Foxes, Hens and Vipers: The Hunting Triangle

A traditional French game with three teams: foxes hunt hens, hens hunt vipers, and vipers hunt foxes. Everyone chases and runs away at the same time, so players must scan the whole field and make decisions constantly.

How to play

1. Setup: three homes in a wide triangle marked with cones, each with a two-hoop jail next to it; three teams in different-colored pinnies (3 min).
2. Explain the triangle and play a speed-walk round to learn who hunts whom (3 min).
3. Round 1: anyone tagged goes to the jail of the team that caught them; teammates free them by touching their hand (7 min).
4. Timeout: each team decides who hunts, who guards the home and who rescues (2 min).
5. Round 2: the teacher flips the triangle's order halfway through with a signal (7 min).
6. Wrap-up: how can you attack without leaving yourself open? Share where the game comes from (3 min).

Rules

• Tag with a hand on the shoulder or back; no grabbing.
• Nobody can tag you in your home, but you can't stay there more than ten seconds at a time.
• Prisoners stand and form a hand-holding chain toward their team.
• A rescuer returns home before hunting again.

Variations

Adaptations

• Hearing and visual impairments: very different pinnie colors and, if needed, armbands with different textures for each team.
• Limited mobility: can guard the team's jail and tag rescuers who come in.
• Students who feel stressed being chased: start as rescuers, close to home.

Learning goals

• Learn and play a traditional game from another culture.
• Make decisions with several threats and targets at once.
• Cooperate to protect and rescue teammates.

Equipment for a class of 25

• pinnies: 30
• cones: 12
• hoops: 6

Teacher tip

This is the French game "renards, poules, vipères," a schoolyard staple in France. Common mistake: the whole team charges off to hunt and leaves home unguarded; stop and ask who is hunting the hunters.

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