I will read a fun rhyming narrative called "Fall Mishaps" in this video. When I finish reading, I will share three traditional children's games and discuss how you can easily modify each to give them a fall twist. Learn more about my fall narratives and get a free, mini-version of "Fall Mishaps" by following this link here: lessonsbymolly.blogspot.com/2024/09/reading-comprehension-with-storyboard.html
Fall Twist on Traditional Children's Games
1. TAPE (PIN) THE LEAF ON THE TREE - This game is a fall-themed version of Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Instead of a donkey, you'll use a tree.
MATERIALS: Green bulletin board paper for the crown (leaves) and brown for the trunk. Leaf cutouts, blindfold, double sided tape.
SETUP: Create a tree by attaching the trunk and crown to the wall. Give each child a leaf cutout labeled with their name. Alternatively, you can use decorative fall leaves, which are available in many stores during the fall season.
HOW TO PLAY: Blindfold a child, spin him around, and let him try to tape his leaf on the tree. Afterward, discuss where each leaf landed. Was it floating in the air? Was it on the ground? Did it get stuck on the trunk? Or did it get put on the crown and other leaves of the tree?
2. SCARECROW TAG - Scarecrow tag is an active game that works best in a gym or an outdoor space.
MATERIALS: Farmer's hat for the animated scarecrow to wear. (optional).
SETUP: One child is the "It" (the scarecrow), and the others are the "crows".
HOW TO PLAY: The scarecrow tries to tag the crows. Once tagged, the crows become stationary scarecrows with their arms stretched out low (to avoid tiring). If you want to add excitement, let the remaining crows "free" a scarecrow by tagging them and turning them back into a crow. The game continues until most of the crows and transformed into scarecrows or when time is up.
3. CORN CROW (A VERSION OF DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE) - This game is a fall twist on Duck, Duck, Goose.
MATERIALS: One black bean back or a black sock to represent the crow. (Popcorn kernels if you desire to fill the sock.) Ears of corn or paper ears of corn (one for each participant).
SETUP: The children sit in a circle, each holding an ear of corn (or a paper corn cutout) as a placeholder for their spot around the circle.
HOW TO PLAY: One child walks around the circle, saying, "Corn, corn, corn, corn...CROW!" The child drops the bean bag or sock in front of the child called out as the crow. The child called as the crow must get up with the beanbag and chase the child that dropped it. The chaser leaves his ear of corn in his spot as he runs after the other child. If the runner reaches the spot with the abandoned ear of corn before being tagged, he sits down, and it is the chaser's turn to continue the game. If the runner is caught, you can introduce a fun penalty-such as requiring the tagged child to become a "scarecrow" in a cornfield, with the rest of the gym acting as the cornfield.