Autumn Leaf Shower
Children scoop up armfuls of dry leaves, toss them into the air, and move underneath as they fall, like taking a leaf shower. It gets the whole body going and lets kids enjoy a brand-new sensation with joy and no fear.
How to play
- Sit around the pile while the teacher tosses a handful of leaves: watch them dance down (1 min).
- Everyone takes as many leaves as fit in two hands, tosses them up, and turns slowly underneath (1 min).
- With music, toss leaves and jump to touch them before they reach the ground (2 min).
- In pairs: one child sprinkles leaves over the other's head while the partner crouches and stretches underneath; switch (1 min).
- Gather close, the teacher tosses one last big leaf shower, and everyone stays still to feel the leaves fall (1 min).
Rules
- I toss leaves up, never at faces.
- Only leaves. If I grab a twig, I put it aside.
- I move in my own space without bumping.
- When the music stops, I freeze.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, just toss and turn underneath, no pairs; the teacher helps scoop leaves.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, add jumping to touch the leaves.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, try to catch a leaf with one hand or tap it with an elbow before it lands.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a buddy sprinkles leaves overhead while the child stretches up to touch them.
- Autism: the child can watch first from the side and choose whether to be under the leaves or just toss them into a bucket.
- Allergies or asthma: use large, clean leaves with no dust or mold, and wash hands afterward.
Learning goals
- Move the whole body with reaching, turning, and jumping.
- Enjoy the feel of natural materials.
- Respect classmates' personal space.
Equipment for a class of 25
- dry leaves
- music
Teacher tip
Use clean, dry leaves, ideally collected that day; toss any that smell damp. Remind kids that leaves don't go in mouths, and check for twigs mixed in.
PatioLab has "Autumn Leaf Shower" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More warm-ups for Elementary
«Ahora que Vamos Despacio»: The Silly-Fibs Stroll
We stroll very slowly singing the traditional Spanish song «Ahora que vamos despacio» («Now that we're going slowly, let's tell some fibs»), and on each «tralará» we…
«El Cocherito Leré»: The Hopping Carriage
We're carriages trotting around the yard, and on every «leré» in the traditional Spanish song «El cocherito leré» («the little coachman») we jump with feet together.
«Sal de Ahí, Chivita»: The Get-Out-Little-Goat Chain
The little goat won't leave the field, so in this traditional Spanish cumulative song we call the wolf, the dog, the stick, the fire, the water and the ox.
A Bandage Where I'm Tagged
A few children tag holding a scarf; anyone tagged puts on a “bandage” by placing a hand exactly where they were touched and keeps running that way, and after a second…
A Walk Through the Pole Forest
We stand plastic poles upright in cones with holes and the playground becomes a forest of tall trees.
Achoo, Into Your Elbow!
Children move around like animals and when the teacher goes “Ah… ah… achoo!”, they stop and hide their face in their elbow as if sneezing or coughing.