Minnesota's version of "Duck, Duck, Goose"...

Notes

One theory is that this version comes from Swedish immigrants to Minnesota. Read more about it here.

Game Instructions

The kids sit in a circle except for the one who's "It". The person who is "It" goes around tapping each child's head saying "duck" (but in this version of the game they put a color in front of the word like "red duck", "yellow duck" etc.). Eventually, the one who's "It" taps one kid's head and says, "Gray duck!" The one who was tapped has to chase the one who's "It" around the circle. The one who's "It" has to go around the circle and finally sit in the 2nd kid's spot. The 2nd kid is now "It". If the 2nd kid catches the one who's "It" before they get to the spot, then the 1st kid continues being "It" for another turn.

Comments

According to Jeff Strickler in his article about Duck, Duck Goose vs. Duck, Duck, Gray Duck, "...the person who is 'it' often will stress the first two letters - 'Grrrrrr' - keeping an opponent off guard as to whether they are about to say the harmless 'green duck' or the dreaded 'gray duck'."

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Thanks to DJ for pointing out this version!