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Overview

Charadas is a group mime game inspired by “Heads Up” where one player acts out a concept without speaking while others guess. The game includes 200+ educational terms across multiple academic categories.
URL Pattern: /minijuegos/charadas/<group_id>/Minimum Players: 2+ (works best with 3-8 players)

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How to Play

1

Select a Category

The group chooses one of six educational categories: Teaching & Initiation, Epistemology & History, Sports Psychology, Dance & Expression, Track & Field, or University Life.
2

One Player Becomes the Actor

One player holds the device facing away from themselves (so they can’t see the screen but others can).
3

Teammates See the Word

A random educational term from the chosen category appears on screen for teammates to see.
4

Actor Performs

The actor uses gestures, movements, and mime to convey the concept WITHOUT:
  • Speaking or making vocal sounds
  • Pointing at objects with the word
  • Spelling out letters
5

Teammates Guess

Teammates shout out guesses. When someone guesses correctly, tap the screen for a new word.
6

Race Against Time

Try to guess as many terms as possible within your time limit (suggested: 60-90 seconds per round).

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Categories & Concepts

From minigames/views.py:550-657, the game includes 200+ terms organized into six categories:

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1. Teaching & Sports Initiation (28 concepts)

Structure & Skills (Theme 1-2):
  • Habilidad Motriz, Deporte Individual, Deporte de Equipo
  • Adversario, Blanco y Diana, Cancha Dividida
  • Incertidumbre, Espacio Común, Reglamento
  • Falta Técnica, Fuera de Juego
Models & Expertise (Theme 3-4):
  • Talento Deportivo, Modelo Técnico, Modelo Comprensivo
  • Creatividad, Gesto Deportivo, Repetición
  • Toma de Decisiones, Estrategia, Rendimiento Experto, Novato
Initiation & Coaching (Theme 5-8):
  • Iniciación Deportiva, Deporte Escolar, Competición
  • Victoria, Derrota, Juego Limpio
  • Entrenador, Silbato, Pizarra Táctica
  • Cronómetro, Sustitución, Tiempo Muerto
  • Edad Madurativa, Estímulo

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2. Epistemology & History (40 concepts)

Epistemology (Science & Profession):
  • Método Científico, Investigación, Laboratorio
  • Profesor de EF, Entrenador, Gestión Deportiva
  • Recreación, Director Deportivo, Código Ético
  • Juego Limpio, Colegio Profesional, Pre-colegiación
  • Igualdad, Diversidad, Deporte Espectáculo, Violencia Deportiva
Ancient & Medieval History:
  • Prehistoria, Caza y Supervivencia, Grecia Antigua
  • Juegos Olímpicos, Lucha Canaria, Maratón
  • Ilíada y Odisea, Platón, Aristóteles
  • Gladiador, Caballero Medieval, Torneo, Justa, Artes Guerreras
Modern & Contemporary:
  • Renacimiento, Humanismo, Inglaterra, Burguesía
  • Reglamento, Pierre de Coubertin, Anillos Olímpicos
  • Antorcha, Ideología Política, Capitalismo, Dopaje

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3. Sports Psychology (30 concepts)

Introduction & Cognitive Processes:
  • Psicólogo del Deporte, Atención, Concentración
  • Percepción, Sensación, Memoria
  • Procesamiento de Información, Falso Recuerdo
Learning & Intervention:
  • Condicionamiento Clásico, Recompensa, Castigo
  • Observación, Imitación, Modificación de Conducta
  • Evaluación, Hábito de Sueño
Emotion, Personality & Motivation:
  • Personalidad, Emoción, Ansiedad, Estrés
  • Activación, Afrontamiento, Relajación, Autocontrol
  • Motivación, Abandono Deportivo, Éxito, Fracaso
Social & Life Cycle:
  • Liderazgo, Cohesión de Grupo, Comunicación
  • Role-playing, Dinámica de Grupo
  • Infancia, Tercera Edad, Retirada Deportiva

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4. Dance & Expression (26 concepts)

Fundamentals & Factors:
  • Danza, Técnica de Estilo, Técnica Creativa
  • Cuerpo, Espacio, Tiempo, Energía, Fluidez
  • Dimensión Expresiva, Comunicación
Creation & Projects:
  • Proyecto Artístico, Simbolización, Feminismo, Identidad
  • Inventiva, Comparación, Combinación
  • Observador, Impresionismo, Análisis, Contexto
Didactics & AFA:
  • Actividades Físico Artísticas, Docente Mediador, Escenario
  • Recursos Musicales, Dinámica de Grupo, Reflexión
  • Evaluación, Coreografía, Puesta en Escena, Inclusión

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5. Track & Field (39 concepts)

Generalities & Races:
  • Pista Cubierta, Aire Libre, Juez de Pista
  • Técnica de Carrera, Salida de Tacos, Foto-finish
  • Carrera de Velocidad, Maratón, Testigo
  • Zona de Transferencia, Paso de Valla, Descalificación
Jumps:
  • Salto de Longitud, Triple Salto, Salto de Altura
  • Fosbury Flop, Tabla de Batida, Foso de Arena
  • Listón, Nulo, Viento a Favor
Throws & Other:
  • Lanzamiento de Peso, Artefacto, Círculo de Lanzamiento
  • Parada, Lanzamiento Nulo, Fase de Impulso, Fase de Vuelo
  • Cronómetro, Educación Física, Escuela Deportiva

