Games Without Music for Children Part 6

[14] Wash round mouth.

[15] Rub forehead.

[16] Rub all the face.

22. _ASKING FOR DRINK OF WATER_

_Preliminary._--This little game may be used to teach children to be courteous to strangers, and it should also teach them how to carry liquid without spilling.

_Directions._--The school or cla.s.sroom should be the 'house,' and a boy (representing the man who asks for water) should go outside. One child is required to answer the door, and another may carry the gla.s.s of water, or the same child may do both.

The 'man' comes and knocks at the door, which is opened by a little girl; he then says:

A drink of water, please, I pray, You'll give me, madam, this hot day.

A child walks across the room with the gla.s.s of water, which should be carried on a plate or small tray, without spilling, and hands it to the man, who takes it, saying, 'Thank you.' When he has finished drinking, he returns the gla.s.s, and the child says 'Good-day,' and closes the door.

23. _THE FOX AND THE TIGER_

_Directions._--The 'tiger' (a boy) hides in a 'forest,' which the children make by standing at irregular intervals and representing trees.

Each child should name the tree it chooses, the following rhyme gives the names of a few common trees:

Beech and chestnut, birch and oak Are the names of English trees, Elm and willow, poplar, ash, Soon you will remember these.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 3.--FOX'S DEN]

The children should see leaves from each tree, and country children should be shown the trees themselves with the leaves growing on them.

The 'den' of the 'fox' is at the edge of the 'forest,' and is made by ten children standing as shown in fig. 3. The four children who form the entrance join hands as shown, and the other six meet hands in centre. A better way of making the den would be for each child to hold a branch of a tree, then the _branches_ would meet instead of the hands. The children who stand for 'trees' in the 'forest' wave branches, if the latter are obtainable; if not, the arms are waved for branches. One of the bigger girls should be the 'fox,' and two or three of the smallest children should be cubs, and go into the den with the fox. Then the fox comes walking out of the den, and says:

I go to find a duck For dinner this fine day, And you, my pretty cubs, Will stay at home and play.

While she is absent, the tiger comes softly into the den and takes one of the cubs (leading the child away by the hand). Presently the fox returns, goes into the den, misses the cub, and chases the tiger.

24. _THE COACH GAME_

[Ill.u.s.tration:

13 14 15 16

11 12

9 10

5 6 7 8

1 2 3 4]

The 'coach' is formed by children standing in position as shown on diagram. All the children face the same way. 1, 2, 3, 4 are 'horses' and join hands behind, as in 'Bell-horses'; 5, 6, 7, 8 join hands to make the front part of the 'coach'; '5' holds the coat of 'horse' No. 1 with right hand, while '8' holds coat of '4' with left; 9, 10, 11, 12 each hold the dress of the child standing in front; 13, 14, 15, 16 join hands; '13' catches hold of No. 11 with right hand, and '16' holds the dress of No. 12 with left. When the 'coach' is ready, the 'driver' (a boy) repeats the lines:

Here is my coach, who'll come and ride?

The door, you see, is open wide.

Four 'pa.s.sengers' advance, and the 'driver' makes way for them to enter the 'coach' between '10' and '12,' saying:

Jump in quick! quick! not long we stay, Then ready! steady! right away!

The 'door' is closed by '12' again grasping the dress of '10,' and the 'coach' moves off. The 'horses' should not go very quickly, else the 'coach' will probably lose its shape. The 'pa.s.sengers' walk along with the 'coach' until their destination is reached, when the 'driver' opens the door and allows them to alight.

The above game may be played in conjunction with Nos. 25, 26 and 27.

25. _THE STABLE_

This game may be played immediately after 'The Coach,' or it may be played alone.

_Directions._--The 'stable' is formed by a number of children who stand in rows (see diagram) and join hands.

[Ill.u.s.tration:

The 'hostler' (a boy) should stand near the 'stable.' When the 'coach'

(Game No. 24, p. 48) drives up, he goes to the driver and asks:

HOSTLER

Shall I take your horses for a rest and feed?

They are tired, I think, sir, and a drink they need.

DRIVER

Yes, good hostler, take and give them nice fresh corn, With a pail of water; they have worked since morn.

The 'hostler' leads one horse into each stall, and pretends to give them hay or corn. Then he carries water to them in a pail (a toy pail, price 1_d._, would do), and each drinks. After this he rubs them down, using a brush or his hand.

26. _VISITING GRANDMAMMA_