GAMES WITHOUT MUSIC

GAMES WITHOUT MUSIC
FOR CHILDREN

PREFACE

Those of the Games referring to special subjects, such as 'Sewing,' etc., may be used in the lesson time devoted to such subjects, and the 'Guessing Rhymes,' Nos. 51 to 97, may sometimes be given between lessons. For notes on these, see p. 87.

'Games for the Playground' and a few of those immediately preceding are old games with new rhymes.

It is hoped that some of the plays (Nos. 12 to 20, e.g.) will help to teach the children important truths that are difficult for them to learn in the abstract, but which represented and practised in childish play may make an impression on their plastic little minds. Many of the Games are suitable for home use, and will probably be played there by the children after being learnt in school.

If the Games help to make school brighter and pleasanter for teacher and children their object will be gained.

Saltaire.

CONTENTS

ILLUSTRATIONS

GAMES WITHOUT MUSIC
FOR
CHILDREN

I. GAMES FOR THE SCHOOLROOM

Directions.—The table may be laid by two children only, or several may be employed, but different children should take part each time the game is played, so that all may learn how to carry the cups, &c., and how to place them.

Verse 1. Two little girls step forward and lay the cloth.

Verse 2. The cups and saucers are brought on a tray, and placed in rows at one end of the table.

Verse 3. One child brings plates on a tray and places them one by one round the table, while another follows with serviettes on a small tray, and places one to the right of each plate.

Verse 4. The sugar, milk, &c., are placed in position.

Verse 5. One or two plates of bread and butter are put on the table, and then the chairs are placed ready.

Verse 6. The bell is rung, and the children who are to sit at table take their places.

This game may be played immediately after the one preceding, or it may be used alone. The children seat themselves at the table, the 'Mother' sitting at one end and the 'Father' at the other. When all the cups are filled and passed, the following lines are repeated:

Instructions.—Verse 1. Children rise from table, and each carries chair to the place where it should go.

Verse 2. A child brings a little tray, and, walking round the table, takes up all the napkins, putting them on the tray one by one. A second child follows with another tray, and takes up the plates in the same manner.

Verse 3. Two children remove the cups and saucers, each having a tray.

Verse 4. The coffee-pot, milk-jug, and sugar-basin are taken away on a tray.

Verse 5. The cloth should be taken off carefully, so that the crumbs are not spilt, or if a toy crumb brush and tray can be obtained, the crumbs may be removed before the cloth is taken up.

Scales and weights are required for this game.

Before commencing let the children see the different weights, and hold them one after the other in their hands.

The following rhymes may assist the scholars to remember the various weights:

The four weights given above will be sufficient at first for little children, but more may be added as they become familiar with these. When the scholars have learnt to distinguish the pound, ounce, &c., they may come out in turn and weigh various objects.

It would be well to explain that solid objects occupy less room than lighter substances—that a pound of feathers, e.g., would take up a large space, while a pound of lead would go into a very small compass.

Guessing Game.—When the object to be weighed has been chosen, a number of children are allowed to come out and hold it in turn, and say what they think is its weight. As the object is handed to the first child, the teacher says:

Each child takes the object in its hand and guesses. The article is then weighed, and the child who has guessed most nearly its correct weight is allowed to choose the next object for weighing, and to call out the children who are to guess. He hands it to the first child, repeating the words of the rhyme.

Before playing this game, the children should be well accustomed to the use of the foot-rule, marked with inches (cost, &c.[1]). Each child should have a foot-rule and measure its book, pencil, desk, &c.; it should also be taught to draw lines of different lengths with the rule on its slate; thus, teacher might say, 'Draw a standing-up (vertical) line six inches long,' or, 'Draw a lying-down (horizontal) line four inches long,' and so on. The children will thus get accustomed to estimating the length and breadth of objects, and will be able to play the game.

Suppose the slate to be the object chosen, the teacher holds it up so that all may see it, and then repeats the lines:

The children who are ready to answer then put their hands out, and the one who guesses correctly (or most nearly correctly) has the privilege of asking the next question, and stands in front of the class in readiness. Before proceeding, however, the first object should be measured, so that all may see that the answer was correct.

Perhaps the pencil may be the next object chosen, or a window-pane, ball-frame, desk, duster, book, &c., and instead of length, we may have breadth. The words would then be:

The children should be taught to listen attentively, so that they may know whether length or breadth is to be guessed; the meaning of the two terms should, of course, be explained previously.

If circular objects are chosen for measurement, the word 'girth' must be substituted for 'length.' This form of object should only be used for the older children, as it is much more difficult. To measure a circular object, a string should be passed round it, and the string should then be measured with the foot-rule.

Sometimes the word height may be substituted, as, for instance, in measuring the height of a plant or a child. The children will enjoy the latter very much.

The shopman should stand behind a table or desk, and have articles made up in parcels ready for sale. 'The Shop' described in 'Kindergarten Guide,' p. 230,[1] would do nicely for this game.

The children who go shopping should be dressed in outdoor costume, and each carry a basket. They should also have money; imitation cardboard coins (for cost[2]) would do. (Customer walks up to the counter.)

Good morning, ma'am, how do you do? And pray what can I get for you?

The children should also ask for other articles, without using the rhymes, and they should be encouraged to speak clearly and distinctly, and to address the shopman civilly. This will be likely to assist them in going errands for mother.

Instructions.—The children should be sitting at desks or tables, and each child should have a ¾ yard length of tape or ribbon, one inch in width, and a book with stiff cover. The teacher should first show how to tie the bow by passing her ribbon round the neck or wrist of a child, and performing the various movements as they are mentioned in the rhymes and shown in the illustrations. This should be done several times very slowly, the words being repeated either by teacher only or by all. When the children begin to tie the ribbon each round its own book, the teacher should show the various movements as they occur, performing them simultaneously with the scholars. (The numbers refer to fig. 1, which shows the various steps in order.)