Download rabbit and hound/fox and goose

RABBIT AND HOUND/FOX AND GOOSE
A PROCEDURAL (HOW-TO-PLAY) BOOK
Recommended for ages 5-10
Author & Image Photographer/Editor:
Taylor Harder
A Note on Health Literacy and
Physical Activity for Youth
Health literacy is defined by S.C. Ratzan and R.M. Parker (2000) as “the degree to which individuals have the
capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate
health decisions.”
The healthy literacy facet we are focusing on primarily in KHS 139 (University of Regina) is physical activity.
Along with helping obtain and maintain a healthy weight, physical activity has been shown to increase cognitive
skills (listening/concentrating) and emotional skills (confidence and learning healthy ways of dealing with
anger) (SaskSport Resource Manual). It promotes good mental and physical health, a variety of skill
developments, and increased performance in academics. As well, it can provide enjoyment! Aerobic fitness is
improved through physical activity, and “has been linked to a decreased risk for chronic diseases and the
metabolic syndrome (the simultaneous occurrence of several metabolic disorders, which increase the risk of
diabetes and cardiovascular disease)” (Is Active Play Extinct? 2012 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card on
Physical Activity for Children and Youth, p. 5).
Physical activity should become a familiar facet of a person’s life. As long as one is working towards healthy
behaviour, any little bit helps! Active living is promoted for the best of intentions: the present and future health
of the child, and of humankind. It is very important for the young generations to have healthy role models, and
to have accessible resources/environments to increase their physical activity and health literacy!
And YES, creative/unstructured play, as long as it involves exerting the body in a significant way (pushing,
running, etc.) is a great form of physical activity, as well as structured play/games/sports! It’s time to break out
the stick horses and water floaties, and get going!
Why was this game and this style
of writing chosen?
This book was made to encourage reading as well as health literacy
and physical activity. The games discussed are a simple way to
introduce physical activity and play into the classroom or home.
The book was written procedurally, so the reader is told directly how
to play, can imagine themselves playing, and will be more likely to
carry out the game him/herself.
Toys were photographed and named so the reader could be
entertained while reading (wanting to find out what happens to the
characters, etc.)
I chose the game RABBIT AND HOUND because the children can
pretend they are animals, and role-playing can be great imaginative
and active play for children. This game allows for some rules/
structure, while still being able to play freely as their designated
animal.
Hello! Today we are going to learn to play RABBIT AND HOUND! Tina and
Roger have agreed to help show how the game is played.
Remember: you can play this game with one other friend, or with a lot
of friends! For now, we will just explain how to play with one other
friend.
1
Keep in mind: If you are the rabbit, you have to run away from the hound. If
you are the hound, you have to catch the rabbit!
You can play this game anywhere there is clear, open space. Make sure
you decide where you can and cannot go – you don’t want to chase each
other all over town!
Near the end of this book, we explain how to play a very similar game as
this, in the snow!
2
Find a partner to pair up with. Tina has chosen Roger as her partner.
You must decide with your partner who will be the rabbit, and who will be the
hound.
Don’t worry too much – you will get a chance to be both animals!
3
Tina (the hound) must chase Roger (the rabbit) until Roger is caught. As soon
as the rabbit is caught, they must complete an action a certain amount of
times.
1) Tina chases Roger
3) Roger hops
2) Tina tags Roger
For example, Roger is going to hop five times. You can definitely do
something more difficult than that though! You and your partner will
have to decide what the activity is before you start the game.
4
Tina ran away while Roger was hopping. Why?
She ran because now it is Roger’s turn to be the hound. Every time you
or your partner are tagged, both of you switch animals! So now, Roger
is chasing Tina. Keep tagging and switching as long as you want.
(Remember to do the movement activity after you are tagged to give
your partner time to run away!)
5
If you are with a group of friends, you can play this game in a different way.
One of you would be the hound, and the rest would be rabbits.
As soon as the hound catches any rabbit, they switch animals, and the
person that was caught becomes the hound (the chaser).
You have to pay close attention to who is “It” so you know who to run
away from! It will probably be switching back and forth quickly!
6
If you would like to play out in the snow, try playing a similar game, FOX AND
GOOSE!
7
Before starting the game, flatten snow in a path that loops into a circle. Below,
we can see the “fox” and “goose” (Tina and Roger) making a path together.
This is half the fun!
8
Now, make lines in the circle like this. Your circle should begin to look like a
giant wheel! This is your area to play in. When you are playing, you can’t step
off of the paths!
Don’t worry if your circle or lines aren’t perfect! Tina and Roger’s paths are a
little crooked, but they are still perfect for playing the game!
9
Now, you can start to play the game the same way as you would RABBIT AND
HOUND. When the fox catches the goose, you switch animal roles and the
other person is “It!”
You can play with 1 other person (partners) or you can play with a lot of
people… there would be one fox, and everyone else would be a goose. You
need to always pay attention to who is “It!”!
10
Also, remember that, if you are playing with a lot of people, you will want to
make the circle big enough that everyone isn’t crowded! You still want a lot of
room to run!
If you like the idea of running along paths but cannot go outside, you
can use lines on the Gymnasium floor!
That’s all! Hope you have a lot of fun!
11
What educational or health content is
included?
By reading this book, children are practicing and
enhancing their reading skills, while learning how to
play a new game that involves physical activity.
When carrying out the game RABBITS AND
HOUNDS/FOX AND GOOSE, children hone skills
ranging from running and space awareness
(physical skills) to group interaction, acceptance of
rules, and respect (social skills) (SaskSport
Resource Manual).
Sites to Check Out!
Rabbit and Hound game idea / noted
information taken from SaskSport Inc.’s
Children in Sport: A fundamental skills
development program – A Resource Manual
for Sport Leaders. View website here:
http://www.sasksport.sk.ca/cis/
cis_modules.html
Information from The Active Healthy Kids
Canada 2012 Report Card on Physical
Activity for Children and Youth has been
provided with permission from Active
Healthy Kids Canada.
Active Healthy Kids Canada (2012). Is Active
Play Extinct? The Active Healthy Kids 2012
Report Card on Physical Activity for
Children and Youth. Toronto: Active Healthy
Kids Canada.
A summary of the 2012 Report Card and the
long-form version are available at
www.activhealthykids.ca
Author Bio
Taylor Harder is in her first year of
university, to become an elementary
teacher! In her spare time she loves reading
and walking, and has a passion for nature
and animals!
Thanks
I would like to thank my mum, for
explaining a game she had learned
as a kid (Fox and Goose) to me.
This book was developed in partial fulfillment
of KHS 139: A Movement Education Course at
the University of Regina, 2012.