SNICKERS AND HOOTS

This game is a good icebreaker or get-acquainted activity

Materials:
Indoor or outdoor space with boundaries

SNICKERS AND HOOTS
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Procedure:

  1. Children find a partner and stand Back to Back.
  2. The teacher/game leader calls out a body part and partners react quickly while touching the body part mentioned. For example, the teacher might say, "Hands to Hands." The partners turn around, face each other, and touch hands to hands.
  3. When the teacher says another body part, the partners then put those body parts together (releasing the last touched body part).
  4. Other body parts to call out:
    • Shoulder to Shoulder
    • Elbow to Elbow
    • Knee to Knee
    • Wrist to Wrist
    • Hip to Hip
    • Toes to Toes
    • Bottom to Bottom
    • Side to Side
    • Ankle to Ankle
  5. Whenever the teacher/game leader says, "Snickers and Hoots," all players must hurry and find a new partner. With the new partner, they stand Back To Back ready to listen. Play resumes with the teacher calling out different body parts.
  6. Giving the command, "Snickers and Hoots" frequently gives children a chance to interact with all members in the group as they have to find a different partner every time.
  7. There is no right or wrong way to connect body parts to each other. Point out the different ways that partners completed the challenge.
  8. The teacher may give the same command twice in a row to keep the players alert.
  9. Avoid calls such as Head to Head, since the passing of head lice is a possibility.
  10. A fun way to end the game is to give the command, "Hug to Hug," as teacher says, "Thanks for playing the game with me."
  11. Challenge older children to each touch the different body part called out. For example, the teacher might say, "Ear to Knee." One child will place his/her ear to the partner's knee. Other commands may include:
    • Foot to Hip
    • Elbow to Shoulder
    • Ankle to Hand
    • Hand to Foot
    • Foot to Elbow
    • Ear to Shoulder
    • Hand to Knee
    • Hip to Shoulder
    • Head to Foot
    • Cheek to Shoulder
Learning Outcomes/Goals:
  1. Physical activity: any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in energy expenditure
  2. Listening skills: ability to follow verbal directions
  3. Tactile stimulation: body learning from the sense of touch, skin contact and pressure
  4. Body Awareness: knowing and understanding the whole body and its parts and function
  5. Space awareness: knowing where the body can and should move in relationship to other people in the play space
  6. Shared space: all of the designated play space that can be used by everyone.
  7. Cooperative play: games and activities that the participants play together rather than against one another
Relevant Workshop
GIGGLES & WIGGLES
BAG OF TRICKS
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