Cheese Thief

As teachers, we are always looking for new games to engage students in the classroom. Today’s blog post is from guest blogger Bethany Stahler from ASL Hands on Deck. Read on to learn how she plays this game with her students.

You can get the game here. At the time of the post, the game cost $26.99.

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Why Cheese Thief Works in ASL Class

The best language learning moments happen when students stop repeating what the teacher signs and start truly communicating. That’s exactly what happens when my students play the game Cheese Thief.

What is Cheese Thief?

Cheese Thief is a social deduction game, like Werewolf or Mafia, where one player secretly steals a piece of cheese during the “night” while the rest of the group tries to figure out who did it during the “day.” Each player is assigned a secret role, either the Cheese Thief or a Sleepyhead, and rolls a die to determine the hour they’ll wake up. Each player rolls their die and hides it under a cup — this number determines what “hour” they wake up during the night phase. During the night, everyone closes their eyes. The Moderator, usually the teacher, pounds the table to represent each hour (for example, 2 pounds means 2 a.m.), and players whose dice match that number open their eyes and take action. The Cheese Thief tries to steal the cheese, while Sleepyheads may observe or interact depending on who else is awake.

Discussion and Deduction

When the night ends, everyone opens their eyes, and the group begins a discussion. Players share observations, make accusations, and try to identify the thief. The Cheese Thief, meanwhile, tries to deflect suspicion and blend in. The round ends with a vote. If the thief is caught, the Sleepyheads win. If not, the Cheese Thief and any hidden allies win.

Why Students Love It

It’s a fun game that builds attention to detail, expressive signing, and meaningful communication. One reason this game works so well in the ASL classroom is how easy it is for students to jump in. The conversation almost always starts the same way: students ask and answer what time they woke up and whether the cheese was still there. That simple, structured beginning helps even hesitant signers feel confident enough to participate. From there, students quickly buy in, get locked into the mystery, and start either investigating or lying with full commitment.

Boosting Confidence and Fluency

Games like this can make a big difference in student confidence. Cheese Thief helped my students let go of the pressure of being watched and focus on interacting with each other. One of my favorite moments was when a very shy student surprised the entire class by pulling off a bold lie and winning the game. It was really a sight to see.

Bringing It Into Your Classroom

Since then, I’ve used Cheese Thief regularly to build classroom community, encourage spontaneous signing, and help students connect more authentically. Whether you’re teaching ASL 1 or a higher-level class, this game is a creative, low-prep way to get students signing and engaging with one another.

I’ll be posting a step-by-step guide soon to show how I run it in class. For now, if you’re looking for something fresh to boost student communication, Cheese Thief is worth trying. Want to try it in your own classroom? All you need is the game, a table, and some curious students.

Bethany from ASL Hands on Deck

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