CAT AND MOUSE
Equipment: None
Group Size: 10 or more
Begin by having the entire
group stand in a circle and
hold hands. Pick one person
from the group to be the
“mouse,” and another to
be the “cat.” The person
who is the mouse will
move to the middle of the
circle. The person who is
the cat will move outside
the circle. The aim of the
game is for the mouse to
get outside the circle and
avoid being caught by the
cat. The mouse must stay
moving while inside the
circle, but he cannot stay
inside the circle for more
than ten seconds. The cat
cannot come into the circle,
but he can reach into the
circle to tag the mouse. The
circle players have to try to
keep the cat away from the
mouse by letting the mouse
in and out of the circle.
They can also block the
cat’s attempts to grab the
mouse by standing in the
cat’s way. If the mouse is
caught, the mouse becomes
the new cat. The old cat
takes the place of a player
holding hands, and another
player becomes the mouse.
23
NINJA, BEAR, HUNTER ULTIMATE NINJA
TIC TAC TOE
Equipment: None
Equipment: None
Group Size: Pairs
Group Size: 6 or more
This is a blown-up version
Have all the players stand in
of Rock, Paper, Scissors.
a circle. Together, the group
This game can be played
yells, “Ultimate Ninja!” and
with any three characters
then each player jumps to
as long as they can be
a new spot and gets into
acted out. First, the entire
a ninja stance. Choose
group breaks off into pairs.
one person to begin the
The two players will stand
game. On each person’s
back-to-back and count
turn, they may try to strike
to three. On the count of
someone’s hand with one
three, both players turn
motion, or they may move
around and immediately
one step. Once the motion
strike one of the following
is complete, it immediately
poses: Ninja (the crane pose
becomes the next person’s
from The Karate Kid), Bear
turn. Turns move clockwise
(two hands raised above the
around the group. You are
head), or Hunter (hands in
allowed to dodge in one
the shape of holding a bow
motion when you think
and arrow pointed at
someone is trying to strike
the opponent).
your hand; however, you
must hold this new pose
Who wins:
after you dodge. A player is
Ninja beats Hunter
deemed “out” of the game
Hunter beats Bear
when their hand is hit by
Bear beats Ninja
an attacker. The game is
played until there is one
These games go quickly
player standing.
and are most fun when
players make noises
representing each
character. Have each duo
play best out of three, then
find a new partner.