Child development opportunities
To listen carefully to instructions and respond quickly
To increase number awareness
To learn how to co-operate
To have fun together
How to play
Explain to the children that they are all animals waiting to go into the ark, which is close by.
Select one child to be Noah.
Ask the 'animals' to walk and run around until Noah shouts an number, for example, 'threes'. The children then have to get into circles of threes and hold hands. Any child not in a circle of three misses a turn.
The game continues with Noah shouting 'twos', fours',and so on.
Tips
At first, be Noah yourself.
Add suspense by getting Noah to hesitste before he shouts a number.
Have children count their circle to check if they have the right number.
Let any child missing a turn help Noah decide what number to call.
For more games, see Acker Backa BOO! - Games to Say and Play from Around the World by Opal Dunn (Frances Lincoln, Pounds10.99)
* Opal Dunn, The author. The author disclaims responsibility for for any adverse effects resulting directly or indirectly from the game outlined.