Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium Part 36

This game is played by skimming or skipping sticks over the hard surface of the snow, as stones are skipped over the water. Each player is provided with from three to five small sticks. These may be especially whittled, or they may be pieces of branches. A perfectly smooth stick is best, and one that has some weight to it. Each stick is notched, one notch on the first, two on the second, three on the third, etc.

The players stand at a given line and take turns in skimming their sticks over the surface of the snow, each player throwing but one stick at a time. When each player has thrown, the stick that has gone the farthest scores for the thrower according to the number of notches on it. For instance, if the stick had but one notch, it scores one point for the player; a three-notched stick scores three points, etc.

The sticks are then gathered up and put to one side, and each player in turn throws the next stick in his bunch, the successful player of the first round having the first throw in the second round, and scoring in similar manner. This is continued until all of the sticks have been thrown. This may close the game, which is won by the highest scorer, or it may be repeated indefinitely, either with a time limit or until a certain score is reached.

This game is an adaptation of one played by the Wabanaki Indians. The Northern Indians have many games belonging to the Snow Snake cla.s.s.

SPANISH FLY

_5 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

This is a game of leapfrog in which the leader (first over) sets feats for the others to perform, as in Follow the Leader, any player who fails taking the place of the back. The following feats are popular:--

The jumper leaps over, touching the back with one hand only and waving his cap with the other.

The jumper leaps over without touching the back.

The jumper makes a quarter turn while going over.

HATS ON DECK.--The leader, as he vaults, places his cap on the back, and must clear without touching it. Each player, in turn, adds his hat to the pile, the last player having to jump over all. If any one knocks over the pile, he must become back, and the game begins over again. If all jump successfully, the last one over then jumps again, removing his hat as he goes over without disturbing the others, and so on until all have been removed.

HATS FULL OF WATER.--The jumper places his own hat on his head upside down and balances it there while leaping over the back.

SPANS

_2 to 10 players._

_Out of doors; indoors._

This is a game played by snapping b.u.t.tons against a wall, their landing point determining a score. Each player has a b.u.t.ton. One of the players lays his b.u.t.ton on the ground near a wall or fence. The others, in turn, snap their b.u.t.tons against the wall so as to rebound near to that of the first player. Should the b.u.t.ton snapped drop within one hand reach or span (_i.e._ the distance between stretched thumb and fingers) of the b.u.t.ton first laid down, it scores two points for the player throwing it. If it comes within two such spans of the first b.u.t.ton, it scores one point. Should it hit this b.u.t.ton and bounce away within but one span, it counts four points. Should it so bounce within two spans, it scores three points; and should it go farther than this, it scores but one point. The number of points in the game, twenty-five or fifty, is agreed on at the outset. The players take regular turns, and the first to score the required number wins the game.

SPIN THE PLATTER

(See also _My Lady's Toilet_)

_10 to 30 or more players._

_Parlor; schoolroom._

All the players are numbered and seated in a circle, except one, who stands in the center and twirls a platter, tray, or some other round object. As he starts it spinning, he calls any number that he chooses, and the player bearing that number must at once spring forward and try to catch the platter before it ceases to spin and falls to the floor.

If successful, he returns to his place in the circle. If not successful, he takes the place of the spinner and pays a forfeit. The forfeits are all redeemed at the end of the game.

This game may also be played by calling the players by name instead of numbering them.

SPOONING

_10 to 30 players._

_Children's party; adult house party._

All but one of the players stand in a circle. The odd player is blindfolded and placed in the center. He is given two silver tablespoons. The players in the circle clasp hands and move around until the blindfolded player clicks the spoons together, at which signal the circle must stand still.

The blindfold player then goes up to any one in the circle, and by feeling over the face and head with the bowls of the spoons must identify the player. He may not feel on the shoulders or around the neck, only on the face and head. A player may stoop to disguise his height for this, but otherwise may not evade the touch of the spoons.

If the blindfold player correctly identifies the one before him, they exchange places. If incorrect in his guess, the play is repeated.

This may be a very amusing game for either children or adults.

The author has seen it played with great success under both conditions.

SQUIRREL AND NUT

_10 to 60 players._

_Schoolroom._

All of the pupils but one sit at their desks with heads bowed on the arms as though sleeping, but each with a hand outstretched. The odd player, who is the squirrel, and carries a nut, runs on tiptoe up and down through the aisles, and at his or her discretion drops the nut into one of the waiting hands. The player who gets the nut at once jumps up from his seat and chases the squirrel, who is safe only when he reaches his nest (seat). Should the squirrel be caught before he reaches his nest, he must be squirrel the second time. Otherwise the player who received the nut becomes the next squirrel.

It is scarcely necessary to say that the other players wake up to watch the chase.

SQUIRREL IN TREES

_10 to 100 players._

_Schoolroom; playground; gymnasium._

This game is very like Hound and Rabbit, but is a little less exciting, and under some circ.u.mstances better adapted to very young children.

Most of the players stand in groups of three, with hands on each other's shoulders, forming hollow trees. In each tree is a player representing a squirrel, and there is also one odd squirrel without a tree. The teacher or leader claps her hands, when all of the players must run for other trees, and the odd squirrel tries to secure a tree, the one who is left out being the odd squirrel next time.