Indoor recess

Duck, Duck, Goose

One student walks around the circle tapping heads and saying "duck" until they pick a "goose" who chases them. The best-known circle game for preschool and kindergarten.

  • 🎓 Grades K–2
  • ⏱ 10–15 min
  • 👥 Whole class in a circle
  • 📦 No prep
🎲 Another game

How to play Duck, Duck, Goose

  1. Students sit in a circle facing inward.
  2. One student walks around the outside, tapping each head and saying "duck".
  3. At some point they tap a head and say "goose".
  4. The goose jumps up and chases the tapper around the circle.
  5. If the tapper reaches the goose's seat first, the goose becomes the new tapper.

Variations

  • Indoor version: walk fast instead of run.
  • Vocabulary version: replace "duck" and "goose" with two words from the lesson.

💡 Teacher tips

  • Make sure there is enough clear space around the circle.
How to play Duck, Duck, Goose: printable classroom rule card with the steps, time (10–15 min), grades k–2 and prep

📌 Rule card to print or pin

The rules of Duck, Duck, Goose on one card. Print it for the board or a sub folder, or save it to Pinterest for later.

Save to Pinterest Download / print rule card
Up next🥕 Carrot Squat (Luobo Dun) →

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