Database of Games » Social Games

Sardines

gamepac — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:30:01 +0000

This is a game of hide and seek that reverses some of the usual methods of playing the game. The player chosen to be It instead of blinding goes out himself to hide while all of the other players stay at the goal. While one of their number counts one hundred they must all either blind their eyes or be shut in one room to give the hider a fair chance. After counting they shout “One hundred ” and all start out to hunt for the hider. Any player discovering him must after making sure that none of the others observe him hide in the same place with the hider. If necessary he must linger near until there is opportunity to do this without being discovered. If there should not be room to hide in the same place the finder must take a seat in plain sight near the hiding place. Sometimes a large number of players will be seated in a room or in a group out of doors while the last unfortunate hunters try to locate some clever hiding place which is obviously near but hard to detect. Of course it is better for the players to actually hide with the first hider if practicable which probably suggested on occasion being “packed in like sardines.”

This is one of the most interesting house party games for young people for either out of doors or within.

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.

Centipede

gamepac — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 15:30:01 +0000

The players sit in a circle on the floor with their feet stretched out and mingled in a promiscuous pile. One player who is leader and stands outside the circle touches one of the feet (he may mark it slightly with a piece of chalk if desired) and calling on some player by name commands him to tell to whom the foot belongs. When this player has named some one the leader commands the owner of the foot to stand up. If the guess be wrong the leader chases the mistaken player and whips him with a knotted handkerchief. If the guess be right the guesser is released from the game sits down at one side and chooses the next one to be It while the one who was It takes a place in the circle.

This game lends itself especially to the gymnasium or seashore where the dressing of the feet is inclined to be uniform.

The game is played by the modern Greeks.

Leaf By Leaf

gamepac — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:30:01 +0000

A basket of leaves is provided no two of the leaves being alike. These may be leaves from trees shrubs or plants or flowers may be used in the same way.

The players are each provided with a card or slip of paper and a pencil and are seated. One leaf is handed to the first player who passes it on to the next and so on until it has made the round of the group. Each player in turn if he can identify the leaf writes the name of it on a card. Each leaf is thus passed.

The host or hostess then reads a correct list naming the leaves in the order in which they were passed. The player wins who has the largest number correct.

This is an especially pleasing game for nature students.