Cat and Mouse Through the Circle Doors

A traditional Spanish circle game: kids hold hands with arms up to make doors, a mouse runs in and out of them, and the cat must follow the exact same path. Kids work on locomotor skills, spatial awareness, and taking turns.

How to play

1. Kids stand in a circle holding hands, an arm's length apart. Show the doors: "Arms up, doors open; arms down, doors closed."
2. Model it: you are the mouse and a child is the cat. The mouse ducks under the doors, in and out of the circle, and the cat has to go through exactly the same doors (1 minute).
3. Start the game: one mouse inside, one cat outside. The circle calls "Run, mouse, the cat is coming!" and the mouse takes off. The round ends when the cat tags the mouse or after 30 seconds.
4. The mouse picks the next mouse and the cat picks the next cat from kids who have not gone yet; they take their places in the circle. Keep going until most kids have played (6 minutes).
5. To get more kids moving, play three pairs at once: each cat chases only its own mouse (4 minutes).
6. Finish with "Doors closed!": the circle slowly crouches, and all the cats and mice sit in the middle meowing and squeaking very softly (1 minute).

Rules

• The cat goes through the same doors as the mouse.
• Tag gently with an open hand on the back or arm.
• The circle never closes doors to trap anyone.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child forms a door beside the wheelchair and calls "Got you!" when the mouse passes.
• Autism: show a picture of the turn order ahead of time.
• More skilled mice crawl; less skilled cats chase holding your hand.

Learning goals

• Move while changing direction and ducking under arms.
• Follow the rules and take turns in a traditional game.
• Enjoy the game without fear of losing.

Teacher tip

Have the circle do the chanting so everyone stays involved even when not running. Choose shy kids as the first mice and pair them with a calm cat.

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