Oranges and Lemons

This a great party game. Two children are chosen to be the choppers. So I've nominated Sipho and Ada to be the choppers. These two go to one side and whisper to each other what their gifts to the one they catch will be. Sipho whispers that his prize will be a computer, and Ada decides that her prize will be a ride in a helicopter. The children aren't supposed to know whose prize is whose.

Then the game begins. Sipho and Ada face each other holding both hands with their arms up high in the air, forming a bridge. (I wonder how the poor little things will cope during social distancing time. I suppose this game may only be played after there is a Covid vaccine!)




Anyway, the rest of the children line up and start to sing as they walk under the bridge of Sipho and Ada's arms :

Oranges and lemons,
Say the bells of St. Clement's.

You owe me three farthings,
Say the bells of St. Martin's.

When will you pay me?
Say the bells at Old Bailey.

When I grow rich,
Say the bells at Shoreditch.

When will that be?
Say the bells of Stepney.

I do not know,
Says the great bell at Bow.

Here comes a candle to light you to bed,
And here comes a chopper to chop off your head!
  Chip chop chip chop Chip chop chip CHOP

(and with the final CHOP their arms come down and catch the child who is under their bridge at the time). They then take the child to one side and whisper to her whether she would like a helicopter ride or a computer. If she chooses the helicopter ride she has to stand behind Ada, if the computer behind Sipho. After all the children have been caught and have chosen a gift, then there's a tug of war, and everyone must hold the child in front of him and pull the group over an imaginary line between the two in front. The winning side may choose the next two children to be the choppers.

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