How to play What's the Time, Mr. Wolf?
- Choose a student to be Mr. Wolf. The wolf stands at one end of the room facing the wall. Everyone else lines up at the other end.
- The class asks together: "What's the time, Mr. Wolf?" The wolf answers with an hour, such as "3 o'clock!"
- The class takes that many steps forward, counting out loud.
- Repeat. The wolf may turn and look while answering, but everyone must stand still when the wolf is looking.
- When the wolf calls "Dinner time!", the wolf turns and walks fast to tag someone with a gentle touch on the shoulder. Everyone walks fast back to the starting line.
- A tagged student becomes the next wolf. If someone reaches the wolf and taps the wolf's back before dinner time, that student is the next wolf.
Variations
- Telling time: the wolf shows a time on a paper clock or the board, and the class must read it aloud before stepping. "Half past" means a half step.
- Action steps for ESL: the wolf calls a time and an action, such as "4 o'clock, hop!" and the class hops 4 times.
- Math steps: the wolf calls a problem, such as "2 plus 3 o'clock!", and the class steps the answer.
💡 Teacher tips
- Walking only, wolf included. Clear backpacks and chairs from the path, or play in the hallway or gym.
- Practice "Dinner time!" once slowly so the youngest students are not scared.