Animal Scarf Grab, No Tagging

A no-tag version of the scarf-grab game: instead of numbers, each child is an animal, and when their animal is called, they move like it to pick up one of the scarves in the middle. Kids practice ways of moving, listening and taking turns in a version little ones can play on their own.

How to play

1. Chalk two lines and a circle in the middle with several scarves; each child takes an animal card that someone on the other side also has (2 min).
2. Try each animal together: frogs jump, bears walk on all fours, snakes slither, kangaroos hop with feet together (2 min).
3. The scarf boss calls an animal; everyone with that card moves like it to grab a scarf and comes back to their line the same way (3 min).
4. Return the scarves to the middle, and a child who has already gone becomes the boss and picks the next animal (3 min).
5. Last round: the boss calls “The farm!” and everyone goes at once, each as their own animal, and returns all the scarves (2 min).

Rules

• Go only when your animal is called.
• Move like your animal all the way there and back.
• There are scarves for everyone in the middle, so no grabbing.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child's animal moves in a wheelchair (slow turtle, race car) and their line is closer.
• Autism: the child wears their animal card on a lanyard so they don't forget it.
• Hearing impairment: the boss holds up the animal card while calling it.

Learning goals

• Move in different ways by imitating animals.
• React to a specific signal.
• Lead the game in turns.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Scarves: 10
• Animal picture cards: 25
• Sidewalk chalk: 4

Teacher tip

Put out more scarves than kids who can run at once, so there's no tug-of-war. It's a great recess game for 3- and 4-year-olds; teach the boss role well so they can play without an adult.

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