Wolf, Are You Home? Forest Song Chase
A traditional singing game: the group strolls through the forest singing 'Let's play in the woods while the wolf is away' and asks the wolf what he is doing. When the wolf answers that he's coming out to eat, everyone races home. It builds reaction, speed and emotional control.
How to play
- Use cones to mark a home base at one end and the wolf's den at the other, 15 m (50 ft) apart. The first time, you are the wolf, wearing a pinnie (2 min).
- The group walks from home toward the forest singing, 'Let's play in the woods while the wolf is away. Wolf, are you home?'
- The wolf answers with what he's doing ('I'm putting on my socks', 'I'm brushing my teeth') and everyone acts it out before singing again.
- When the wolf says, 'Yes, and I'm coming out to eat!', everyone runs home and the wolf tags whoever he can.
- Tagged players put on a pinnie and become wolf pups who help in the next round; with 5 pups, restart with new wolves.
- Play about 6 rounds, changing the wolf each time (10 min).
Rules
- Tag by touching the back or shoulder, with no pushing or grabbing.
- Nobody runs until the wolf finishes the whole sentence.
- No tagging inside home base.
- Look ahead while running to avoid collisions.
Variations
Easier
Put home base at 10 m (33 ft) and have the wolf chase with giant walking steps.
Standard
Home base at 15 m (50 ft) and the wolf chases at a run.
Harder
Wolf pups hide around the forest and home base is 20 m (65 ft) away.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a wheelchair user plays the wolf and tags by hand; everyone else flees at a fast walk.
- Autism or shyness: the student can answer as the wolf with gestures while a partner says the words; warn ahead that there will be running and shouting.
- Skill level: the fastest runners start one step farther from home.
Learning goals
- React to a verbal cue with a quick start.
- Manage the excitement of a chasing game.
- Learn a song and a game handed down through generations.
Equipment for a class of 25
- pinnies: 6
- cones: 8
Teacher tip
Young children love the wolf's silly answers: let them invent their own and stretch the pause to build suspense. Make sure the same child isn't always the first one tagged.
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