Robbers and Squirrels. A Quick Group Game

🎂 5 + years ⏱️ 45 min 📍 Woods & Meadow ⭐ medium

Imagine this: You are a squirrel. Your most important treasure is your nuts. You need to hide them quickly so you have enough supplies for winter. But be careful: The robbers are watching you from the edge of the playing field. They are paying close attention and remembering where you run. Once all the nuts are hidden, the real fun begins. Now squirrels and robbers run onto the field at the same time. Everyone tries to find as many nuts as possible and bring them to their storage place. But watch out: The game leader will announce how many nuts you need to collect in one round. If you don't reach that number, you're out. This makes each round more exciting. You can best play robbers and squirrels in the woods or on the schoolyard. You need space to run and search.

What you'll need

Nuts or other objects as nuts
a playing field, about 50m x 50m
two storage places
a clock or stopwatch

How it works

Divide into two groups: squirrels and robbers. It's best if both groups are the same size. Each squirrel gets 10 nuts. They run onto the field and hide them there. The robbers stand at the edge of the field and can watch.
After hiding, the game leader tells how many nuts each child must collect in this round and shouts: 'Go!' Now all the children search at the same time – squirrels and robbers. They only have one minute for this. Important: Always carry only one nut at a time!
Squirrels place the nuts in their storage area. Robbers take them to their hideout. After one minute, time is up. Each child must have found the required number of nuts. After the time is up, the game leader counts. Did each child bring the required number of nuts?
Those who didn't succeed are out. Now a new round begins. This keeps the game exciting until only a few children are left. Sometimes you're quick like a squirrel, sometimes clever like a robber. And in the end, what matters is: You played, laughed, and moved together.