Games and Play for School Morale Part 5

At the last question, the A's begin the motions previously agreed upon.

Intelligence test.

DUCKS FLY

Children stand in files. Leader stands in front of cla.s.s and gives names of various birds saying "Blue birds fly," or "Sparrows fly,"

etc., raising her arms sideward to shoulder height and down again in imitation of wings. The children follow her motions. After giving successive birds' names, the leader suddenly changes to the name of something that cannot fly, moving her arms as before, while the children must keep theirs still. If a child makes a mistake he must take his seat. The last child standing is the next leader.

Intellectual alertness.

SIMON SAYS

One player chosen to be "Simon" takes his place before the other players. He commands some gymnastic movement as "raise arms forward, bend knees," etc. As he does so he calls out, "Simon says." If, however, he omits "Simon says" before his command, the players should not execute the movement, even though he does. Anyone failing in this must be seated.

Intellectual alertness.

Fourth Grade

FOX AND HOUND

The players stand in rank and file. They join hands across the ranks. A fox and hound are chosen. The hound is out to catch the fox. They can only run where the pa.s.sageways are open. At the command "change," the players face left or right and join hands in opposite direction. The command to change is given often and each time the course of fox and hound is changed. There is no limit to the number of players. More than one fox and hound can be used for large groups.

Heeding signals.

GRAND RIGHT AND LEFT

Players in couples, right hands joined, marching in a circle counter clock wise. For convenience call outside circle number two, the inner circle number one. Odd player in center. At the command "Grand Right and Left," No. 2 swings No. 1 in front of him and to his right, giving his left hand to approaching No. 1. Continue around circle in like manner until command "change" is given. At this point of the game the center player tries to get a partner. If he succeeds someone else becomes "it" and the game proceeds.

A challenge alertness.

AUTOMOBILE RELAY

Each row represents some popular automobile. The first child in each alternate row, at a given signal, leaves by the right side, runs forward around his seat, then to the rear of the room on the left side, thus completely encircling his own row of seats. As soon as he is seated, the next child behind him runs in the same manner, and the game continues until the last child has run and has returned to his seat.

The row finis.h.i.+ng first wins.

Community excitement.

HOP TOADS

The players form a circle, hands joined. One toad stands in the center holding a rope, at the end of which is tied a bean bag. The center toad swings the rope first in a small circle gradually enlarging the radius until it comes in direct line with the feet of the toads in the circle, who must jump to avoid being hit by the bag. Should anyone in the circle be hit by the bag he takes the place of the center toad.

Dodge game.

BEAR IN THE PIT

The players join hands and form a circle to represent a bear pit. One stationed as bear stands in the center. The bear tries to get out of the pit under or over or breaking through the bars--(clasped hands).

Should he succeed in getting out all the rest give chase. The one who succeeds in catching him becomes the bear.

Strength test.

FOLLOW THE LEADER

One player chosen as leader performs a series of marching activities; work-a-day occupations, or gymnastic exercises, the other players imitating him accurately--and responding promptly. Anyone failing to do so retires to his seat and becomes a spectator. This is an old but ever new game.

Imitation.

BEAR IN THE RING

One player is chosen as bear, sits in the center of the room on a stool. A second player is chosen to be the keeper. The keeper stands by the bear holding in his hand a short rope about two feet long, knotted at each end to give a firm hold. The rest of the players stand around in a circle and attempt to tag the bear without being tagged by the bear or his keeper. The players may attack the bear when the keeper says "My bear is free." Should a player strike at the bear before the keeper says "My bear is free," they change places. The keeper aims to protect the bear. As in the case of the bear, if the keeper tags one of the players they exchange places and the keeper returns to the ring.

Alert attention.

FETCH AND CARRY

Each player is supplied with a bean bag. On the floor directly in front of each aisle a circle about eighteen inches in diameter is drawn and close up to the blackboard. At a given signal the first player in each row runs forward, deposits his bean bag in the circle in front of his aisle and runs back to his seat. As soon as he is seated the player behind him runs forward, places his bean bag in the circle and returns to his seat. The game continues until every player in the row has deposited his bean bag. The row finis.h.i.+ng scores one.

The game is then reversed. The last player in each line runs forward, picks up a bean bag and returns with it to his seat. Upon being seated he touches the player in front of him on the shoulder, this being the signal for that player to run forward, pick up a bag and return. No player is permitted to run before the signal is given. The row finis.h.i.+ng first scores one.

Speed compet.i.tion.

CORNER SPRY

Divide your players into four stations, one group in each of the four corners of the room. Four captains are chosen, who stand in the center, each with a bean bag and facing his corner of players. At a signal each captain throws his bean bag to each player in his group, who in turn throws it back to the captain. As the captain throws to the last player in the group he calls, "Corner Spry!" and runs to the head of the row, the last player taking his place as captain. The group succeeding first in having all of its players in the captain's place wins the game.

Speed compet.i.tion.

SENTENCE RELAY

Have the same number of children in each row. Supply the first child in each row with a crayon. Upon a signal from the teacher the first child in each row stands, runs to the board, and writes one word, that serves as the beginning of a sentence. Upon returning to his seat he gives the crayon to the next child, who runs to the board and adds another word and returns to his seat and the next child in turn adds still another word. The row completing a sentence first wins.

Intellectual compet.i.tion.