Chameleons Hide by Color
Each child is a chameleon with a colored scarf; when the teacher shouts “Here comes the eagle!”, they run to hide on the big fabric of the same color and cover up with their scarf. It works on color recognition, finding your way in space and quick reactions.
How to play
- Spread big fabric pieces in four colors around the playground and give each child a scarf in one of those colors; look at where each color is (2 min).
- The chameleons stroll around with their scarves, walking slowly like chameleons and looking all around (2 min).
- The teacher shouts “Here comes the eagle!” with the drum: each chameleon runs to the fabric of their color, crouches on it and covers their back with the scarf as camouflage (4 min).
- Before each round, swap scarves with a classmate so the fabric you need to find changes (3 min).
- The eagle gets trickier: the teacher moves two fabrics while the chameleons have their eyes closed (2 min).
- The eagle flies far away and the chameleons stretch out in the sun on their fabric (1 min).
Rules
- Go to the fabric of your color.
- There's room for everyone: make space for friends.
- Run without pushing and slow down before you arrive.
- The eagle doesn't catch anyone: just hide.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, use only two colors and the teacher calls out “Reds, to the red one!”
Standard
For 4-year-olds, four colors and a scarf swap before each round.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, the teacher says how to get there (on all fours, jumping, walking backward) or flips it: “Go to a fabric that isn't yours!”
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the child's fabric is placed closer, or the child camouflages by covering up with the scarf in the wheelchair next to it.
- Visual impairment: use fabrics with different textures or a sound object on each, with matching-texture scarves to pair by touch.
- Color blindness: add a shape to each color (circle, star…).
Learning goals
- Recognize and match colors.
- Find your way in space to a specific spot.
- React quickly to a signal.
Equipment for a class of 25
- large colored fabric pieces: 4
- fabric scarves: 25
- hand drum
Teacher tip
Place the fabrics well apart with space around them to avoid collisions on arrival. The eagle never catches or eliminates anyone: the fun is hiding in time.
PatioLab has "Chameleons Hide by Color" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
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