40 5-year olds...ideas for great games or simple activities, please?

[MizZan]

that's it really - having a joint party this weekend and looking for a few extra games and activities to add to our arsenal...that work well with a big group, mixed boys and girls, indoors in a large hall.

any ideas gratefully received!

thanks :-)

Only works if you have chairs.

Put chairs in a circle, one less than there are participants, and everyone sits down apart from one child who stands in the middle.

Child in the middle says something like:

" Everyone wearing red change places when the warm wind blows."

People wearing red leave their seats and rush to sit in one that's been vacated. The child the in middle also runs to occupy a vacated chair. The child left without a seat now stands in the middle and gives the direction. e.g. everyone wearing socks, glasses, a picture of an animal on their clothes, everyone who likes ice cream, spaghetti, everyone who has a baby at their house, etc, etc.

Some children will need help with suggestions. They enjoy it more if you participate (of course).

And Duck Duck Goose is good for a large group, though you probably already have that on your list.

40 children?! Lazy Lions all the way

Actually I loved doing party games for DS 5th birthday. The children are at a great age for listening, understanding, joining in.

What do you already have on your list?

What's Duck Duck Goose?
We are having a disco, the dj is doing pass the parcel and musical statues. Then we are doing mini sandwiches, jelly and ice cream (coffee and biscuits for parents) and after that need some ideas!

Duck Duck Goose - you probably have your own variation of it.

Children sit in a circle. One walks around the outside of the circle lightly touching the others on the head and saying Duck....duck... duck and then eventually saying Goose!
Child then runs and the child whose head has been touched when he/she said 'Goose' chases after her and both try to reach the vacant spot in the circle.

I'm not explaining this very well. Have a

It is more fun than this looks (honestly). I see one of the children is yawning his head off even before the game starts