Cat & Sparrows
Subject: Vocabulary
Skills: Speaking, Listening
Level: Beginner
Recommended Age: 7-9 y.o.
Number of Participants: 6-8 players
Time: 20-30 minutes
Place: Asphalt or sand playground
Equipment: Not required
Materials: A piece of chalk or a wooden stick
Preliminary Preparation: Not required
Immediate Preparation (5-7 minutes).
1. Draw a circle of approximately 3 m in diameter.
2. Choose one of the players to act as the ‘Cat’. This volunteer should stand in the centre of the circle. The other children, playing sparrows, stand around the circle.
How to Play. To start the competition, you should announce a vocabulary category, e.g.: 'Clothes!'. One of the ‘sparrows’, located behind the ‘Cat’, jumps with both their feet into the circle, shouting out a word of the predefined category (e.g.:'T-shirt!'). When a word has been said, it cannot be used again during the whole game! After pronouncing the word, the 'sparrow' jumps back. The ‘Cat’ must try to catch the ‘sparrow’ before they put both their feet outside the circle. At this time, another ‘sparrow’ behind the ‘Cat’ jumps into the circle saying another word and so on. Each ‘sparrow’ must try to pronounce three words unmentioned previously and then step aside. If a ‘sparrow’ repeats a word or is caught by the ‘Cat’, the round ends. The mistaken or caught ‘sparrow’ acts as the 'Cat' in the following round, where you announce another vocabulary category. If the ‘sparrows’ have not repeated any words and the ‘Cat’ could catch none of them for the whole round, they continue to play their roles in the next one. The game lasts as long as each participant, at least once, acts as the 'Cat'.