The game of bingo with friends works so effectively in its virtual form, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this is the way it's always been. Of course, virtual bingo was inspired by the game that has filled halls across the world for decades, where players come together in the hope of being the first to win the jackpot. Play bingo with all of your friends and if you are lucky, you win! It's time to play bingo together with all of your friends! Buy those bingo cards and while the balls roll out one by one, tick off the numbers you have.
Still looking for some games you can play with your group while social distancing? This week we played Bingo, and it’s fairly simple.
You can do this many different ways. However it is easiest to use Zoom or Facebook live as long as you can share your screen.
Step 1 – Bingo Cards
Option 1: Printed or Online Cards
The first step was to find Bingo cards for everyone. MyFreeBingoCards.com makes this easy and free for up to 30 players. Click on the link that says 30 cards for free.
Once you do you’ll be given the option to download the cards in pdf. Instead, you can get an individual link for each card that can be texted or emailed.
The online cards actually allow you to play virtually and mark them as you play using your phone, tablet or computer.
Email or text the cards out to everyone playing. I would suggest doing this earlier in the day or the day before so that you can start
Option 2: Make Your Own
With a small group it might be easy to have everyone make their own cards. Post some instructions ahead of time on what the letters and numbers should be. It needs to be a 5×5 grid with Bingo in letters across the top. Then they choose 5 numbers under each letter from the following choices B 1-15, I 16-30, N 31-45, G 46-60, O 61-75.
Bingo Calling
Some of you may have a bingo set at your house. However, for the rest of us I found a great option. Go to letsplaybingo.io. This is a simple and absolutely free bingo caller program that automatically calls and displays called numbers. Everyone seeing the screen can hear and see each ball called.
Other options could include using a bingo cage you have at the church or at home. Or you could make slips of paper with the numbers on them and call out that way.
Video Set Up
Here is where you have a few options.
Option 1 – Cell Phone Video
The first option is to set your phone in front of your computer screen and broadcast to instagram live or Facebook live. Those who get a bingo could text you.
Option 2 – Zoom
A second option would be to use the screen share function of Zoom to share the bingo caller window with everyone. In addition, make sure and share the audio as well.
Option 3 – Zoom and Facebook Live
Finally you can use the screen share function of Zoom to then share on Facebook live. This is what the guys at stuffyoucanuse do with their trivia games.
It’s a little more intricate set up but it will allow many people to follow along. And you won’t have to worry about zoom invitations and so many people in one call.
I hope that this is helpful as we continue to all look for ways to engage our youth and church during the coronavirus lockdown. For more coronavirus resources please check out our Covid-19 Resource Page