Animal Walks
Cross the room as a bear, crab, frog, kangaroo or snake. Big, silly, whole-body movement that quietly builds strength and coordination.
Overview
You need
No equipment neededOptional: Cones or markers
Skills developed
- Strength: weight-bearing on hands and feet
- Locomotor: crawling, jumping, hopping
- Body awareness: copying shapes and movements
NEL Framework: Motor Skills Development.
Set up
1Step 1
Set a start line and a finish line with cones about eight metres apart.
2Step 2
Children line up along the start line with space between them. Coach stands at the side, halfway.
ChildTagger / team BCoachHoopSpotConeBallBeanbagRope or lineMarked areaWhere they move
How to play
- Call an animal. Everyone crosses to the far line moving like that animal, then waits.
- Call a new animal for the way back.
- Bear: hands and feet, bottom up. Crab: tummy up, hands and feet. Frog: squat and jump. Kangaroo: two-foot bounces. Snake: slither on tummy. Flamingo: hop on one leg.
- Finish with "sleepy sloth": a slow, stretchy crawl.
Tips for explaining
"Show me your strong bear arms." Straight arms take the weight. Watch for collapsing elbows.
"Frogs land softly." Bent knees, quiet feet.
Make it easier / harder
EasierShorter distance. Let them choose their favourite animal.
HarderChange animal halfway across on your whistle. Race in pairs.
Safety
Clear the route of anything hard. On abrasive outdoor surfaces skip the snake and crab.
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Rather we ran it for you?
This is one of the games our coaches run in pre-schools every week, with our own equipment. Weekly enrichment, sports days, or a whole holiday programme for your centre, planned in one message.