Four Corners

Set up

Number the four corners of the room 1, 2, 3 and 4, with a sign or a sticky note on the wall in each. Clear the paths between them of bags and chairs. Choose one player to be the counter, who sits or stands in the middle of the room with their eyes closed.

How to play

1. The counter closes their eyes and counts down slowly from ten.
2. While they count, every other player walks quietly to any corner.
3. At zero, everyone must be standing still in a corner.
4. Without opening their eyes, the counter calls out a number from 1 to 4.
5. Everyone in that corner is out and sits down at the side of the room.
6. Play again until one player is left. That player wins and becomes the next counter.

Keeping it calm and fair

Walking only, and no talking during the count, so the counter cannot hear where people go. Players who are out can help by watching for anyone who moves late. In a big class, play with two counters calling one number each, so the game does not take too long.

Ways to change it

• Quiz corners: ask a question with four answers and label each corner with one. Players go to the answer they think is right; the wrong corners sit down. A good way to review a lesson.
• Movement corners: players have to hop, skip or tiptoe to their corner, as the counter says before starting.
• Silent corners: nobody speaks for the whole round, including players who are out.
• Nobody out: players in the called corner do five jumping jacks and play on. Better for the youngest classes.

Who it suits, and who it doesn’t

Four Corners suits a class or party of about six to thirty-five children from age five, in a room with four clear corners. It needs no preparation beyond four signs, which makes it a good indoor recess and brain-break game. It does not work in a small room where corners are too close together, and children who dislike being out early will do better with the version where nobody is out.