THE EMU GAMES BOOKby Jerry Tyrrell Brendan Hartop Seamus Farrell This book of games, published by the EMU Promoting School Project Magee College University of Ulster - Education for Mutual Understanding - in 1999, is a resource book to foster children's social engagement skills, through focus on co-operation, communication and affirmation. The book, spiral-bound with a firm soft cover, printed on robust paper, is a collection of games taken from a variety of sources which are given at the back of the book. There is no copyright; any-one can re-print the games, however with a request that the source is given. It contains 58 pages, two pages to each game, with text on the left-hand side and, on the right, two black and white lively photographic illustrations of children playing these games - which take between 1 and 15 minutes; mostly about 5 minutes. The games are based on mutual trust and teachers are advised to take part with the children. There are four types of game, the first, called Workshop Games is the largest group, with 16 games. There are Filler Games for small and large groups; the last section has two games on Games promoting Ground Rules. The instructions page is clearly set out with a few words describing the aim, the objective, the set up, equipment needed, things to be aware of and what time it takes. Among the stated aims for some of the games are: Communication, cooperation, affirmation, expending energy, to close a session, the difference between listening and not listening. The school that tested these games for us says they are "practical, useful and fun". |