Terrific Tips for Games - Part 1
Contents
Game: Who is it?Fun Water Games
Games from the Internet
Great Troop Activities
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Try Terrific Tips for Games - Part 2
or Terrific Tips for Games - Part 3
Game: Who Is It?
Find someone who:
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has blue eyes
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is wearing glasses or contacts
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has moved more than three times
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has a younger brother
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has an unusual pet
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can say the alphabet backwards
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does not go to Haggard or Wilson Middle Schools
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can break a board using only her foot or her hand
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is an only child
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speaks a language other than English
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went to Girl Scout camp this summer
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can rub her stomach and pat her head at the same time
Name:
Score:
This game can be easily adapted to fit almost any group by changing the descriptions.
Fun Water Games
from WAGGGS-L mailing list compilationThe girls pair up and stand facing each other about 1 yard apart. They throw a water balloon back and forth and each time they catch it, they take one step back. The winner is the pair who can throw the balloon the furthest without dropping it or breaking it! (Be sure to pick up all the little bits of burst balloon afterwards since they are a hazard to wildlife)
Fill-the bucket Relay Race
(Use either a cup made out of paper, or a can or cup with holes in it, or even a turkey baster!) Line the girls up into 2 teams, full water bucket at one end and empty one at the other. Have the first girl fill the cup and pass along the line till the last girl dumps it in the empty bucket. The fullest bucket at the end wins.
OR: have them all stand in a line facing the full bucket. pass the cup backwards, the girls alternate between putting it over the head and between spread legs. i.e. - first girl holds cup over her own head while the 2nd girl takes it. second girl then bends over to pass it between her own legs and 3rd girl takes it and so on.
OR: Have them run to the full bucket and back to the empty one, then tag the next girl.
Wet-Clothes Relay
Use men's clothes (sweat pants, sweat shirts, tee-shirts)...put them in a large bucket of water. divide into two teams. have the first girl on each team run to the bucket put the clothes on (very difficult) run back to line, take them off and next girl puts them on. then she runs and puts them back in the bucket and runs back. this repeats until the line has finished.
OR: Wet T-shirt race - use one shirt per team.
Target practice
Scrounge together a few empty dish detergent bottles and empty soda liter bottles. Fill the dish detergent bottles with water. Cut the tops off the liter bottles. Weight them down with sand or dirt in the bottom so the girls can't knock them over too easily and punch a hole at equal distances along the top edge. The girls stand at a distance and try to fill the little cups. Whoever's cup spouts water from the hole first wins.
OR: Ducks in a Row - You line up as many plastic ducks (need to be light weight) as you can lay your hands on. (They could be whatever bath toys you can find.) The toys need to be able to sit on a plank by themselves without falling off. Line them up on the plank and give the girls a squirt bottle full of water and see how many they can squirt off the plank in 30 seconds. If this is too easy, have pairs of girls stand either side of the plank and give them each a squirt bottle. The side that the duck falls off determines who hit it (ie, the girl on the left will push the ducks off to the right of the board). Of course, they do get distracted with trying to squirt each other!
Water Balancing
Balance a cup of water on the head
Waterballoon volleyball
You can have two or four people on a side. If two, use beach towels. If four, use twin bed sheets. You play one match or 10 minutes, whichever comes first. Only the serving team can score points. If they lose the serve, it is a side out and the other team serves. Each person holds a corner of the sheet or towel. The service team has the water balloon in their towel. The object is to pass the balloon over the net and in bounds and to make it hard for the other team to catch (using their towel or sheet). To pass the balloon, you lift the towel (sheet) and snap(pull taut) the corners at the same time. The other team must catch the balloon using their towel (sheet). Then they volley it back and forth until the balloon goes out of bounds, the team misses it, or it breaks. If the balloon lands on the ground in bounds but doesn't break, the team who's side it landed on picks up the balloon and resumes play with no break in action. It's scored and officiated pretty much according to regular volleyball rules.
