Clap You and Higher Five

Clap You and Applausez-Nous

Clap You is based on a spectator activity similar to the act of clapping, or applauding, in which approval is signified by bringing hands together forcibly and repeatedly in such a way as to produce a maximally resonating sound.

Only you can’t clap your own hands.

And you can’t clap both hands with the same person.

I have a variation that I call Applausez-Nous (especially when I’m feeling Francophillic). Everyone stands in a circle. I ask people to position their hands so that their hands are vertical (palms facing towards each other, back of the hands facing the people on their left and right). Then I ask them to cross arms with the people on either side and touch palms, and then to applaud by hitting their partners’ palms. This brings a laugh of surprise and delight and is a great way to conclude a session.

Similar rules can be found in the related game, Higher Five.

Higher Five

Get together in groups of three. In a matter of minutes, create a new version of High Five suitable for three people.

Higher Five, not unlike Clap You, is a non-spectator activity signifying collective approval by the bringing together of hands in rapid and soundful affirmation.

However, unlike the Clap You activity, Higher Five is based on the proverbial High Five, which is the same as a normal applau (applause, singular) except that it is performed with the arms extended overhead…hence, “High.”

And, unlike High Five, the Higher Five is performed with both hands, and two different people, simultaneously.