MEDIEVAL ACTIVITIES

 

Tag

Blindman's Bluff: Blindfold one person, who's 'it', who then tries to touch one of the un-blindfolded folks surrounding them. Everyone else can tease the person who's it by touching their clothes, making noise, etc. If the Blind person touches one of the other players, they then become the blindfolded person.

Hawk Amongst the Hens: This is an old African tag-like game. Two long lines of children (the Hens) are formed with about 20 feet or so between the two lines. One person is selected as "it" (the Hawk). The hens must scamper back and forth between the two lines continually. The Hawk will try to tag them before they get to the other line. If they make it to the other line before they are tagged, the Hen is safe. If the Hawk tags the Hen before they get to the other side, they must sit out. The last Hen left is the Hawk for the next game.

Jingles: This is sort of a reverse Blindman's Bluff game. One person is selected to begin the game as Jingles. A necklace or arm/leg band with very jingly bells is placed on Jingles. (Belly-dance coin belts, Christmas bells, cow bells or anything that makes a noise upon movement will work.) All the other players are blindfolded. Jingles must slip in and amongst the blindfolded players without being caught. The person who touches Jingles is then "it". This game must be refereed to preventing people from walking into walls, trees, etc. while blindfolded."

Wooly Wooly Wolf Game: Wooly Wooly Wolf is similar to Red Lion. The difference is the signal for running isn't the end of a jointly-chanted verse, but it's this bluff by the leader of the sheep (runners): "I spy the wooly wooly... DOG (BEAR, DEER)“. Anything besides wolf is a false taunt and the wolf can't run. When the leader says, "I spy the wooly wooly WOLF”, the wolf comes out and catches some to be wolves with him.

Hot Pot Game: I have found that "hot pot" usually keeps the kids going for a long time. You simply gather up some fabric scraps and make the 'hot pots'. They are just a stuffed bulb shape with streamers of various colors attached. The children then play a game very similar to tag with them. You throw by holding the streamers (which are the 'flames' of the hot pot) the receiving person must either dodge it or catch it by the streamers. If you are hit by it you are on fire and out of the game.

Red Lion Game: One child is "It", the lion, and has a den. The runners come away from the base near the den and chant "Red lion, red lion, come out of your den; whoever you catch will be one of your men," after which the lion chases to catch. Whether a tag or a catch is required depends on the age and disposition of kids, and on the terrain, and on the disposition of the parents to let the kids play rough or not. The "it" team grows, and the last runner caught is the new lion.

Relays

Arm the Knight: A relay race in which teams try to equip a cutout figure of the knight with his regalia (one piece at a time). The team that gets the knight equipped first wins. [Cardboard pieces with velcro works well].

Loot the Knight: Use a cutout figure of a knight with knight regalia (chain, white belt, spurs, sword) for each team. This is a team event with timed relays. The team to kill Sir Knight from a distance with a javelin or combat bow and arrow or here you could use a bean bag and it had to be a good kill and then the race to bring all his stuff back one article at a time and the team with the best time wins.

Maiden Carry: "Fighters" in "full armor" (could be made out of cardboard or other found materials) without helms carry a maiden around an obstacle course. Race is timed. Best time wins. The maiden is a large rag doll appropriately dressed and very durable.

Others

Boffer Tournaments: There are a wide variety of tourneys that can be done for kids. By making "boffer" or nerf-type weapons and objects, a lot of fun can be had while teaching kids the importance of safety and of chivalry, courtesy and honor. Amongst the type of boffer tournaments possible are Axe Throwing, Spear Throwing, Knife Throwing and Combat Tournament. For use in the thrown weapons tourneys, velcro, duct tape, or other substances may be added to allow weapons to stick to a target. Set up an appropriate target such as stacked bales of hay, archery target, old suit of armor, etc. Weapons are thrown for accuracy. For the combat tournaments protective gear may be recommended (just in case someone gets too enthusiastic). Such possible protection might include fencing masks, bicycle or motorcycle for head protection. Possible other protective equipment such as gorgets, elbow and knee pads, kidney belts, and gloves could be worn. This not only protects the kids, but allows them feel that they are learning to use armour, just as the adults do.

Sponge Wars: Make shields out of plywood. Sand them, put handles on the backs, and prime them with a coat of gray paint. Fill a large bucket with water and then put sponges and sponge balls into the bucket. The kids hide behind their shields from the inbound missiles, and throw missiles at each other.

 

Greased Pig: The pig has swallowed the family's jewels! Big rewards for returned jewels! Get a piñata that resembles a pig, lots of sandwich bags, and half a dozen different colored stones (one for each prize) to represent the jewels. Cook up spaghetti and use food coloring or sauce to make it pink or red. Cook up oatmeal. (Use your imagination! This is supposed to be the innards of a pig after all!) Let all food cool and stuff into the sandwich bags along with the stones (one per bag). Stuff the bags into the piñata until its full. Close up the piñata. Place the pig into the center of a field or pig-pen and have the participants arrange themselves in a circle. A marshal will call "lay on" or other appropriate phrase and stand well clear. The participants destroy the pig searching for the stones. Stones must be returned to the judge. Stones may be captured, lost, etc., on their way to the judge. Advertise this as a very messy game and suggest participants bring old garb to wear during the game.

Hand-Ball: This game is like hacky-sack. Get a small leather ball (filled with beans, corn, etc), or bean bag, and have players attempt to keep it in the air using only their hands. They should not catch the ball.