GAMES
Non-elimination Musical Chairs
Santa Clara County
Council
The object of the game is to keep
everyone in the game even though chairs are systematically removed. As in the
traditional version, music is played, and more and more chairs are removed each
time the music stops. In this game, however, more and more children have to
team up together, sitting on parts of chairs or on each other to keep everyone
in the game. In the end, all the children who started the game are delicately
perched on one chair, as opposed to only one “winner” on one chair.
Musical Hoops
Santa Clara County
Council
This game is similar to Nonelimination
Musical Chairs, except that it is played with hula-hoops. You will need a
hula-hoop for each player except one, which are spread out onto the floor. If
there are 8 players, you will need 7 hula-hoops. Have each child stand in a
hula-hoop, then start the music and remove one hoop. When the music stops the
children must all find a hoop to stand in, continue removing a hoop each time.
At the end, everyone will be trying to squeeze into one hoop.
Beach-Ball Bounce
Santa Clara County
Council
In this game one beach ball or balloon
is shared by two children, who try to hold the ball between them without using
their hands. They can see how many different ways they can balance the ball
between them (head to head, side to side, stomach to stomach, back to back,
etc.) and can attempt to move around the room holding the ball in different
ways. With the beach ball balanced forehead-to-forehead, they can both attempt
to bend forward to touch their knees, touch their toes, both squat, and so on.
They can attempt to go through a hanging hoop or and obstacle course.
Alternatively, they can try to balance two or three balls between them or
balance the balls in groups of three or four or more.
Over and Over
Santa Clara County
Council
Players form two lines, about four and
a half kid-lengths apart. The first person in each line has a beach ball, which
is passed backward over his head to the next person in line. The lead person
immediately turns around and shakes hands with the second person, who must
momentarily free one hand from the ball, balancing it with the other. The lead
person then runs to the end of the second, adjoining line, where another ball is
being passed. The second repeats this procedure, and so on down the line. The
common objective is to move both balls and both lines from one point to another
as quickly as possible, perhaps from one end of the gym to the other.
Balloon Head
Santa Clara County
Council
Blow up a balloon for each player (12
inch balloons work the best). How many times can you bounce the balloon off
your head without using your hands? The player who hits their balloon the most
times (with the head – no arms or shoulders permitted) is the winner.
Umbrella Bounce
Santa Clara County
Council
Supplies: An umbrella, a ball (rubber ball,
tennis ball, or ping pong ball)
Open the umbrella and set it upside
down on the ground. Mark a starting line about 10 to 15 feet away and use a
fresh ball that bounces well. The object of the game is to bounce the ball into
the umbrella so that it stays in the umbrella. You cannot toss it in directly –
the ball must bounce once first before landing in the umbrella. Each player
gets 5 turns. Each ball that stays in the umbrella scores one point.
Pushing Peanuts
Heart of America
Council
Materials: 1 peanut and 1 toothpick for each player
Give each
player a toothpick and a peanut. Have players line up on the start line on their
hands and knees. On the word "Go" they race across the floor pushing their
peanuts with the toothpick. This game may also be played as a relay.
Laughing Ball
Santa Clara County
Council
This game is similar to Hilarious
Handkerchief, but trickier. The game is fun with a large group and requires a
bouncing ball of any size. The leader instructs everyone in the circle to start
laughing the instant he throws the ball into the air. And everyone must keep
laughing until someone catches it. At that moment, they have to be absolutely
quiet. The one who catches it becomes the leader for the next round. If anyone
doesn’t laugh when the ball is in the air, or is caught laughing after the ball
is caught, that person must drop out of the circle. To get people out, the
leader can try making some false movements.
ELEPHANT RELAY
Circle Ten Council
Have the
boys place a clean sock over one hand. Scatter peanuts on the floor. On go the
first boys must use his covered "elephant trunk" to pick up two peanuts and
place them in the bucket. He then returns to the end of the line and the next
boy goes. Continue until all boys have had a turn.
CENTER RING
Circle Ten Council
Sit everyone
in a circle, and call it "center ring" Let each child have a turn doing a
somersault, jumping jack, etc.
CLOWN BEANBAG TOSS
Circle Ten Council
Draw a large
clown face on a piece of butcher paper, cardboard, or fabric. Collect several
beanbags. Tape the clown face to the floor a few feet away from the clown. Have
your children stand behind the line and take turns trying to toss a beanbag onto
the clown’s nose.
TIGHTROPE
Circle Ten Council
Materials: Masking Tape - Place
a line of masking tape on the floor to represent a tightrope.
Ask the boys if they have ever seen a tightrope performer at the circus. Let
them take turns sharing their experiences. Then have them line up at one end of
the masking tape and take turns using different parts of their bodies to 'walk
the tightrope'. Call out directions such as these. 'Walk the tightrope on your
toes! Walk the tightrope using your elbows! Walk the tightrope on your knees!
Walk the tightrope using your nose!' For a fun touch let the boy's try carrying
a small umbrella.
FEED THE ELEPHANT
Circle Ten Council
Form Teams from dens. For each team,
hang a megaphone so that it is slightly tilted with the mouthpiece down and the
large end towards the peanut tosser. Have a basket or other receptacle to catch
peanuts as they fall through the megaphone. Each tosser gets 10 peanuts and
tries to toss them into the elephants open mouth (the large end of the
megaphone) while standing 8 to 10 feet away. The team that scores the most
wins.
