Welcome back to Playful Pedagogy’s Day 12 of the 12 Games of Christmas! This is it – we’ve made it! I’ve been saving one of the most popular and most requested games for last: Werewolves (also known as Loup Garou).
Prefer to watch instead of read? Here’s a short video where I talk about how I use Werewolves in my classroom.
Werewolves is a social deduction game where players are secretly assigned roles within a village. Some players are werewolves trying to eliminate villagers, while the villagers work together to uncover who the werewolves are before it’s too late.
The game alternates between:
- Night phase: Hidden actions occur based on player roles
- Day phase: Open discussion, debate, and voting
With its rotating roles and evolving gameplay, Werewolves emphasizes communication, critical thinking, perspective-taking, logic, and collaboration.
HOW I USE WEREWOLVES IN THE CLASSROOM
Werewolves is one of the most requested games by my students, and it’s a game I’ve played both as a teacher and as a language learner. I usually use the digital version in class, and we play it entirely in the target language.
Because of the complexity of discussion and debate, this is a game I save for the end of the year. It becomes a celebration of how much students have grown in confidence, comprehension, and communication. Being able to debate, persuade, and question in another language is challenging—and Werewolves makes that challenge motivating and meaningful.
Students aren’t just using language; they’re using it with purpose.
AN INCREDIBLE LANGUAGE LEARNING STORY
One of the most powerful experiences I’ve had with Werewolves was not as a teacher—but as a learner.
While at the Agen Workshop I participated in the Mandarin Language Lab, taught by Will Adams. I started knowing little beyond a simple greeting. On the final day of our week together, our instructor Will invited us play Werewolves in Mandarin.
Through repeated gameplay, gestures, context, and peer interaction, I was able to:
- Follow the structure of the game
- Understand key vocabulary and roles
- Participate meaningfully in discussion and voting
I wasn’t fluent—but I understood. The game provided comprehensible input, authentic repetition, and a meaningful reason to listen and speak. It was joyful, social, deeply motivating and FUN.
That experience reinforced my understanding about language learning. Play lowered my affective filter, built my confidence, and made communication possible long before perfection.
Why this works so well (pedagogically)
- Familiar structure reduces cognitive load
- Repeated language appears naturally and purposefully
- Gestures, tone, and context support comprehension
- Learners feel safe taking risks
This is the kind of learning that stays with learners.
CLASSROOM CONNECTIONS ACROSS SUBJECTS
Literacy / Language Arts:
- Persuasive speaking and debate
- Character voice and storytelling
- Asking questions and defending claims
Math:
- Logical reasoning and probability
- Pattern recognition and elimination
- Evaluating likelihood and outcomes
Science:
- Hypothesis testing
- Evidence-based reasoning
- Making and revising claims
Social Studies:
- Civic discourse and group decision-making
- Roles within communities
- Social psychology and power dynamics
SEL & Creative Arts:
- Role-playing and empathy
- Emotional awareness and regulation
- Drawing, dramatizing, or creating characters
Werewolves is highly engaging and adaptable:
- Roles can be added or removed to scale complexity
- Themes can be customized for content areas
- Works with large or small groups
- Can run as a short activity or a full lesson
With thoughtful facilitation, it works across age groups, languages, and learning goals.
CONCLUSION
Werewolves captures everything I love about playful pedagogy: joy, challenge, connection, and deep learning through interaction. It proves that play can be rigorous, meaningful, and unforgettable.
Have you played Werewolves with your learners? What roles, rules, or adaptations worked best for you? Share in the comments below!
Thank you for joining me for all 12 Games of Christmas. I hope these games have inspired you to bring more play, curiosity, and connection into your classroom.
I wish you a wonderful day full of play—and I look forward to what we’ll explore next.