Schools
Simon Says: Set a New World Record
The fastest five minutes in preschool might just land The Goddard School and it's students in the record books.
Forty-nine students at the Hickory Flat joined their sister schools throughout the nation today at 1 p.m. to participate in an attempt at setting the new World's Record for the largest game of Simon Says. In all, more than 360 Goddard Schools nationwide, 27 in the Atlanta area, participated in this coordinated attempt, which was the culmination of a weeklong '' oriented toward exposing children to fitness and nutrition.
"The power of play is a key concept of The Goddard School and that is what this week is all about" said School Owner Mary Kay Buquoi.
In addition to the other activities earlier this week—visit with Coach Ray Marker, nutrition tour of picnic lunch and a bowling excursion—students have been practicing the Simon Says concept in an attempt to prolong the game and win for their school. The participants ranged in age from 2 years old to 8 years old and represented ranges from preschool 1 through Kindergarten.
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Attention was high in the early going, but Cheyanne Norrell and Evan Grant gave one another a competitive run at the end.
"Simon says: jump up and down."
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"Simon says: reach for the sky."
"Simon says: make a funny face."
So far, so good.
"Touch the ground."
Grant reached for the ground, but Norrell stayed put because "Simon didn't say" and took top honors.
Because this was an official record attempt, certain requirements had to be met to satisfy the Guinness Book of World Records standards including there being two impartial and reputable witnesses to attest to the time, number of participants and activity.
Lt. Kim Grant, Precinct Commander for the Hickory Flat Precinct of and Commissioner Jim Hubbard served as witnesses and were happy to provide the necessary affidavits to help meet the Guinness criteria.
"This is what makes it fun" said Hubbard, referring to the chance for public officials to interact with some of our youngest residents.
What are the odds of this being a record? Pretty good considering that the current record was set in June 2007 in Cedar City, Utah, at the Utah Summer Games Opening Ceremony with a total of 12,215 participants. If each of the 360 Goddard Schools match the 49 participants from the Hickory Flat location, the record will be shattered by more than 5,000 participants.