how to play

 

Rules

  1. First explain the rules to the players:

    1. I'm going to ask you to play a string, touch a part of the guitar or move your body.

    2. You only do it when I say "Simon says..." before giving the command.

    3. If you do it without me first saying, "Simon says..." then you are out of the game.

    4. If you don't don't do it after I have said, "Simon says..." you are also out of the game.

    5. If you play the wrong string, touch the wrong part of the guitar or move the wrong body part or move it the wrong way, you are out of the game.

  2. At first, play the game using only the strings of the guitar.

  3. Give the first instruction adding "Simon says" before it.

  4. Give several other commands with "Simon says".

  5. Then give a command without "Simon says".

    • You could say:

      • "Simon says, play string one".

      • "Simon says, play string four".

      • "Play string five".

  6. Look to see who has complied with the last command when they shouldn't have and tell them they are out.

  7. The game ends when there are no more players in or the players left in can not be gotten out.

  8. The game will become a little easy before too long.

  9. To make the game harder, add other guitar parts and then body parts as well.

    • You could say:

      • "Simon says, touch the bridge".

      • "Simon says, touch the tuning peg for string three".

      • "Simon says, wave you're right hand".

 

Tips

  • Try to confuse the players by being as random as possible with your commands.

  • You can use tricky statements like:

    • "Simon says strum the guitar"

    • "Now STOP!"

    • Kids find it hard not to respond to "STOP!"

Learning Outcomes

This game is great to teach kids the names of each string and the parts of the guitar.

It is also useful as a mindfulness process which helps kids to pay more attention while learning.