GROUP GAMES Keeper of the keys: Duck duck goose: Shoe bomb:

Transcription

1 GROUP GAMES This booklet is designed to help you play games in your settings. It has a list of games that can be played in large and small groups and games that can be played indoors and outdoors.

2 GROUP GAMES These can be useful, especially at the beginning of a session, as the games encourage children and Playworkers to work together and get to know each other. They create a friendly, fun and inviting atmosphere, and are a good way of building relationships. Group games are also useful for filling in gaps, when an activity has been cancelled or when there is a spare five minutes. Examples of group games are; Keeper of the keys: A child is blindfolded and sat on a chair in the circle. A set of keys is placed under the chair and one child is selected. They then have to get the whole way round the circle and then retrieve the keys. The keeper has to point out where they think the child is and if they are successful, another child has a turn. Duck duck goose: A circle is formed and one child is selected to walk around the outside of the circle tapping the heads of each child saying Duck each time. When they select a Goose both children must run round the circle and try and return to the space first. The one left standing carries on around the circle. The animals used can be changed such as Lion, Lion, Tiger etc. Shoe bomb: Each child removes one shoe and places it in a pile in the centre of the circle. One child is selected as the Detective and leaves the room. Another child chooses a shoe that represents a Bomb, shows everyone and then hides it in the pile. The detective returns and has to find the Bomb whilst the children chant tick, tick, tick and BOOM!!! when it is found. The aim is to find the Bomb in as few shoes as possible.

3 Word tennis: For those of you who remember the all time classic hit breakfast show WAC-A-DAY, then we have a treat for you in an updated form of Mallet s Mallet. Two children are selected as contestants. It is a word association game where you mustn t pause, mustn t hesitate and there is no repetition. The winner stays on as the champion and other children can challenge them. The sun shines on: The children form a circle and the children take turns to step forward and suggest something like the sun shines on everyone wearing something blue. Everyone who is wearing blue changes places. Children can then also change places hopping, doing silly walks or animal impressions etc. Fruit salad: The children form a circle and they are each named as one of five fruits. When the fruit is called they change places in the style called (e.g. jumping, skipping, walking backwards, noisy etc). If Fruit Salad is called then everyone swaps places doing the action suggested. Dodgeball: This is a simple game where an area is marked out (using cones or already drawn lines. The idea is to dodge the soft ball that is thrown. When someone is hit (must be below the waist), then it is his or her turn. One variation is that you group into teams and those throwing the ball must not move with the ball, but pass the ball until they are close enough to hit someone. Shipwreck: Place several hoops on the floor to represent islands, when standing in one of the islands you are safe from the sharks. This can be played with music or people can take it in turn to shout sharks! When sharks is called all the players must find a safe island, those who fail to are eaten, and thus are out of the game! Parachute Drop:

4 Players are each given a number and stand in a circle around a chair. One player stands on the chair, drops the balloon and calls a number. The player with that number has to try and catch the balloon before it reaches the ground. If they do so, they replace the player on the chair. Round the World: Get four pieces of A4 paper, on which you write down the names of various countries. You may want to have a list of things famous to these countries beforehand. Stick the A4 paper around the space you are using. Someone then calls out a place to visit and the players have to run to the country. Those who get it wrong are knocked out. Any subject can be used, animals, famous people, sport, TV shows or anything else that can be deemed as good fun. Genie: For this game you will need a basket (genie), some tennis balls and a rope (or some length marked out on the ground). Place the rope on the ground, marking specific points along its length, with the basket (genie) at the end of the rope. Each player takes it in turns to throw a tennis ball into the genie from the nearest mark to the basket. If successful the player can move back to the next mark until the winner is the player who gets the ball into the genie from the end of the rope. Mega-Tag: The children are split into two equal teams. One team forms a circle with a player in the middle. The other team forms a line. The player in the middle of the circle begins the game by throwing the ball to his teammates one by one. Every successful catch is counted. As soon as he begins the game the first player in the second team starts by tagging the hand of the next player in the line. This is passed all the way down the line until the last player who then has to run around the circle. When all the players in the second team have returned to their original positions the team sits down, and the circle team stops counting. The teams swap places and attempt to beat the score set.