Lily pad
This is a team event. Each team has 5 people and 4 lily pads (we use softball bases). The team lines up along the starting line (the finish line is about 20-30 yards away). The first person in line has all the lily pads. She puts one down, steps on to it, puts another one down, steps on it while the second person steps on the first one. They continue like this until all four lily pads are down. Each person on the team must have at least one foot on a pad. If they don't, they lose a pad. When all four pads are down, the person in the back steps forward onto the pad in front of her. Then she turns and picks up the pad behind her. She passes this up the line to the person in front who puts it down and steps forward again. This is repeated until the first team reaches the finish line. The only other thing is that after the teams have gone about half way, you start bombing the ground right next to them with water balloons (don't warn them first).
OR: This really spices things up! Another alternative is to have "alligators" snapping around. When they see a lily pad without a foot on it, they can "eat" it.
Elbow pass-a relay race
You have 4 people on a team. They line up along a line to start. They are given 4 balloons, one to hold and three in a bowl at the front of the line. They lock their fingers together and keep their hands behind their neck. The first person in line takes the balloon between her elbows, turns, and "hands" it off to the person behind her. This person turns and passes off. And so on down the line. When the last person in line gets the balloon, she runs to the front of the line, passes of to the first (now second) person who turns and passes, etc. Each time the balloon gets to the last person, this person runs to the front of the line. When the person who was first in line at the beginning returns to the front of the line, that team wins.
And don't forget the old standby - Bubbles
Games from the Internet
Oreo Relay Race
You open the Oreo and have to lick all the frosting off. You have a judge who says if it is licked clean enough. Then you go and tag the next girl in line.
Elbow Tag
You need at least 10 people to make it fun (and an even number). Each girl gets a partner and links elbows. The pairs spread out in a field - about 10 -15 ft from another pair. No lines, just random. Two girls become "it" and "chased". The one running from "it", runs to another pair and links her elbow with either one of them. There is now a trio - the girl on the opposite end must let go and run to another pair. The person who is "it" is trying to tag whoever is running. When that person is tagged, the previous "it" must run away quick and link to a pair. It is very fast moving and extremely fun!! (There can never be more than 2 people linked or the 3rd can be tagged).
Ahoy! or Captain's Coming!
This is a game played in a large open area like a gym, backyard or church hall. One person is the caller and the girls do the given actions depending on what she calls out. The last girl to complete any action or any girl who does the wrong action is out of the game. There are lots of variations on this game. The first time you play stick to three or four simple actions. Add others as the girls get the hang of the game.
Port - run to the left wall
Starboard - run to the right wall
clear the decks - they must get off the ground
captains coming - stop and salute
captains daughter - curtsey
climb the rigging - pretend to climb
scrub the decks - on the floor scrubbing
submarine - lie on floor with one leg in the air
sharks - lie on floor with one leg and one arm in air
crows nest -- hand over eyes and searching
grubs up -- long line in front of leader -- one at the back is out
man the lifeboats -- sit on floor rowing, (can call the number to have in each lifeboat)
Loveboat - girls have to find a partner and dance cheek to cheek.
dead bug - lie on back with legs and arms in the air
Can also add "stern" and "bow"
Freeze - stand still. Note you can't move again until the Leader says "unfreeze". So even if other directions are called out, you must ignore them until "unfreeze" is called.
Bombers overhead - curl up in a ball on the floor, with your hands over your head.
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
While I'm on the subject, many of you probably know at least one up-down song, but have you tried standing up and sitting down to the "B's" in "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean"? (C'mon now, just try it ;-)~ Hey, I saw that! "My" doesn't start with a "B" and neither does "me"! Have fun!)
Mouse Trap - Age: 5 - 12 years
Number of participants 10-30 (with 30 participants start with a bigger trap!)
4 children become the Mouse Trap. They stand in a circle, facing in, holding hands with their arms extended and up high. The other children are "mice" and they run in and out of the trap. One person facing away calls "Spring the Trap" and the girls of the trap bring down their arms catching (hopefully) some of the mice inside. The caught mice become part of the trap. The game continues until only a few "mice" haven't been caught. Then they become the trap and the game begins again.