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6. University Life (57 concepts)

People:
  • Profesor, Delegado, Subdelegado, Bedel, Conserje
  • Alumno de Tercero, Novato, Graduado
  • Decano, Rector, Secretaria, Personal de Limpieza
Places:
  • Cafetería, Gimnasio, Pabellón, Piscina, Pistas de Tenis
  • Laboratorio, Biblioteca, Reprografía, Salón de Actos
  • Despacho, Parking, Parada de Bus, Residencia
  • Césped, Cantina, Vestuarios
Objects & Materials:
  • Mochila, Carnet Universitario, Apuntes, Silbato
  • Cronómetro, Ordenador, Proyector, Pizarra
  • Tupper, Café, Botella de Agua, Chándal
  • Zapatillas, Cascos, Examen
Situations:
  • Prácticas, Matrícula, Beca, Fiesta Universitaria
  • TFG, Erasmus, Exposición Oral, Trabajo en Grupo
  • Nota de Corte, Suspenso, Aprobado, Matrícula de Honor
  • Revisión de Examen

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Bonus Category: Sports (40+ sports)

Team sports, racket sports, individual sports, combat sports, nature sports, and alternative activities.

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Game Mechanics

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JavaScript Implementation

From minigames/views.py:682-689: 
import json
context = {
    'biblioteca_json': json.dumps(biblioteca_charadas),
    'categorias': biblioteca_charadas.keys(),
    'group_id': group_id,
}
The game:
  • Serializes all categories to JSON
  • Passes to JavaScript for client-side word selection
  • Allows instant word changes without server requests
  • Maintains smooth “Heads Up” style gameplay

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No Session State

Unlike other games, Charadas doesn’t track scores in the session. It’s designed for quick, casual group play where players track their own scores.

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Acting Tips

For compound terms like “Pedagogía del Flow”, act out “teaching” first, then “flowing water” or “being in the zone.”
Show whether something is big/small, round/square, heavy/light with your hands and body.
If the word is “Biblioteca” (Library), mime opening a book, reading quietly, shushing someone.
For “Salto de Longitud” (Long Jump), act out the running approach, takeoff, and landing.
If the word is “Motivación” (Motivation), show being excited and energized vs being lazy.

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Guessing Tips

If the category is “Track & Field,” focus guesses on athletics-related terms.
Even wrong guesses can spark ideas. Keep throwing out related terms.
If someone says “running,” the next person might add “sprint” or “relay.”
Small gestures matter. Hand positions, facial expressions, and timing give clues.

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Educational Value

Active Learning

Kinesthetic engagement reinforces memory of educational concepts

Vocabulary Building

Repeated exposure to academic terminology in fun context

Non-Verbal Communication

Develop ability to convey complex ideas without words

Team Collaboration

Practice working together under time pressure
1

Time per Round

60-90 seconds works well. Shorter for smaller groups, longer for larger groups.
2

Team Size

3-6 players per team. One acts, others guess.
3

Rotation

Rotate who acts after each round so everyone gets a turn.
4

Scoring

Count each correct guess as 1 point. First team to 20 wins (or play for a set time).

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Variations

Two teams alternate. Team A acts for 60 seconds while Team B watches. Then Team B acts. Most points wins.
Once a word appears, the actor must attempt it - no skipping difficult words.
Permit non-word sounds (whoosh, beep) to make it slightly easier.
Mix all categories together for maximum difficulty and variety.
Only 30 seconds per round. Fast-paced chaos!

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Common Challenges

Challenge: How do you act out “Epistemología” or “Motivación Intrínseca”?Solution: Break into simpler parts. For motivation, show someone lazy vs energized. For epistemology, mime thinking deeply and questioning.
Challenge: “Ansiedad” vs “Estrés” are very similar.Solution: Show subtle differences. Ansiedad might be nervousness before an event; estrés might be pressure during.
Challenge: How to act out “Platón” or “Pierre de Coubertin”?Solution: Focus on what they’re known for. Platón: philosopher thinking. Coubertin: starting the Olympics.

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Technical Implementation

View Function: charadas_game() in minigames/views.py:545-690 Key Features:
  • 200+ curated educational terms
  • Six academic categories plus bonus sports category
  • Client-side JavaScript for instant word switching
  • JSON serialization of word database
  • No server-side state (pure client-side gameplay)
  • Optimized for “Heads Up” style play

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Category Selection Strategy

Use Teaching & Initiation, Track & Field, or Sports categories
Use Epistemology & History for ancient civilizations and sports history
Use Sports Psychology for mental processes and behavioral concepts
Use Dance & Expression for creative and movement concepts
Use University Life - familiar terms that everyone can relate to

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Best Practices

Warm Up First

Start with easier categories (University Life, Sports) before tackling abstract ones

Celebrate Good Acting

Acknowledge creative and effective miming, even if the guess is wrong

Keep Energy High

Fast pacing and enthusiasm make the game more fun and engaging

Learn from Rounds

After each round, discuss which gestures worked well

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Next Steps

Try Impostor

Another group game focused on word description instead of acting

All Games Overview

Explore all 10 minigames

Playing Games Guide

Strategies for all game types

Gamification System

Learn about Relaciona’s educational game design

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