Bear Paws, Bird Beaks

Children move like bears and birds: bears pick up big balls with both hands, and birds pick up pom-poms with a pinch beak. It builds matching the grip to the object's size while moving.

How to play

1. The teacher shows bear paws (both hands wide open) and the bird beak (thumb and pointer finger) (1 min).
2. On a low drum beat we walk like heavy bears; on quick taps we fly like little birds (1 min).
3. Bears find a big ball, hug it with their bear paws and carry it to the bears' basket (1 min).
4. Birds find a pom-pom, peck it with their finger beak and fly it to the nest basket (1 min).
5. The teacher switches animals every so often and each child picks up what their animal picks up (2 min).

Rules

• Bears pick up big balls; birds pick up pom-poms.
• We walk or fly with what we picked up, never throw it.
• When the drum changes, we change animals.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: bring the objects close and the child makes the animal motion with arms and hands.
• Autism: use two picture cards, a bear and a bird, and show them at every switch.
• Children who find pinching hard: let them grab the pom-pom with three fingers.

Learning goals

• Adjust the grip to the size of the object.
• Link a sound to a way of moving.
• Warm up by mixing heavy and light steps.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Large balls: 12
• Large pom-poms: 25
• Baskets: 2
• Hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

Use pom-poms at least 1.5 in across, never smaller. Exaggerate both motions at first: bear paws "hug," bird beaks "peck."

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