Train Tag
Divide the children into groups of three by counting them one, two and three. Number ones are the engines, number 2's are cars and 3's are cabooses. The number of children left over are 'it'. (There will be either 1, 2 or 3 children who are 'it') The people who are 'it' each try to catch their own train. When they do, they become the caboose, and the engines are released to be 'it'. (The trains must hold together until they are caught.) This is a fun, fast-paced noisy game. And can be played with quite a large group.
Blob Tag
Category: Outdoor, or large space
Age: Brownies and up
Number of players: any number Like normal tag, one person is chosen to be 'it'. When 'it' tags someone, they link arms or hold hands. As more people are tagged they form a line or blob!
Great Troop Activities
Have the girls line up in a single line with their hands on the hips of the girl in front of them - and instruct them to HOLD ON! The girl at the end gets a "tail" tucked into her belt. Use a scarf, or a lightweight towel or a handkerchief (etc.) The object of the game is for the person in the front of the line to catch the "tail" of the dragon - while the dragon tries to get away! Once caught, the person in front moves to the back and the game continues.
Human Knot
Have the girls stand in a circle with their arms up above their heads. Then they each have to reach into the circle and hold two other hands. On the count of 1-2-3 GO they then have to unwind the hand mess into a circle WITHOUT LETTING GO OF ANYONE'S HANDS! If you have a large troop divide up your girls into groups of about 10 or less. And if you have very tall girls and very short girls you can divide them up by height (if possible).
Trick Questions
Try to have the girls answer questions quickly and "incorrectly". Give them questions that are so obvious it is hard to answer them wrong. For instance: How many hands do you have? How old are you? What is your name? What day is this? What year is this? What is your mom/brother/dad's name? Etc.
Do This/Do That
This is a version of "Simon Sez". The leader performs certain movements preceded by saying either "do this" or "do that". The girls are to obey ONLY those commands preceded by the words "do this". Players making a mistake must take one step back. After a few minutes the winner is the one nearest the starting line.
Earth, Air, Fire and Water
The leader points to one of the girls and says "Earth" "Air" "Fire" or "Water" and then counts to ten as fast as she can! If she says "Earth" the girl must name an animal before the leader gets to ten, if she calls "Air" the girl must name a bird, if she calls "Water" she must name a fish, if she calls "Fire" the girl must remain absolutely silent!
Crazy Mixed-Up Hands
Have the girls slap their knees twice, clap hands twice and grab their left ear with their right hand and their nose with their left hand. When the leader signals, they all slap again, clap again and reverse the hands that hold their nose and ear. Keep repeating, getting faster and faster until everyone is mixed up.
Circle Ball Tag
Chose someone to be "it" and give her a ball. Everyone else is in a circle around her. "It" starts the game by passing the ball to a player in the circle who throws it to anyone else in the circle. The object of the game is for "it" to either catch or touch the ball while it is being passed around the circle. When "it" intercepts the ball, the player who touched it last becomes "it".
Touch Relay Race
Divide the girls up into two teams and line them up across the center of the playing space facing each other (about 6 to 8 feet apart). The object of the game is for the leader to name an object close at hand which all players must run and touch and then return to their original places. For example: The leader calls, "touch (then pauses), a tree". All players must find a tree, touch it, and return to their original places. The team wins whose members are first back in line.
Crocodile
Two teams line up on opposite sides of a large open area (this is the "river"). The crocodile is "it" and she is in the middle of the river. She then calls to a player on one side to cross the river. This player calls or points to one on the opposite side and they both try to cross "the river" and change places without being tagged by the crocodile. If one is caught she becomes the new crocodile.
Sharp Ears
Have the girls make a circle with one blind-folded person in the center. The leader then points to someone in the circle who must peak softly the name of the girl in the center (she gets to say it up to three times). If the girl in the center can guess who is calling her they change places, if not try another girl.
