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I do not agree that the dog in a manger has the final right to the manger even though he may have lain there for a very long time. I do not admit that right. I do not admit for instance, that a great wrong has been done to the Red Indians of America or the black people of Australia. I do not admit that a wrong has been done to these people by the fact that a stronger race, a higher-grade race, a more worldly wise race to put it that way, has come in and taken their place.

Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

To the Peel Commission, 1937

Find the Penny

Target:

Teamwork & observation

Age:

children and up

Duration:

5 minutes & up

Class Size:

At least 5

Energy Level:

moderate to high

Type:

Active co-operative game

Equipment:

penny, (optional: police helmet)

fun
energetic
bluff
concentration

Procedure:

One player becomes a policeman. The other players aim to keep the policeman from finding the penny. It adds to the fun if a real foreign coin is used. Start the game by having the policeman hide his eyes and count down from ten (or some other agreed number). This gives the other players time to start passing the penny.

Here are the rules:

The coin must be kept in a hand at all times.
When the policeman confronts a player and says, "Show me your hands" the player must do so immediately and completely.

This is a game that requires some practise. Without teamwork the policeman can usually find the coin in seconds but a skilled group can keep the policeman at bay almost indefinitely.

Note:

Although a timer is not essential to play the game in a lesson situation it is useful to have one handy. This is a game that players can really get into! My thanks to my father for teaching me this game.