Database of Games » Command and Response

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.

Old Woman From The Wood

gamepac — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 15:30:01 +0000

The players are divided into two even parties which face each other from a short distance. One party advances toward the other remarking “Here comes an old woman from the wood.” The second party answers “What canst thee do ” whereupon the old woman replies “Do anything ” The second party then says “Work away ” whereupon all the players in the first party proceed to imitate some occupation in which an old woman might engage and which they have previously agreed on among themselves such as sewing sweeping knitting digging a garden chopping wood kneading bread stirring cake washing ironing etc. The opposite party tries to guess from this pantomime the occupation indicated. Should they guess correctly they have a turn to perform in the same way. Should they be unable to guess correctly the first party retires decides on another action and returns. This form of the game is generally played by girls. Boys play the same game with different dialogue under the name of “Trades.”

When played in a playground or gymnasium where there is free space for running a successful guess should be followed by a chase of the actors by the guessing party any players caught before a designated goal line is reached having to join the party of their captors. The party wins which secures all of the players.

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.

Do This Do That

gamepac — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:30:01 +0000

All the players stand facing one of their number who is the leader. The one who is leader assumes any gymnastic position or imitates any action at the same time saying “Do this ” and the others immediately imitate. Should the leader at any time say “Do that ” instead of “Do this ” any player who imitates the action performed must be seated or pay a forfeit whichever form of penalty has been decided on at the beginning of the game. Three mistakes of this kind put a player out of the game even when forfeits are the penalty.

The leader may choose any gymnastic positions that are familiar such as chargings head bendings trunk bendings arm movements knee bendings hopping jumping dancing steps etc. or imitate familiar actions such as hammering sawing washing ironing sewing stone cutting shoveling riding horseback etc.