhythmic counting exercise in which the group recites a structured chant that accumulates complexity with each round. The chant follows a fixed verbal pattern that grows longer and more demanding as the count increases, training group rhythm, sustained focus, and the ability to maintain a shared vocal pattern under increasing cognitive load.
Barney
Barney is an energy and movement warm-up exercise in which players adopt an exaggerated, lumbering physical character and interact with the group through simple, playful commands. The exercise asks participants to embody a large, slow, friendly creature (often described as a dinosaur or monster) and move through the space with maximum physical commitment and minimum self-consciousness. The inherent silliness of the character lowers inhibitions quickly, making Barney effective as an early warm-up for groups that are new to physical work or uncomfortable with large physical choices. The exercise builds comfort with exaggerated movement, vocal projection, and the willingness to look ridiculous in front of others, all foundational skills for improv performance.
Ducks and Cows
Ducks and Cows is a trust and listening exercise in which blindfolded players are secretly assigned to be either a duck or a cow. Without guidance from the facilitator, they must navigate a shared space and find their group using only the sound of their assigned animal. The exercise builds listening acuity, trust in a chaotic environment, and comfort with physical vulnerability when vision is removed.
Bunny
Bunny is a high-energy circle exercise in which players pass a rhythmic pattern around the group through a combination of chanted sounds and synchronized gestures. The player designated as the bunny performs a central action, typically holding both hands beside the head like ears while chanting "bunny bunny," while the two players on either side perform complementary supporting gestures. The bunny then passes to another player across the circle, and the pattern repeats with increasing speed. The exercise builds group rhythm, peripheral awareness, and comfort with looking foolish. It is widely used as a warm-up in both theatrical and corporate training contexts, valued for its ability to lower inhibitions, demand focus, and generate collective energy through structured silliness.
Clingy Penguin
Clingy Penguin is a physical warm-up in which one player waddling in penguin style tries to attach themselves to another player, who must escape without breaking their own penguin walk. The absurd physical constraint makes flight and pursuit equally comic, releasing physical inhibition while building spatial awareness and commitment to an unlikely form.
Whoosh
Whoosh is an energetic circle exercise in which players pass a sound-and-gesture impulse around the group with the option to reverse, deflect, or redirect using different sounds and movements. The exercise is typically played as a layered game in which new moves are introduced one at a time, building complexity and requiring players to hold multiple rules simultaneously. The exercise builds group energy, quick decision-making, and the habit of sending and receiving clear physical signals.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Duck Duck Goose. Retrieved September 28, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/exercises/duck-duck-goose
The Improv Archive. "Duck Duck Goose." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/exercises/duck-duck-goose.
The Improv Archive. "Duck Duck Goose." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/exercises/duck-duck-goose. Accessed September 28, 2026.
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