The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE

WHEN I STARTED KINDERGARDEN WE PLAYED A GAME THE TEACHER
CALLED DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE. THE GAME INVOLVED THE WHOLE
CLASS OF 20 OR MORE CHILDREN, YOU COULD PLAY WITH AT LEAST
SEVEN, I REMEMBER. WE WOULD ALL SIT ON THE FLOOR IN A
CIRCLE WITH OUR HEADS DOWN, AND EYES CLOSED. SOME ONE
FROM THE CIRCLE WAS PICKED TO BE IT, OR A GOOSE. THEY
WERE TO WALK AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCLE, TOUCHING
THOSE IN THE CIRCLE ON THE HEAD, CALLING EACH ONE THEY
TOUCHED A DUCK. WHEN THEY FINALLY SAID GOOSE WHOEVER
THEY WERE TOUCHING WAS THE GOOSE AND HAD TO JUMP UP AND
CHASE THE PERSON WHO WAS IT. IF THEY CAUGHT THE ONE WHO
WAS IT, THEY COULD REMAIN IN THE CIRCLE; IF NOT THE
PERSON THEY TOUCHED HAD TO GET INTO THE CENTER OF THE
CIRCLE, KNOWN AS THE GOOSE POND. THE GAME CONTINUED
UNTIL THE GOOSE POND GREW TOO BIG TO FORM A CIRCLE AROUND,
WITH THOSE CHILDREN LEFT. YOU WERE ONLY ALLOWED TO WALK
AROUND THE CIRCLE THREE TIMES BEFORE YOU HAD TO PICK A
GOOSE; OTHERWISE YOU LANDED IN THE GOOSE POND ANYWAY.
THE TEACHER WAS ALWAYS THE REFEREE, OR MOTHER GOOSE.
THEY STILL PLAY THIS GAME WITH CHILDREN TODAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT