Games And Dances

GAMES AftD DANCES A SELECTED COLLECTION OF GAMES, SONG-GAMES AND DANCES SUITABLE FOR SCHOOLS, PLAY GROUNDS, GYMNASTIC ASSOCIA TIONS, BOYS 6-GIRLS CLUBS, ETC. WILLIAM A, STECHER, B. S. G. Director Physical Education Public Schools of Philadelphia, Pa. Secretary, Committee on Physical Training, American Gymnastic Union. Editor of Mind and Body. Third Edition Revised and Enlarged PUBLISHED BY JOHN JOSEPH McVEY PHILADELPHIA, PA. COPYRIGHT, 1 920 BY JOHN JOSEPH McVEY All Rights Reserved PREFACE INCREASED attention to the physical welfare of children and adults, also the greatly increased number of playgrounds, has created a demand for a separate and enlarged edition of those activities of the Philadelphia Hand books of Lessons in Physical Training and Games, found under the headings of Games, Song-Pic, Dances and Roundels. The plan followed in the other books is also adhered to here, namely, the games and dances suitable for children or adults of each particular school-grade or age-group are printed together. This procedure places into the hands of a teacher a graded selection of tried and effective games and dances. The games and dances are arranged in nine progressive grades. Games marked R can be played in a room as well as in a playground. In an appendix a limited selection of quiet games and problems for hot weather is presented. This is followed by a list of track and field events which may be undertaken on the average playground, and by the records which the ordinary bo r and girl should make. Then come seven compositions suited for mass drills c i play days or field days. Lastly comes much valuable information relating to the space necessary for different kinds of play, to playcourts, to the preparation playground teachers should have, to programs, salaries, etc., etc. Games and plays may be classified a into play activities upon stationary apparatus of various kinds, and b into play without stationary apparatus. Into the first group f 11 the playful activities upon the swinging and traveling rings, giant strides, swings, low horizontal bars, ladders, poles, teeter boards, and like forms of su able play apparatus for children and adults. These are all forms of applia-js upon which any one without gymnastic training and without the aid of a teacher of gymnastics or of play may amuse himself to his hearts content. Quite a number of easy stunts may be performed upon such apparatus. Into the second group, namely, play without stationary apparatus, fall all the play activities we know under the name of games. Guts Muths, in his classic book, Games for Practice and Recreation, divides all games iv PREFACE. into two classes motion games and quiet games. In playground work we are interested mainly in games of motion, and in such forms of these as are found in the sub-division of games which train observation and sense-judgment. These latter games may again be divided into so-called teasing games and team games. The team games may again be sub-divided into games of low and of high organization. In games of low organization all participants play practically all parts of the game. In games of high organization the team is divided into distinct groups, the members of each group performing some strictly defined part of the play. Teachers often make the mistake of thinking that teasing games, like Jacob, Where Are You The Beetle Is Out, Cat and Mouse, Pussy Wants a Corner, Spin the Plate, or games of imitation, like Railroad, Steamboat, etc., do not appeal to children over 8 years of age. They do even adults like to play such games. But the interest in them lasts only a short period. All players, even young children, soon tire of them. What, then, makes some games appeal to players seemingly at all times When such universally popular games, like most ball games, are analyzed, we find that their activities consist of chasing, throwing, striking, catching and like fundamental movements...