School, Church, and Home Games

by George Orrin Draper

Similar to the preceding, with the exception that the pupils are requested to write upon the board the name of some historical personage or some historical event, date, etc.

Poem Race

The pupils having learned some poem may use it in a game in the following way:

The pupils of each aisle constitute a team. At the signal to go the last pupil in each aisle stands up and recites the first line of the poem, returns to his seat and taps the one next in front of him, who stands up and repeats the second line of the poem, sits down and taps off the third pupil, who repeats the third line, and so the game continues. If the poem has not been completed after the one in the front seat has said his line, he taps the one next behind him, and that one is supposed to give the next line and so on back. The aisle first completing a poem wins the race.

If the poem be a very small one, words of the poem instead of lines may be used. If it be a long one, verses instead of lines may be used.

Last Man

This is a good active game thoroughly enjoyed by the children. The teacher selects one pupil to be "It," and another to be chased. The one chased can stand at the rear of any aisle and say, "Last man." Thereupon the front pupil in that aisle is subject to being tagged by "It" and leaves his seat. All the other pupils in that aisle advance one seat and the first man chased sits down in the last seat in the aisle. "It" tries to tag the man who left the front seat before he can go to the rear of any of the aisles. Should he succeed in doing so, he can immediately be tagged back if he does not hurry to the rear of some aisle and say "Last man."

(Caution: Should any child appear fatigued when "It," substitute another child in his place).

Change Seats

This is a good relaxation game. The teacher says, "Change seats left." Thereupon all the pupils shift to the seats to their left. The children who are in the last aisle on the left must run around the room and occupy the vacant seats on the right hand side. Should the teacher say, "Change seats right," the reverse of the proceeding is necessary. The teacher can also say, "Change seats front," or "Change seats rear," and the pupils are expected to obey the commands. Those left without seats must run to the other end of the room and take any seat found vacant there.