Games

Goose Game

The Goose Game is a traditional game played in Spain, France, and other parts of Europe. Nobody knows the origin of the game, but some people date its beginnings in the middle ages, when pilgrims walked their way from all over the continent to Santiago de Compostela, in the northwestern part of Spain. The path depicted in the game may well be the thousand year old "Camino de Santiago" (the "Path toward Santiago," as the route is known by pilgrims). During the long journey to the tomb of Saint James (Santiago), pilgrims would encounter other people, animals, bridges and all sorts of perils and distractions. 

An interesting anecdote - my family and I recently visited Monticello, the house of Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States, down in Virginia. You can not imagine how surprised I was when I spotted a copy of the Goose Game on the floor by his game table! I asked the guide, and she told me that he probably purchased it in one of his trips to Europe. Jefferson's game, which is written in old English, says that the game was "Invented at the Consistory in Rome and are printed and sould by John Overton Over against S Sepulchers Church in London." (This is starting to look like the topic for a great novel, I know!) Luckily for me, they sold copies at the gift shop and I am on my way to starting a collection of international Goose games :)

I believe that games are fun tools to introduce or review vocabulary. My version of The Goose Game reinforces vocabulary used in the Ugly Duckling e-storybook, that will be available soon (this is why the game includes the Ugly Duckling itself, swans, a pond, etc). For additional variation, you can create several table games and ask your students to play in groups of four. Another possibility is to create large floor pads and use your students as the figures (they could wear masks or costumes).

I have more games in mind for the near future. In the meantime, enjoy The Goose Game!

AL

Play the game!

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