Three Ships at Sea: chase between two camps

Warm-up for the traditional games unit using the classic Spanish game «Three Ships at Sea», a chase between two camps with a chanted dialogue. Students activate reaction speed and then each group proposes a regional variation of the game.

How to play

1. Two teams in their home bases, 20 m (66 ft) apart, with a center line marked with cones (1 min).
2. Team A walks forward chanting «Three ships at sea»; team B answers «and three more come looking» and chases them before they get back home (3 min).
3. Anyone tagged switches teams right away and keeps playing, so nobody is left standing (2 min).
4. Each team takes 30 seconds to pick a variation: zigzag running, pairs holding hands or retreating backward (3 min).
5. Quick discussion of other names for the game in students' hometowns or families (1 min).

Rules

• A touch on the back or shoulder is a tag, with no pushing or grabbing clothes.
• Each base has at least 10 feet of free space behind it to stop without hitting the wall.
• Anyone who reaches home is safe and cannot be tagged.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: act as line judge who chants the dialogue and decides who reached home.
• Hearing impairment: the start of the chase is also signaled by raising a pinny.
• Autism: explain in advance that there will be team changes and let the student choose a spot in the base.

Learning goals

• Activate reaction and running speed in a playful way.
• Learn a traditional game and its regional variations.
• Respect the rules of the game and safe contact when tagging.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cones: 8
• pinnies: 15

Teacher tip

If there are many collisions, ask each student to pick who they will chase before starting. Use the discussion for the unit's traditional games collection project.

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