Database of Games » Circle and Breakthrough

Poison

gamepac — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:30:01 +0000

A circle is marked on the floor or ground considerably smaller than an outer circle formed by the players clasping hands. Each player tries by pulling or pushing to induce the others to step within the smaller circle but endeavors to keep out of it himself. Any one who touches the ground within the inner circle if only with one foot is said to be poisoned. As soon as this happens the player or players so poisoned become catchers the other players shout “Poisoned ” and at once break the circle and run for safety which consists in standing on wood. The merest chip will answer and growing things are not counted wood. If played in a gymnasium iron may give immunity instead of wood. Any one caught before reaching safety or in changing places afterward joins the catchers and when all have been caught the ring is once more surrounded.

Stone

gamepac — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:30:01 +0000

A large circle is drawn on the ground or floor in the center of the play space. At either end of the ground a goal is marked off. One player chosen to be stone sits on the floor in the circle. The other players stand around outside the circle taunting the stone by stepping over into his territory. Suddenly and the more unexpectedly the better the stone rises and runs for the other players who are only safe from tagging when behind one of the goals. Any one so tagged becomes a stone and joins the first stone in sitting near the center of the circle. They also join him in chasing the other players whenever he gives the signal. This continues until all the players have been tagged.

Garden Scamp

gamepac — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:30:01 +0000

This game is a great favorite with children and may be made an opportunity for much sport with youths and older players.

All but two of the players form a ring by clasping hands the inclosure serving as the garden. Within this one of the odd players who is assigned to be the scamp takes his place. The other odd player the gardener moves around on the outside of the circle.

The gardener calls to the scamp inside “Who let you in my garden ” and the scamp answers “No one ” whereupon he starts to run away the gardener chasing him. The gardener must take the same path followed by the scamp in and out under the arms of the players who must lift their hands to let them pass. The gardener must also go through all of the movements performed by the scamp who may jump “leapfrog” over any player in the circle turn somersaults crawl between the legs of a circle player double unexpectedly on his path circle around one of the players or resort to any other device for making the chase difficult. If the scamp be caught he becomes gardener and the gardener joins the circle. The former scamp now gardener chooses a new scamp to go into the circle.

Should the gardener fail to follow in the exact path of the scamp or to perform any of the feats or antics of the scamp the gardener must at once join the ring and the scamp then has the privilege of choosing a new gardener.

FOR THE SCHOOLROOM.–This game may be played by the entire class forming a circle around the room as close to the seats as possible to leave room for the chase outside the circle. Where seats can be turned up this should be done to give the runners opportunity to cross and recross the center space easily. The scamp however may vault over seats in his efforts to escape or delay the gardener.

Kitty White

gamepac — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:30:01 +0000

This is an admirable game for very little children. Their dramatic tendency should be given full rein in impersonating the soft movements of the kitty and mousie before the chase begins.

Kitty White so slyly comes
To catch the Mousie Gray
But mousie hears her softly creep
And quickly runs away.

Run run run little mouse
Run all around the house
For Kitty White is coming near
And she will catch the mouse I fear.

One player is chosen for the mouse and stands in the center and another for Kitty White who stands outside of the circle. The other players join hands in a ring and move around while singing the first four lines. Meanwhile Kitty White is creeping around outside of the circle peeping in at little Mousie Gray. When the fourth line is reached “And quickly runs away ” the circle stops moving and drops hands while the mouse runs out and in through the circle chased by Kitty White. For the last four lines while the chase is going on the players in the circle stand in place and clap their hands while singing “Run run ” etc.

When the mousie is caught both return to the circle and another mouse and kitty are chosen.