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    Girls playing a counting out game to determine who is 'it'
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    Counting out to determine who is 'it'
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    More counting out games at a multicultural school
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Language Play Counting Games and Rhymes

Functions
Counting Game, Elimination Game and Language Play
Alternative Names
  • I scream you scream (At School 04)
  • Mum Rhyme (At School 19)
  • She sells sea Shells (At School 04)

There are many different games and rhymes that involve counting. Often they are linked with choosing who is it, and therefore are related to elimination games.

Details

At School 17

When asked what rhymes they use to determine who is 'it' or 'in', three boys from the 8s and 9s and 10s and 11s class told the researcher the following:

One of the most popular methods is 'paper, scissors, rock'

Another starts with all players placing their right foot in a circle and counting as they chant:

'Dip, dip, dog shit, you are not it'.

Whoever's foot 'it' lands on is out. The rhyming continues until there are only two feet left and the last line is changed to 'you are now it'.

The same method of elimination is used by placing feet in a circle and chanting:

'There's a party on the hill would you like to come? (Player responds 'yes')
Get a bottle of rum tum tum (Player responds 'can't afford it')
So pack your bags and get lost'

In the above rhyme the person whose foot corresponds with the word 'lost' takes their foot away. The last person still playing then becomes 'it'.

At School 04

Players: 5
Boys
Age: 10-11

Two tongue twisters:

  • She sells sea shells by the sea shore.
  • I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.

They also used the following rhyme.

My mum, your mum, our neighbours.
Every night they have a fight and this is what they say each night.
Girls are sexy and made out of pepsi,
boys are rotten made out of cotton.

At School 10

Rhymes to accompany clapping games

ABC

ABC we're going up, we're going down
We're going criss, cross, lollypop
Turn around, touch the ground
Do a burn, that's the end."

ABC we're going up, we're going down
We're going criss, cross, lollypop
Turn around, touch the ground
Pull the chain, start again.

Also, a rhyme made up by girls at the school called Chicken pox. Refers to the search engine 'Google'.

I walked into my sister's room and she was covered in spots.
I searched it up on Google and it was the Chicken Pox.
I gave her a cup of Chicken Soup and she went brark, brark, brark.
I left her in her bedroom and came back ten minutes later,
And it was all gone. Woo!

At School 05

Players: 3
Girls
Age: 9-11

Players: put their toes in a circle. One player counts out and when the count stops that person removes her foot. The last person remaining is 'It'.

1. Eeny meeny miney mo
Eeny meeny miney mo,
Catch a tigger by the toe,
If you ever let it go,
Eeny meeny miney mo.

2. There's a party on the hill, would you like to come?
There's a party on the hill, would you like to come?
(Response) Yes.
Then bring a bottle of rum-tum-tum.
(Response) Can't afford it.
Then pack your bags and get lost for the rest of the day!

3. Mickey Mouse had a house
Mickey Mouse had a house,
What colour was it?
(Response) Red. (any colour can be chosen)
R-E-D. (person on whose foot the last letter lands is 'It'.)

4. Ibble Obble
Ibble bobble, black bubble,
Ibble obble out.

At School 06

Players: 2 - 3
Girls
Age: 9

A number of rhymes were recorded including

  • Melted Cheese on toast
  • Cinderella Dressed in Yella
  • Teddy bear
  • Anthony A, won't you come to tea, Anthony A won't you marry me

Played at

Related Clapping Games

Related Language Play

Related Miscellaneous Physical Play