The larger the circle, the farther players will end up running. When 2,145 students in a Missouri school district broke the Guinness World Record in 2011 for the largest game of duck, duck, goose, they had to form a massive circle outside the fenced perimeter of their football stadium. [1] X Research source
On the flip side, because this is what most people do, saying “goose” on the second or third person is unexpected and can give “it” an advantage.
If “it” makes it around the circle and gets back to the goose’s spot without being caught, the goose now becomes “it. ” If the goose catches “it” before then, “it” is “it” again and another round starts. [2] X Research source A twist that is played a lot as standard duck, duck, goose but is actually called “mushpot” goes like this: If the goose catches “it,” the goose becomes “it” and “it” has to sit out the game in the middle of the circle until another player is tagged and they trade places.
If the picker gets back first, the goose becomes the picker; if the goose gets back first, the picker goes again. The degree of physical contact in blocking, such as wrestling and tackling, is up to the group. Here’s a twist: While the picker and goose are running and blocking, any player in the circle can get up and move to the goose’s empty spot, repeatedly, thus prolonging the round.
If the picker gets back to the shark’s spot first, the shark becomes the picker. If the shark tags the picker, the picker has to go the middle of the circle and either do somersaults in the water or tread water holding a dive brick until another person is tagged.
If the pickers get back first, the geese become the pickers. If the geese arrive first, the pickers go to the middle of the circle and put on a performance. They must either sing a song or do a dance together and then wait in the circle until another pair of geese is tagged. If you have a karaoke machine, you could bring that along and have the geese sing a song to that. You could also have them sing and do the dance motions of classic children’s songs, such as “I’m a Little Teapot,” “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” or “If You’re Happy and You Know It, Clap Your Hands. ” Other possibilities include doing the Macarena, the “Gangnam Style” dance, twerking, a line dance, the twist, the mashed potato, the waltz, the tango and so forth.
Using words like these will help students recognize the difference between similar sounds like “u” in duck and “o” in dog and “ck” in duck and “g” in dog. [4] X Research source
If the duck is tagged before making it to the new animal’s spot, the duck must sit in the middle of the circle until a new animal is tagged. If the duck isn’t tagged, the new animal then walks around the circle, tapping heads and saying his animal’s name until he chooses a child, taps his or her head and calls out a new animal name, which starts another chase. [5] X Research source This variation is great in that it integrates dramatic and expressive play with learning.
As with traditional duck, duck, goose, if the picker gets back to the vacant seat first, the rectangle becomes the picker; otherwise the picker goes again. This can be modified for seasons of the year, characteristics of plants and trees, parts of the body, colors, elements of writing, for math, etc. For example, if students are learning how to count, write a number on a piece of paper and put it in the center of the circle. Have the picker go around the circle tapping on each child’s head, counting from 1 upward until that number is called. When it is, that child then chases the picker. This could also be done when teaching how to count by 2s, 5s and so forth.
Like the traditional game, if the picker gets to the grey duck’s spot first, the grey duck becomes the picker. If not, the picker picks again. Some say this version is more challenging because the players sitting in the circle have to listen more carefully to what is being called – “blue duck” versus “grey duck” is more similar than “duck” and “goose,” for instance. Also, according to a woman cited in a newspaper article, kids like to add to the suspense by drawing out the “Grrrrr” sound to keep players off guard as to whether they’re going to say green or grey. [7] X Research source
If the child catches the mailman, the mailman goes to the center of the circle and puts on a performance, such as telling a joke, doing a dance or singing a song; if he doesn’t catch the mailman, he becomes the mailman. Also, if the mailman runs all the way around the circle before the child notices the napkin, the child has to sit in the middle until being replaced. Lyrics to the song: “Drop, drop, drop the napkin. / Softly behind your friend’s back. / Everybody hushes. / Quick, quick, get it!” Then repeat. [8] X Research source
If the Plumpsack gets back to the spot first, the other child becomes the Plumpsack. If the Plumpsack is caught, he or she goes to the middle and all the children sing, “One, two, three, into the rotten egg!” Also, if the Plumpsack makes the full circle without the child noticing the handkerchief, the child goes to the middle of the circle and the children also sing “One, two, three, into the rotten egg!”[10] X Research source Lyrics to the song: “Do not turn around. / Because the Plumpsack goes around! / Whoever turns around and laughs. / Gets a slap on the back. / Therefore: Do not turn around. ” And repeat. [11] X Research source There are similar variations across Europe and in parts of Asia and the Middle East, though the songs vary in context.