5 Roll Cricket: You will need one tennis ball, two cones and something to mark an area with. Place the cones at either end of the playing area and draw a wide circle around each one. Divide the players into two teams. The cones are the goals and players are not allowed to tread across the chalk line around the goal. Goals are to be scored by rolling the ball into the cone. Players cannot move once they have the ball. Tunnel Ball: Divide into two teams. One team takes up position around the marked target and must stay within this area throughout the game. The attacking team can move anywhere around the area and must score a goal by hitting the target. If the defending team intercept the ball they give it straight back. Once 3 hits have been scored, the teams swap over. Football Rounders: Play as you would normal rounders, but instead use a football. Ensure bowling is underarm and the player must run on their first bowl. Kicker: Especially good to play indoors. Two posts are set apart in the hall, against each wall. One of these is post, and the batsman is only in when he is touching this post. Using a small foam ball (MUST NOT BE A OUTDOOR BALL), the bowler bowls underarm to the batsman, who must kick it. He then has to run from the first post to the second. For each run between the posts, he will gain a run. He can be got out by hitting either of the posts with the ball or being caught out. Rocket Ball: An area similar to a football pitch is used. The goals are the end zones at each end of the pitch. In each of these

6 zones a player must stand. Using a soft ball, the two teams can place themselves wherever they like. They have to score by getting the ball to their team member in the end zone. Once a player has possession they cannot be tackled, but they cannot move with the ball. The end zone player must catch an airborne ball to gain a point. Once a goal has been scored the other team take possession. 40/40*: One person covers their eyes and counts to 40. The children have to hide and try and get back to the post. If they are spotted, they must try and beat the postie back to the post and say 40/40 in. As soon as the postie sees someone, they must get back to the post and say 40/40 see (child s name) hiding behind the big tree (or wherever they are hiding). As soon as the children are caught, they must all sit down together and must not roam around by the post, or accidents are likely. Sardines*: One person hides whilst the rest of the group count to 50. As soon as they find the hider, they must hide with them. The next person to hide is the first person who finds them. *CLEAR BOUNDARIES MUST BE SET WITH ALL THE CHILDREN AND PLAYWORKERS BEFORE THE GAME BEGINS IN 40/40 AND SARDINES Team building games

7 Team building games are a good way of getting people to mix with each other and also to teach the significance of working together and supporting one another. 1) BODY SHAPES Divide into groups of three or four, and attempt to make, using your bodies only, the following items, or any other items of your choice: Water fountain Train House Letters of the alphabet Numbers Shapes Bicycle Bus Elevator 2) WHO S ARMS ARE THEY ANYWAY This game requires two people to share a simple task, such as blowing up a balloon or eating something, but one person has their arms behind their back, and the other has to put their arms around their body, and assist with performing the task. 3) PAPER SQUEEZE Place a piece of A4 paper on the floor (a larger piece can be used when using larger groups). Each person in the group must have at least one foot on the paper, and no part of their body touching the floor surrounding. 4) SUPPORT MAZE This game is can be done in pairs or small groups. One member is blindfolded, and has to be directed through the maze of masking tape on the floor by other team members or their partner. If they step outside of the maze, they must begin again. The first team to reach the end of the maze is the winner. 5) TOWER GAME Divide into teams, each team is asked to build a tower with equipment provided, such as newspaper, scissors, sellotape (decoration equipment can

8 also be provided, for example tissue paper etc). There is a limited amount of time given, and the team with the highest free standing tower wins. 6) HAT GAME Each person is asked to create a hat that they feel represents their personality type within the team/group, using the materials provided, such as sugar paper, scissors, sellotape, glue, glitter etc. Fashion Show In order to run the fashion show activity, all you will need is junk material of your choice; such as black bin bags, crepe paper, string, feathers etc; scissors and sellotape. You then need to divide the group into teams, and ask them to create a fashion design of their choice within a time limit, which will then be displayed on a member of the team in the Fashion Show and judged by other members of the group. Points to consider Whilst leaving teams to get creative by themselves, you should ensure that you are also supervising from the sidelines, especially where younger children are involved with equipment such as scissors and plastic bags. Make sure that everyone is included, as teams will naturally form a ranking structure, which may exclude people.