Heads Up Seven Up

What started as a potentially easy way to end the one day work week this week turned into a full on guffaw for me. (Yes, we had two days off for a mid-Winter break and then two “snow” days that happened back to back after the break. Thus, a one day work week.)

It was 3:17 p.m.  We had cranked out a pile of work yesterday in Kindergarten. School ends at 3:30.  Why not teach these five and six year olds how to play the favored “Heads Up Seven Up” game that I loved playing when I was in Grade Two back in the day?  Yes. Yes.  Good idea!

This soon turned out to be a less than stellar idea.  I carefully selected 7 kids to stomp up to the front of the room.  I told the steps in chronological detail and checked for understanding. (Madeline Hunter would be so pleased.) Seven heads bobbed up and down when I asked if they knew what to do.  Then I turned my direction giving to the sea of Kindergarteners on the floor waiting to be “tapped” on the head.  Good. Good!  Everyone seemed ready for the BIG game!  I glanced at the clock (3:20 p.m.) Man, I am getting better all the time. I can give the hybrid version of directions in lickety-split time.  I tell myself in a congratulatory voice inside of my head,“You are amazing.”

The sea of Kindergarteners scurry to their tables and put their heads down anxiously awaiting one of the 7 chosen peers to tap them.  When all 7 return from the sea of peers and I say, “Heads Up!  Seven Up!” 12 kids stood up.  Hmmmm…I must not have been so clear on the “only tap ONE person” direction.

“Do OVER!” – After a more detailed re-explanation of the game it was now 3:22 p.m. and my mind was all set that we would make it one full round in this new game now.

The 7 chosen ones stomped out into the sea of their peers who were head down at their table waiting to be picked.  This time one of my table friends popped his head up when he got tapped and yelled, “I SAW YOU TAP ME!  I AM GONNA CALL YOU!” – Ahhh… Not how the game goes. (Quick one on one tutorial while the other remaining 6 chosen tap someone else and the original tapper re-selects someone.)

3:25 – The 7 chosen are back at the front. This time only 9 kids stand up when given the “Heads Up, Seven Up!” directive.  This is called progress.  So, we start by having kids guess who tapped them one at a time.  A girl suspects she is tapped by the tall boy at the end.  “Yep!”  They switch spots.  He sits down in her seat.  She comes to join the Chosen Tappers.  We get to the end of the line and the last person tapped guesses who tapped them and then I hear from the tall boy who just sat down because he was guessed to have tapped the girl, “No, I tapped you!” – Ahhh, Pumpkin, How many peeps did you tap?”  His reply, “Three!” – Oh, boy.  More directions being given and re-teaching at an alarming rate (Glancing at the clock and it is not 3:27 p.m.

Just enough time to try this game one more round and I hear sobbing from the farthest table.  I look up and one girl is standing and shouts out, “I have never been picked yet!” – Oh……… I know the feeling.  You get used to it.  This is what I am thinking in my head but I don’t say it.

Before I know it; 3:30 and our impromptu game comes to a screeching halt.  We may have to revisit this one with a LARGE poster showing the steps.  Nothing, NO, NOTHING, is ever simple in Kindergarten......... but then I suppose that is really why I like it so much.