Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium by Jessie Hubbell Bancroft (top novels of all time .txt) π
In the arrangement of material there has many times been a strong temptation to classify the games by their historic, geographic, psychologic, or educational interests; by the playing elements contained in them; or by several other possible methods which are of interest chiefly to the academic student; but these have each in turn been discarded in favor of the original intention of making the book preΓ«minently a useful working manual for the player or leader of games.
[Sidenote: Varying modes of play]
The same games are found not only in many different countries and localities, but under different names and with many variations in the form of playing them. This has necessitated a method of an
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All of the players but one form a circle, clasping hands. They circle around, singing the first two lines of the verse. While they are doing this, the odd player stands in the center and illustrates some movement which he chooses for the others to imitate. During the last two lines of the verse the players stand in place, drop hands, and imitate the movements of the center player, which he continues in unison with them.
Did you ever see a lassie do this way and that?
Do this way and that way, and this way and that way;
Did you ever see a lassie do this way and that?
When a boy is in the center, the word "lassie" should be changed to "laddie."
The player may imitate any activity, such as mowing grass, raking hay, prancing like a horse, or turning a hand organ; may use dancing steps or movements such as bowing, courtesying, skipping, whirling in dance steps with the hands over the head, etc.; or may take any gymnastic movements, such as hopping, jumping, arm, head, trunk, or leg exercises, etc.
4 to 60 or more players.
Indoors; out of doors.
This game is played in groups of four, generally by girls. Two players face each other, clasping hands at full arm's length. The other two face each other in the same way, with their arms crossing those of the first couple at right angles. Bracing the feet, the couples sway backward and forward, singing the following rhyme:β
For my lady's daughter.
One in a rush,
Two in a rush,
Please little girl, bob under the bush.
As the last line is said, the players all raise their arms without unclasping the hands and place them around their companions, who stoop to step inside. They will then be standing in a circle with arms around each other's waists. The game finishes by dancing in this position around in a ring, repeating the verse once more.
The illustration shows in the left-hand group the pulling backward and forward; in the rear (center) group the lifting of hands and stooping under; and in the right-hand group the position for dancing around while repeating the verse.
DUCK DANCE (THE)And oh, it was laden with pretty things for me.
There were comfits in the cabin, and apples in the hold;
The sails were made of silk, and the masts were made of gold.
Were four and twenty white mice with chains about their necks.
The captain was a duck with a packet on his back,
And when the ship began to move the captain cried quack! quack!
The players hold hands and circle rapidly while singing. After the last verse one of the players breaks the circle and with his next neighbor raises his hand high to form an arch, calling "Bid, bid, bid!" which is the call for ducks. The player on the opposite side of the break in the circle proceeds to pass under this arch, the entire circle following, all holding hands and answering "Quack! quack! quack!"
When all have passed through, the two players at the opposite end of the line raise their hands and cry, "Bid, bid, bid!" while the two who first made the arch pass through, drawing the line after them, and calling "Quack! quack! quack!" This passing of the ducks under the gateway is continued during one or two repetitions of the music. The players should repeat "Bid, bid, bid!" and "Quack, quack, quack!" in rhythm during all of this latter part of the play.
FARMER IN THE DELL10 to 30 or more players.
Indoors; out of doors.
The farmer in the dell,
Heigh-o! the cherry-oh!
The farmer in the dell.
The farmer takes a wife,
Heigh-o! the cherry-oh!
The farmer takes a wife.
The wife takes a child,
Heigh-o! the cherry-oh,
The wife takes a child.
The succeeding verses vary only in the choice in each, and follow in this order:β
The nurse takes a cat, etc.
The cat takes a rat, etc.,
The rat takes the cheese, etc.
The players stand in a circle with one of their number in the center, who represents the farmer in the dell. At the singing of the second verse, where the farmer takes a wife, the center player beckons to another, who goes in and stands by her. The circle keeps moving while each verse is sung, and each time the player last called in beckons to another; that is, the wife beckons one into the circle as the child, the child beckons one for the nurse, etc., until six are standing in the circle. But when the lines, "The rat takes the cheese," are sung, the players inside the circle and those forming it jump up and down and clap their hands in a grand confusion, and the game breaks up.
