Games for the end of term

Jeux sans blackboards (TES 1996)

If anyone is good at managing children’s end of term ‘want-to-do’s’, play-workers ought to be. With 50 years of experience between them, Leslie Kellard  and Paul Doyle ought to be good at running games. They head up two of Islington’s play centres. They describe their repertory of games should you ever be stuck for an end-of-term energy-burner. So here, to make quite sure that you end the year quite short of breath, is a list of ideas.

Goose:

All sit on the floor. The first goose is chosen and they choose another as they pass them. Goose two now has to catch number one, following them as they weave their way in between those sitting. Good memory is vital, because when goose one is caught, the pair have to retread their route exactly.

Bear:

All sit in a circle with the ‘bear’, sitting in the centre. Place some keys behind them and pick one child to creep up, take the keys as the rest shout ‘Bear!’ when they hear the keys jangle. The bear gives chase round the circle, and if they catch them they get to play the bear again.

Sticky toffee:

Pick one child as the first ‘piece of toffee’. They chase the others and when they touch one, they stick to them by holding hands. The pair try to touch the others, and make a group of three. When the group becomes a foursome, they break into two pairs. Continue until everyone is stuck to someone.

Boots and Shoes:

Name one the end of the hall ‘boots’ and the other ‘shoes’. Name the sides of the hall, ‘port’ and ‘starboard’. Shout ‘Last to boots’ or ‘Last to starboard’ as you try to confuse and get the perfectly puzzled pupils ‘out’. This is best played fast and furious with a tricky taskmaster. Add your own rules saying ‘Last to sit down’ when ‘sit down’ means ‘stand up’ and vice-versa.

Cannibals and Pirates:

Make a chalk circle around half the group and call this the island. These are the cannibals, the rest are pirates. The idea is to end up with all cannibals or all pirates by arm-pulling cannibals off the island or pirates from the sea. No running allowed, but you can hold on to your team mate to save them.

Stuck in the mud:

A tag game, where one tries to catch the others. When touched you stick at the spot with your arms straight outwards. Those who aren’t stuck can release them by running under their arms.

Slasher:

Tie something harmless to a 3 metre length of thin rope. All stand around you in a circle while you swing the rope at floor level. Everyone jumps to avoid being ‘hit’, or else they’re out. This will lead to falls and trips so play carefully.

Skittle ball:

All stand in a circle with two tall skittles near the centre. Appoint two people to guard the skittles as you give the others a couple of footballs to roll at them. If a skittle falls the guard swaps places with whoever threw the ball.

Playground circus: a set of very silly team games with five minutes per game. Garnish with music, megaphone, whistle, and a score keeper. For example,

Penny in the ring:

Place pennies in the middle of a chalk circle, and place a pupil on opposite sides of it. One bounces the ball to knock a penny out of the ring, then the other tries.

Water spill:

Scoop some water into a plastic beaker, race round an obstacle course, up and down benches, and empty this into a plastic sweet jar. Measure how much water each team collects.

Dressing up relay:

Two pupils run to chairs where they dress up with a hat, handbag and so on. They race back and dress up the next person in the team who runs to the chair, disrobes and runs back. Strangely popular with boys.

Tube relay:

Get a fabric roll tube and place a tennis ball inside. Carry it round a chair before passing it to the next person, but stop if you drop the ball.

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