No.7
Cats and Mice: Listen and Chase
Japanese name: ねことねずみ
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Diagram key
- A
- Cats’ safety line
- B
- Cat
- C
- Mouse
- D
- Mice’s safety line
- E
- Approximately 5m
- F
- Approximately 2m
Materials
- Two lines facing each other and a safety line behind each team
How to play
- Make two teams, Cats and Mice, facing each other on lines about 2 m apart. Mark a safe line about 5 m behind each team.
- The caller slowly begins a team name, then completes it. On “Mice!” the mice chase the cats; on “Cats!” the cats chase the mice.
- The escaping team turns and runs straight toward its own safe line. Chasers may gently tag a runner’s upper arm or back before that runner reaches the line.
- Tagged players join the other team. Wait until everyone has stopped before returning to the middle; rebalance teams if necessary.
- Play about 5 calls, then compare team sizes. Change callers and also try responding accurately together.
Ways to adapt
Preschool children: alternate which team chases. Older primary school children: add a neutral call requiring everyone to stay still.