HUNTING10 to 60 or more players.
Indoors; out of doors.
This game is especially enjoyed by little boys, for whom there is a comparatively small number of appropriate singing games.
The players all stand in two lines facing each other. They clap their hands in time with the song, and sing the first verse:β
Oh, have you seen the Shah?
He lights his pipe on a starlight night.
Oh, have you seen the Shah?
A-hunting we will go.
We'll catch a fox and put him in a box.
A-hunting we will go.
While the last verse is being sung, the two players at the top of the lines run forward, join hands, and run down between the lines to the foot, turn around, join the other hands, and return between the lines. When they have reached the head again, they unclasp hands and run down the outside of the lines, each on his own side, and take their places at the foot of the lines. By this time the verse should be finished, and it is then sung again, the two players who are now standing at the head running down through the middle, etc. This is repeated until all the players have run, when the two lines join hands in a ring and all dance around, repeating the verse for the last time.
For a large number of players several may run instead of two. The first two then represent foxes, the next four, prancing or galloping horses (all in time to the music), and four others for riders or hunters.
ITISKIT, ITASKET10 to 30 or more players.
Indoors; out of doors.
This is a form of Drop the Handkerchief, differing somewhat in play, and also in that a verse is sung with the game.
All of the players but one stand in a circle with clasped hands; the odd player, carrying a handkerchief, runs around on the outside of the circle, singing the following verse:β
A green and yellow basket;
I wrote a letter to my love
And on the way I dropped it.
Some one of you has picked it up
And put it in your pocket;
It isn't youβit isn't youβ
This last phrase is repeated until the player reaches one behind whom he wishes to drop the handkerchief, when he says, "It is you!" and immediately starts on a quick run around the circle.
The one behind whom the handkerchief was dropped picks it up and at once starts around the circle in the opposite direction, the object being to see which of the two shall first reach the vacant place. The one who is left out takes the handkerchief for the next round.
Should a circle player fail to discover that the handkerchief has been dropped behind him until the one who has dropped it has walked or run entirely around the circle, he must yield his place in the circle to the handkerchief man, changing places with him.
KEEP MOVING5 to 60 players.
Indoors; out of doors; schoolroom.
One player is chosen as leader. He repeats or sings the following formula, at the same time going through the motions indicated. The other players must repeat the formula and the motions with him. They may be either seated or standing. The rhythm should be very rapid:β
One finger one thumb keep moving,
One finger one thumb keep moving.
Tra-la! la-la! la-la!
(The thumb and index finger of one hand are separated and brought together, as when a bird's beak is being imitated with the fingers.)
Two fingers two thumbs keep moving,
Two fingers two thumbs keep moving.
Tra-la! la-la! la-la!
(The thumb and index finger of both hands are moved in similar manner.)
Four ββ
Four ββ
Tra-la! ββ
(The thumb, index, and middle fingers on each hand.)
Six ββ
Six ββ
Tra-la! ββ
(Add the ring finger.)
Eight ββ, etc.
(All the fingers.)
Eight fingers two thumbs one hand keep moving,
Eight fingers two thumbs one hand keep moving.
Tra-la! la-la! la-la!
(The finger motion is continued, and to it is added an up-and-down shaking of one hand.)
Eight ββ
Eight ββ
Tra-la! ββ
(A similar movement of the other hand is added.)
(One arm is moved up and down with the shoulder, elbow, and wrist all active, while the movement of the fingers and of the opposite hand continues.)
(Add similar movement of the other arm.)
(The toes of one foot are lifted (bending the ankle) and tapped on the floor as in beating time.)
(Add similar movement of other foot.)
(Lift one leg with bent knee and replace the foot on the floor in rhythmic time, while all of the other parts mentioned are kept in motion as previously.)
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