BINGO (BRAVO - INDIA - NOVEMBER - BRAVO – OSCAR)
Whiskey; Oscar; Sierra; Mike. Want to learn what this spells? After this game, you'll be able to spell messages like this and more. Try this fun bingo session with your Scout or Guide Group, where you'll learn the International Phonetic Alphabet! (P.S. The answer is "WOSM!")
Objective
Help Scouts and Guides memorize the International Phonetic Alphabet by playing bingo!
Time needed for activity
Approx. 20 minutes
- 26 balls - Write a different letter of the alphabet on every ball using a marker. Tip: You can request balls from tennis, paddle or ping pong clubs, or make them out of recycled paper that is crumpled into a ball.
- Bingo cards - Print 12 squares (3 columns x 4 rows) on pieces of plain paper cards. Each block must contain a different letter. In total, each card should have 12 different letters on it (see example at the end). Each participant must have one bingo card.
- Something to mark your cards with, such as a pen, beans, or small circles.
- An opaque bag big enough to hold all 26 balls.
Examples of materials used:

- A Scout or Guide is chosen as the leader of the game.
- Distribute one card to each participant.
- Distribute a small amount of pens or beans (or anything else for marking the cards) to each card holder.
- Ask the leader to remove a ball from the bag and say the letter written on it using ONLY the International Phonetic Code.
- In the first few rounds, the leader should pronounce the letters drawn more slowly, giving participants time to identify the letter that was drawn. In the next rounds, the leader can gradually increase their speed.
- Participants must check their card and mark it if their letter has been drawn.
- Repeat steps 4 and 5.
- The Scout or Guide who marks all the letters on their card first and shouts loudly and clearly “BRAVO-INDIA-NOVEMBER-GOLF-OSCAR” wins the round!
Example of a Bingo Card:

Download the BINGO Cards here!