Mother May I, Mule Forward?

A mule and a young woman dressed in historic clothing at the C&O Canal National Historical Park.

NPS Photo/ E.Cowan

Mother May I, Mule Forward? is a twist on a popular children's game that gets kids moving outdoors while reinforcing knowledge about the C&O Canal. It can be played at the park, at home, or anywhere outdoors, and physical requirements can meet the abilities of all players.

How to play the game:

1. Choose one child/parent to act as the “Mother” while other kids will be players attempting to move forward to be the first to reach the “Mother.” The “Mother” will ask questions about the C&O Canal.
2. Players should line up in a row facing the “Mother” 20-40 feet away (the game will be longer if players are farther away).
3. Players alternate asking “Mother may I move forward ____ ?” Players can fill in the blank with different numbers of steps or other creative forms of motion. Examples: “Mother may I move forward 2 steps?” “Mother may I move forward 5 baby steps?”
4. The “Mother” responds to each request by asking questions about the C&O Canal. The “Mother” can choose the difficulty of questions depending on how far the player wants to move forward. Sample questions about the canal are below or you can make up your own using information you learn about the C&O Canal. Players advance after correctly answering their question.
5. If a player gets a question wrong, they can either take 2 steps backwards or choose to do their choice of 5 push-ups, 5 sit-ups, or 5 jumping jacks.
6. Players move forward and answer questions until one player reaches the “Mother.” That player is the winner!

 

Sample Questions

The questions below are great examples to use during this game! Click each question to reveal the answer.

How many miles long is the C&O Canal?

Answer: 184.5 miles

Where did the mules walk while they pulled boats?

Answer: The towpath - now it's used for recreation!

Children that lived on the canal slept on the floor or on mattresses made out of what?

Answer: Hay

A mule's parents are a male ____ and a female ____ ?

Answer: Male donkey and female horse

How high can a lift lock raise a boat on the C&O Canal?

Answer: 8-10 feet

When did the groundbreaking for the construction of the C&O Canal take place?

Answer: July 4th, 1828

Who turned the first spadeful of dirt, starting the construction of the C&O Canal?

Answer: President John Quincy Adams

What structure near Georgetown moved boats from the canal to the Potomac reducing canal traffic?

Answer: The Incline Plane

What are 3 bird species you can find at the C&O Canal that are fully or partially red?

Answers include but are not limited to: Northern Cardinal, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Redhead, Common Merganser, Scarlet Tanager, Summer Tanager, Red-winged Blackbird, Ruby-crowned Kinglet

What is one way you can be a steward of the C&O Canal National Historical Park?

Answers: Practice Leave No Trace principles when hiking and spending time in the park; Volunteer at the canal; Take the C&O Canal Preservation Challenge; Engage in a citizen science project to collect data at the park; Become a Junior Ranger; Join Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts of America and get stewardship-related badges.