Call and Response Games Hands Up Hands Down
( Call and Response, Command and Response, Guessing, Hide and Seek, Marble Coin Pebble and Jack )This is a schoolroom adaptation of Up Jenkins and is designed especially for use as children assemble in a class room before the opening of the school session. The only material required is a small paper or worsted ball of a size that may be hidden in the clinched hand.
The players are divided into two groups each group seated partly facing the other (indicated by arrows in the diagram) with a captain standing before each side.
The side starting the game is given a small ball of paper or worsted and at the command of the captain of the opposing side the players pass the ball rapidly from one to another. Each player makes the motion of passing so as to deceive the opposing group as to the whereabouts of the ball.
The captain and players of the opposing group meanwhile keep a sharp lookout for the ball without leaving their seats.
After a short time of passing the captain who started the passing (Group B diagram) calls suddenly “Hands up ” and immediately all passing in Group A must cease and all hands must be raised high overhead and tightly clinched so the player having the ball when the passing ceased may not disclose the fact.
The B captain again gives a sudden command of “Hands down ” Immediately all hands are brought down softly on the desk in front of each player of Group A hands wide open palms downward and again the player with the ball tries to hide it under his hand.
The players of Group B who think they know who has the ball raise their hands. No player may speak unless called by his captain. When called he may say “Under J.s right hand” (or left hand as the case may be). J. raises the right hand and if the guesser be mistaken places that hand in his lap it being thereafter out of commission so to speak. No other player of Group A moves a hand. Should the ball be found under the hand raised the opposing group i.e. Group B receives as many points as there are hands left upon the desks. Otherwise the search continues the captain of Group B asking players of his group to order a hand raised or orders it himself until the ball is discovered. Group B now takes the ball and passes it from one to another and Group A gives commands through its captain. The side making a score of three hundred points wins. A side loses ten points when a player talks or calls for a hand to be raised without the permission or call of the captain.