Clown Walk
Longhorn Council
Players are evenly divided into two
teams. A starting line and finish line about 30 feet apart are marked. Each team
forms a unit by holding hands, interlocking arms, riding piggyback, or by any
other means that can be devised, The only limitation are the number of arms and
legs which may be used for the task of walking. The number of arms and legs
which can be used in the walking process are determined by subtracting two from
the total number of people on the team, (For example, if there are eight people
on the team, six arms and six legs may be used.) To start the race, both teams
assemble on the starting line. On signal, they move toward the finish line. The
first team to arrive wins.
TIC-TAC-TOE
Longhorn Council
Draw an expanded tick-tack-toe grid
with 16 or 25 spaces on the pavement with squares the size of a hopscotch board.
The players are divided into two teams, the 0 team and the X team. The rules are
the same as traditional tick-tack-toe. The first team to complete a line
horizontally, vertically, or diagonally across the playing field using team
members to score a point. After both teams have agreed on which team will go
first, the first team collects in a huddle to decide in which square a team
member should stand. The players standing in the squares hold their arms over
their heads in an X or 0 to indicate the team. Teams alternate turns until one
team has won. Players standing in the grid go back to their respective teams,
and two new players start another round.
Hoopla
Longhorn Council
Mark start and finish lines about 30
and 40 feet apart. Players line up at the start line, each holding a hula-hoop.
If there are only a few hula-hoops to share, divide players into smaller groups
for several races. When the leader says GO, each player places his hoop on the
ground in front and jump into their hoops. They pull them over their heads, and
toss them again to move toward the finish line. Players who fail to make their
jump into the hoop must go back to the start line and begin again. The first
player to hop over the finish line into his hoop gets a “HOOP, HOOP, HOORAY!”
Used as a relay face, half of each team is lined up behind each of the two
lines. When everybody has completed their portion, they should have switched
sides. First one to finish is the winner.
Dunk The Clowns
Longhorn Council
*
Pint size plastic bottles
*
Medium size plastic tub
*
Board to lay across top of tub
*
Rubber balls
*
Permanent Colored markers
Design the plastic bottles to look
like clowns. Set them on the board placed across the water filled tub. Divide
the den into two teams; let them take turns throwing the balls at the clowns.
Keep track of the number of times the clowns are toppled. When the board is
empty, reset the clowns and continue playing.
Ring The Tent Pegs
Longhorn Council
Drive nine tent pegs into the ground
five to six feet apart, in a big circle. Players run around circle trying to
ring pegs with rubber jar rings. Color-code the rings with magic marker, blue
for one team, yellow for the other. Divide den into two teams. Each team member
has several rings. Have team members mixed together and everyone runs around
pegs at same time. Score one point per peg ringed.
Clown Ball Game
Longhorn Council
*
3 8”x 12” squares of heavy cardboard
*
Poster paints -String
*
Thread spools or metal washers
*
2 soft rubber balls
Draw and cut out the clown faces on
the heavy cardboard. Paint with poster paints. Punch holes through the chin, tie
string to it and hang several spools or metal washers to the string. The weight
of the spools or washers will keep the heads upright. Attach the clown faces to
a heavy cord by taping it on the back at mouth level. Now hang this between two
chairs. The game is to hit the heads and tip them over. Many who try this game
aim for the red nose instead of the hat, which is the place to hit in order to
counter the force of the hanging weights.
Bag The Clown
Longhorn Council
The idea is to hit the clown in the
face at four strategic spots. On a large cardboard circle, draw the clown’s
face. Cut a hole for his mouth. Add a balloon for his nose. Make his ears
pointed.
Each player gets a beanbag, a dart,
and two rings. He tries to throw the beanbag through the clown’s mouth, burst
his balloon nose with the dart, and ring his ears with the rings.
Hula-Hoop Clown Toss
Longhorn Council
Try to toss a hula-hoop over the head
of a giant clown. To make your clown, glue or tape various sized boxes together.
(Weight the bottom box with plenty of sand.) Then, paint the boxes. Roll a cone
shape paper hat, and glue to clown’s head. Glue on yarn hair and paper features.
Lion Taming
Longhorn Council
Try to tame the lions by knocking them
off their pedestals. For pedestals, use inverted galloon ice cream cartons. Set
them up in several rows.
For animals, round up stuffed animals
(they needn’t be all lions), or make the animals out of cardboard, at least a
foot tall. Glue a cardboard support strip to back of animals. Give player a ball
or bean bag and see just how many lions he can tame.
Tightrope Walk
Longhorn Council
Test your tightrope skills in this
fun-packed game. For the “rope”, set a long 2 x 4 up on edge, supported at
either end with a pair of sandbags. Mark off distances on the rope. Record
distance walked by each player.
Balloon Douse
Longhorn Council
Douse one of the gang with
water-filled balloons. The victim (VOLUNTEER) sits or stands against a wall. An
umbrella or raincoat may be provided. Above him (on the wall) is a large nail.
Players aim water-filled balloons at
the nail in an attempt to douse the fellow below. (No fair hitting the
“volunteer” directly!)
