BEAST, BIRD OR FISH
This is a game in which you must think quickly. The leader of this game says, “Beast, bird or fish,” then quickly pointing to one child calls, “Fish! one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!” While he is counting ten the other must name some kind of a fish, and if he fails the leader has another chance. If he succeeds he becomes leader.
SHOUTING PROVERBS
This is a game which makes plenty of noise. Send one child from the room and choose some proverb, such as “A stitch in time saves nine.” Give each player one word of the proverb and call the “outsider” in. When he gives the signal you must each say your word, altogether. If he doesn’t guess from the noise what the proverb is, you must repeat it twice more for him. If he can’t guess then, he must go out again, and you choose another proverb.
BEANS
Divide the children in two companies, standing in line, facing each other (like a spelling match). The leader of each line has a handful of beans, and when the signal is given the beans are passed down the line from one to the other. The last player places his in a bowl, and whichever side has the most, wins, for beans that have been dropped are not counted.