Bees Bring Home the Pollen
Children are bees flying from flower to flower (hoops with pom-poms), picking up a ball of pollen and taking it to the hive (a box). It builds running with changes of direction while grabbing and releasing an object.
How to play
- We fly around the play area like bees, buzzing "bzzz" and flapping our wing-arms (1 min).
- The teacher shows the trip: land on a flower, pick up one pollen, fly to the hive and drop it inside (1 min).
- All the bees work at once, bringing pollen to the hive (2 min).
- Change how we carry the pollen: on an open palm, between two fingers, on the back of the hand (1 min).
- The queen bee (the teacher) taps the drum: all the bees fly slowly back to the hive and go to sleep (1 min).
Rules
- One pollen at a time.
- Drop the pollen inside the hive; don't throw it from far away.
- Fly without bumping into other bees.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, flowers are close to the hive and kids carry the pollen in a closed hand.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, flowers are spread across the whole area and pollen rides on an open palm.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, each flower has a different pollen color and the teacher calls which color to bring.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: place one flower next to the wheelchair and the hive about 3 ft away for short trips.
- Autism: tape a path on the floor from the flower to the hive.
- Lower stamina: a child who gets tired can be the hive guard and sort the pollen as it arrives.
Learning goals
- Grab and release an object while running.
- Change direction and dodge classmates.
- Raise body activation gradually.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Hoops: 6
- Large pom-poms: 40
- Large box: 1
- Hand drum: 1
Teacher tip
If the flowers run out, empty the hive back into them without stopping the game. Remind kids that pollen is "dropped off," not thrown: keep the hive on the ground, within easy reach.
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