Contents
=> Summer Camp Games: Intro.
=> 4 Action Games
=> 2 Language Games
=> Game Discussion Activities
=> What About the FEELTA/PAC 5 Conference?
=> Responses to last issue’s “Love Across Borders”
=> In the Next Issues: Summer Slowdown

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Summer Camp Games: Intro
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Lots of teachers work at summer schools and summer camps. “ETs in Russia” now suggests some games to keep your campers entertained.

And even if you don’t teach at a camp, you can use these games as a basis for a discussion activity. (See Game Discussion Activities)

Note: Lots of games involve “it.” This means a designated person, different from the regular players.

Also, for a ton of games, try wilderdom.com

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4 Action Games
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1. Hide-and-Seek
Directions: one player covers his eyes and counts to 25, while the rest of the group hides. The person who is “it” (the counter), opens his eyes after counting
then tries to find a hidden player. Once he or she finds someone else, that new person becomes “it” and the game begins again.

2. Sardines
Directions: This is similar to Hide-and-Seek. But in this case one person is given a chance to hide. Everyone else looks for that person, and when they find him,
they join him. This can be played indoors or outdoors.

It’s pretty funny when you get 10 people trying to hide in a closet.

3. Capture the Flag
Directions: This game can involve a huge space, larger than a football field if you like. There are two teams (with as many players as you like).

A center boundary or line divides one team’s territory from the other.

Each time has a flag (maybe a T-shirt) somewhere toward the back of its own territory.

The goal is for members of one team to infiltrate the other’s territory, steal the flag, and bring it back (over the line) to one’s own territory. That team wins.

However, when you cross into enemy territory, it’s dangerous. Any player from the defending team can tag (touch) the encroacher. That encroacher then goes to prison.

Prison is a designated area in each team’s territory. (Draw a big circle). You can
only be released from prison by having a member of your team sneak over the line and tag (touch) you.

This game is not complicated once your students get the idea of it. It can create
a bit of chaos, but that’s the fun of it.

Teams must leave a free space of five meters around their own flag. Otherwise
all they do is guard their flag, and it’s no fun.

You may also need to differentiate between teams if you have a lot of players. Try tying a ribbon around the arms of one team’s players.

For further directions click on this link.
.

4. Red Light / Green Light

One player (the “it” player) stands with his back to everyone else. The other players are 10 meters away. They try to sneak up on the “it” player.

When the “it” says “green light,” everyone is allowed to move (but,
remember,”it” has his back to them.)

“It” can then say “red light” and turn around. (He must say “red light” first!). If “it” sees anyone moving, or someone who hasn’t stopped moving, that person is caught and must go back to the starting line.

So, players must freeze during “red lights” and can move during “green lights.”

Finally, when someone touches “it,” that person becomes “it” and the game starts again.

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2 Language Games
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If you’ve worked in an English language camp, you know that when learners use even a little English it is a success.

Here are two games that practice some language…

1. Honey, Do You Love Me? (by Sarah Buhman)

Players form a circle with one player in the middle (it). The middle person must approach players in the circle and ask, “Honey, do you love me?”

The person being questioned must answer, “Honey, I love you, but I just can’t smile.” If s/he does smile or laugh, s/he becomes “it” and the previous middle person joins the circle. The person who is “it” is not allowed to touch other players but may make as many funny faces as s/he wishes.

2. Where’s Poosheesty? (by I.M. Poosheesty)

This is a guessing game for youngster that’s almost like a jazz chant because it is rhythmic and features rhymes.

The teacher hides a doll or toy animal somewhere. The doll is Poosheesty (though you can name him whatever).

The group is split into two teams. Each person faces one person from the other team.

Everyone on Team 2 knows where Poosheesty is hidden. People on Team 1 must find out by guessing and by using this pattern . . .

Team 1 player: Where’s Poosheesty?
Team 2 player: I don’t know.
Team 1 player: Maybe he’s . . . (in the tree)
[each Team 1 player may guess any location]
Team 2 Player [if the guess is wrong]: I’d have to say no.
Team 2 Player [if the guess is correct]:
Good Guess. I’d have to say yes.

Team 1 players keep repeating the entire pattern (adding new locations to to guess where Poosheesty is) until someone finds out his hiding place. That player is the winner.

Practice the pattern several times with learners before you play the game. And write the pattern on the board. Learners will need to follow it for several games.

Then hide Poosheesty again and let Team 2 do the guessing.

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Questions and Comparisons on Camp Games
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We can also use the idea of childhood games to create a speaking/discussion activity (even for adults).

Activity 1:
Print the directions to the 6 games above. Separate sentences by cutting with scissors. Break the class into groups (up to six). Tell them you are going to give them directions for a game.

Tell them that after five minutes you will take away the directions.

It is there responsibility to explain the game to their classmates. They may use the board to illustrate. Each person in the group must speak.

Activity 2:
Put learners in groups. Ask each group to write directions (in English) for a game that they played as children.

When they read their directions, ask the rest of the class if they have a similar game in their country. How are the rules different?

Activity 3:

On the board, brainstorm a list of games. In other words, ask learners to list as many games as they can from their childhood. They may have to translate the names into English.

Next, assign groups. Tell each group that they will create their own game. It can be a combination of these games on the board, or something completely
new. They must give it a name. And they must write the rules and explain the game to their peers.

Perhaps if the game is fun, they will end up playing it.

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What About the FEELTA/PAC 5 Conference?
by Kevin
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What about it? It was great. Stephen Krashen played
“Tiptoe Through the Tulips” on my ukulele.

I was sad that it had to end. A conference of such a huge
scale is always a bitter/sweet affair. You see a lot, but
you miss so much too!

Thanks Olga from Kavalerovo for bringing me honey, and for
everybody for making me happy to come back to the Far East.

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Responses to Last Issue’s “Love Across Borders.”
by I.M. Poosheesty
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We have had a lot of comments about June 19’s controversial “Love Across Borders” issue. Everyone seems to say that Russian women are beautiful. So, with that in mind, we at “ETs in Russia” decided to ask our foreign friends in Russia if they found anything at all, well, “unbeautiful” about Russian women.

For the answer, look at the bottom of the page.

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In the Next Issue: Summer Slowdown
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Since teachers are not so busy in July, “ETs in Russia” will publish just one issue, instead of the usual two, in July and just one as well in August.

Issue #65 (around July 9, 2004):
More business Jargon from Matthew McMillion, and a Russian-hotel-brochure-correction activity.

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Answer: What’s unbeautiful?
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Anything unbeautiful about Russian women? Yes. Mobile telephones (for the younger ones). Every young woman seems to have one. On a string
around her neck, like a heart. Tap. Tap. Tap. Buzz. Buzz. Ring. Ring (digital
“Theme from The Godfather.”)

Even when you’re alone with her, you’re never truly alone. Tap. Tap. Buzz. “Theme from the Godfather…”

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Copyright 2004 Kevin McCaughey & I.M. Poosheesty