Schoolroom Games For Elementary Students

Dog and Bone

The dog sits with hands over his eyes on a chair or bench in front of the room, his  back towards the other players and his bone (dumb bell, eraser, book, or other similar article) under the chair.  A child, chosed by the teacher, attempts to sneak up on the dog and touch the bone without being heard.  If the dog hears him coming he may turn to see him and the player returns to his seat.  The object of the game is to touch the bone without being heard but the dog.

The child who is successful takes the place of the dog.

Teaching Suggestions:

Waits of unequal length between attempts keeps the dog more alert.  He must be warned not to turn unless he is sure that he hears someone coming.  A penalty may be attached to him if he turns and no one has yet left their seat.  He should be made to give his place to another.  The teacher indicates the child who is to go by pointint to that child.

The game may be made into a tage game by the dog having to tag the person who is attempting to touch his bone.  That child is safe only upon touching the bone before being tagged or by reaching his own seat.

This puts the penalty rather thean the premium upon being the dog.

Huntsman

One child is the hunter.  He stands and says, "Who wants to go hunting with me?"  Those who do say "I do" and fall in line behind the hunter who leads them within a designated area. 

They must follow him and do everything that he does.  Suddenly he calls "Bang" and all run back to their seats.  The one who is first back in his own seat becomes the next hunter.

Teaching suggestions:

Follow-the-Leader stunts which the first grader may do are such as skipping, walking, running, hopping, walking on all fours, going around chairs, touching objects etc.  The teacher should be ready with her suggestions.

The leader may thake his group through stunts, such as sneaking upon prey, carrying gun, sighting targets, etc.  Indian characteristics make good follow-the-leader stunts.

The teacher chooses the first hunter or she may ask who would like to be the hunter.

Slap Jack

A circle is formed.  One child who is designated as IT runs around the outside of the circle and tags another player.  He continues to run while the tagged players runs in the opposite direction.  Both try to get back to the vacant place in the circle.  The one who fails to get back first becomes the runner for the netxt time and the games is repeated.

When played in the schoolroom, all are seated except one.  He tags another who runs around the room in the direction opposite to that of the tagger.  The object is to return first to th e vacant seat.

Teaching Suggestions:

IF the children become too excited, make the runners wen they meet half way around the circle stop and shake hands with each other.

When playing in the schoolroom, do not allow cutting through the aisles of vacant seats.  The run must be around the outside of the room and always toward the same side of the room.

Other stunts may be added which the children must perform upon meeting half way around the circle.  These might be to run around each other, say "Good Morning", turn around three times, etc.