Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium Part 62

BAG PILE

_10 to 100 players._

_Gymnasium; playground; schoolroom._

_Bean bags; oat sacks._

The players are divided into two or more equal parties which line up in ranks. Near the front end of each rank is a pile of from ten to fifteen bean bags or oat sacks, which are to be pa.s.sed down the line.

At a signal the first player in each rank takes a bag and pa.s.ses it down the line, sending the others in succession as rapidly as possible. The last player in the line when he receives the bean bag lays it on the floor in front of him; and as each bean bag reaches him, he piles it on the first one, making a stack. Only the first bag must touch the floor. The stack must be able to stand without a.s.sistance, and the player who stacks the bags must have no help in his task. Should the bags fall over at any time, the player who stacked them must pick them up and pile them over again. The line scores one which first succeeds in getting all of its bags stacked.

The last player, the one who stacked the bags, then carries them up to the front of the line and becomes the first pa.s.ser for the next round of the game.

The line wins which first scores five or ten, as may be decided beforehand. The play should be very rapid.

BEAN BAG AND BASKET RELAY

_10 to 60 players._

_Schoolroom._

Each player is provided with a bean bag. A waste-paper basket or a box is placed on the floor near the blackboard in front of each aisle. In line horizontally with the forward edge of each front desk, a chalk line is drawn on the floor at the end of each aisle, which serves as a throwing line, from which players throw their bean bags into the baskets.

The game is a compet.i.tion of skill rather than of speed. At a signal from the teacher, the first pupil in each row stands, places his toe even with the throwing line, and tosses his bean bag toward the basket. If the bag goes into the basket, it scores five. Should it lodge on the edge of the basket, it scores three. Should it fall outside, there is no score.

As soon as these first players have thrown they return to their seats and the second row across the room steps forward and throws. This is continued until each player has thrown, and the line wins which has the highest score. There should be one score keeper for the entire game, who should draw a diagram on the board in which to write the score.

BEAN BAG BOARD

(Faba Gaba)

_2 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._

This game consists in throwing bean bags through holes in an inclined board. The board should be preferably eighteen inches wide by three feet long. Near the lower end of it should be cut a square hole about the size of the bean bags. Higher up in the board a second hole about three inches larger should be cut. The board should be slanted by resting it against a wall or fence, or bracing one end of it in some other way, so that it is at an angle of about forty-five degrees.

The players stand at a throwing line from ten to fifteen feet from the board. Each player has five bags--or five may be used for the entire group of players, the bags being recovered for each thrower in turn. A bag thrown into the larger hole counts five; into the smaller hole ten. The player wins who first scores one hundred.

Where there are a large number of players, it is desirable to have more than one board, so that the players may be divided into several groups and make the game more rapid.

BEAN BAG BOX

_2 to 20 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._

A small box measuring not less than six inches square should be fastened inside of one about twice the size and that in a third, leaving at least six inches margin between the boxes. This is set up on a slight incline with a stone or other object under its further end, or tipped up against the wall. From ten to twenty feet away from this a throwing line is drawn. Each player is provided with five bean bags and takes his place in turn on the throwing line, throwing all five bags at each turn. A bag thrown into the smallest box scores five points, one into the middle box ten points, and into the outside box fifteen points. The player who first scores one hundred wins.

This is a very popular game, and the paraphernalia for it may be easily improvised.

BEAN BAG CIRCLE TOSS

_10 to 30 or more players._

_Gymnasium; playground; schoolroom._

_Bean bags; b.a.l.l.s._

There should be a bean bag for each of the players except one. All of the players form a circle, separated from each other by a small s.p.a.ce.

At a signal from a leader, each player turns toward his right-hand neighbor and tosses his bean bag to him, turning at once to receive the bag which is coming to him from the left. The game should move rapidly, but of course this is a matter of skill and may have to be acquired. With very little children it may be advisable to first play the game with a fewer number of bean bags, till they grow accustomed to tossing and turning quickly to catch. b.a.l.l.s may be used instead of bean bags if desired.

When the tossing has gone once or twice around the circle to the right, the direction should be changed to the left. It is well to have one of the bean bags of a different color from the others, so as to know when the circle has been completed. Any player failing to catch a bag must pick it up and toss it regularly to his neighbor.

BEAN BAG RING THROW

_10 to 60 or more players._

_Playground; seash.o.r.e; gymnasium; schoolroom._

_Bean bags; blocks of wood; stones; sh.e.l.ls._

This game may be played with bean bags, or when out of doors, especially at the seash.o.r.e, with small blocks of wood, stones or sh.e.l.ls. The players should be divided into groups of equal numbers, which compete against each other. A small ring should be drawn on the ground or floor measuring from twelve to eighteen inches in diameter, one ring opposite each group of players, who should be lined up in single file. The leader of each row should toe a starting line drawn across the ground at from ten to fifteen feet from the row of circles.

Each row should be provided with six bean bags or other objects for throwing, as indicated above.

At a signal, the leader of each row throws each of his bags in succession toward the circle, and scores one point for each bag that lands within the circle. Any bag that touches the line does not count.

The player then takes up his bags and runs back to the rear of the line, giving the bags as he pa.s.ses to the front player of his row, who should have moved up to the starting line. These second players, in turn, all begin throwing on a signal. The line wins which has the highest score when all have thrown.

It is advisable to have some one to act as scorer for all of the lines; though it is practicable for the first player in each line to act as scorer for his line.

IN THE SCHOOLROOM.--When this game is played in the schoolroom a circle should be drawn on the floor near the front blackboard opposite each aisle; across the end of each aisle, and even with the front row of desks, should be drawn a throwing line. The game should start with the six bean bags on each front desk. At a signal the front pupil in each row steps forward to the throwing line and throws the six bags in succession for his circle. Each bag that lands fully within the circle scores one point for him. No score is made for a bag that touches a line. He then steps to the blackboard in front of his aisle, and writes down his score; then gathers up the bags, places them on the front desk, and takes his seat. When he is seated the player next behind him steps forward to the throwing line and repeats the play; or, if desired, the next row of players across the room may wait for the teacher's signal for doing this, as the game is played for a score and not on time limits.