Opposites
Everyone sits in a circle with "it" in the center. "It" points, for example, to her EYE and says "This is my MOUTH". After doing this she quickly points to one of the people in the circle and counts to ten. Before reaching ten the girl pointed to must do the opposite (point to her mouth and say "this is my eyes"). If she succeeds before "it" reaches ten, then "it" remains in the center and tries something else. If she fails, the girl pointed to becomes "it".
Are You More Like....??
Designate 2 different ends of the room. Group the whole troop (leaders included) in the center. Point to one end and ask "Are you more like a _____ -- point to the other end and ask "or are you more like a ____?" After the girls have made a choice as to which they feel they are more like they are to move to the appropriate end of the room. Call on them and ask individual girls why the made their choice the way they did. Repeat until it gets tiring. Example:
Are you more like candy or an apple?
Are you more like a book or a movie?
Are you more like a fish or a monkey?
Are you more like a wave or a beach?
Are you more like a car or a train?
Are you more like a mouse or a lion?
Going On Safari
Have the girls sit in a circle. The first girl says her name and mentions one object she is going to take with her on safari. The first letter of the object is the same as the first letter of the girl's name. For example: "my name is Ally and I'm taking a stove". The next girl repeats the first girl and adds her own and so on around the circle.
The String Game
Equipment: Yarn of different colors
Take the different colored yarns and cut them to lengths varying from 6" to 1 yard. Attach them so that you have 1 long string of different sizes and colors tied together. The girls sit in a circle and pass the yarn through their fingers while telling the group her name and something about herself. Each girl talks until the yarn she is pulling through her fingers stops and there is a knot. When the knot pulls through her fingers, she must stop EVEN IF SHE IS IN MID-SENTENCE. Continue to pass the ball of yarn until you reach the end and it is all unwound.
Bubble Gum Hike
Equipment: Bubble Gum, Paper Plates
Pick a theme for a hike: eg, trees, rocks, bugs - anything you would find outdoors that relates to whatever you are studying. Give each girl two or three pieces of gum to chew. Take them on a hike (around the neighborhood or around the campsite). While they are hiking they can pick up interesting "stuff" - leaves, rocks, bark, etc. - whatever you choose for the theme of your hike. When they find something to pick up they attach it to their paper plate with a wad of chewed gum! When you get back to the meeting place, compare "stuff" and discuss their discoveries.
Indian String Web
Equipment: Ball of Yarn, Balloons
This is a game that Indian children would play using scraps of thong tied together and hollow gourds. Have the girls sit in a circle. One girl tosses the ball of yarn across to another girl - but holds on to the string. Keep tossing the ball while each girl adds to the web by holding on to the string. When you get a pretty filled up "web" stop and toss a balloon onto the web. Have the girls try to keep it in the air.
Handbook Scavenger Hunt
Prepare a list of things for teams to find in the handbook. The list might contain such things as:
On what page is the Girl Scout Law?
What was Juliette Low's nickname?
Who was Lord Baden Powell and what does he have to do with Girl Scouts?
How old or what grade do you have to be in to be a Brownie, Junior, Cadette or Senior?
Have several lists and/or books depending on age level. If you have first year Brownies you might want to limit your list to finding pictures. Give the girls a time limit and the team with the most items at the end of the meeting gets to pick a song for all to sing.
Cottonball Relay
Equipment: Bag of cotton balls, Large spoon, Bowl, Blindfold
Spread out the cotton balls in front of the girl. Give her a spoon and the bowl. After she has a minute to see where things are, blindfold her and give her one minute to pick up as many cotton balls as she can, using the spoon, and put them in the bowl. Do this in teams and the team with the most cotton balls in the bowl at the end of the relay wins. Prize is usually candy or that team gets to pick a song for everyone to sing at the close of the meeting.
Special Thanks To:
Teresa Heple
Leader, Junior Troop 819
Tierra del Oro GSC, California
Terrific Tips for Games - Part 2
Terrific Tips for Games - Part 3
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