Variations on Searching Games

We have all played a form of a "find it" game when we were young.  Here are some of my favorites!

"Hot and Cold"

 Player 1 closes his eyes while Player 2 (or group of players) hides an item somewhere in the room. Once the item is properly hidden, Player 1 searches for it slowly and deliberately while Player 2 assists with verbal clues. If Player 1 is not at all close to the item as he searches, Player 2 says, "You're cold," but as he gets closer to the hidden item, Player 2 responds, "Getting warmer…" When Player 1 is very close to the item, Player 2 says, "You're hot!" The verbal temperature indicators aid in finding the item.

Kids love being a part of this game and it has been around in playgrounds, classrooms, and backyards for ages.  Other variations of the game include....

 
"Doggy, Doggy Where's Your Bone?!"

With all participants sitting in a circle, one player is selected to sit in the middle and is the "Doggy".  The Doggy must close their eyes while the group decides to plant the "Bone" or item on one of the participants (sometimes labeled "Squirrels").  The "Doggy" knows when to open their eyes when the "Squirrels" sing/chant, "Doggy, Doggy, Where's Your Bone? Someone stole it from your home!" The Doggy then has three guesses to decide who has the bone.  The game can be looped by having the Doggy and Squirrel switch places. 

"Closet Key"

 *I love using this game in my general music internships!  The kids are always begging to play the game after their lessons. *

For this game, it is up to the discretion of the instructor how the children sit.  Personally, while visiting students in their home classroom, I have them remain at their desks.  

A player is selected to be the finder.  The group decides where in the playing space the "closet key" is hidden.  I have an antique key that we play with, but again, anything can be used.  The finder exits the playing space and the group hides the key.   The instructor gets the finder and the class begins to sing upon the finder entering.  

"I have lost my closet key in my lady's garden" 

(Do Do Mi Mi Do Do Mi Do Do Mi Mi Re Mi)

*Video to be displayed later* 

The closer to the object the finder is the LOUDER the group sings! 

The further away from the object the SOFTER the group sings!