Cock-a-Doodle-Doo! The Barnyard Wakes Up
The teacher is the rooster, and each “cock-a-doodle-doo!” wakes up a barnyard animal, from the slowest to the fastest: cow, duck, piglet, horse and chicks. The body warms up little by little by moving like each animal.
How to play
- We're all curled up asleep in the barnyard, and the rooster-teacher crows for the first time: the cows wake up and walk slowly on all fours (1 min).
- Second crow: the ducks waddle in a squat, flapping their wings (1 min).
- Third crow: the piglets trot and roll in the mud (1 min).
- Fourth crow: the horses gallop all over the playground (1 min).
- Last crow: the chicks do quick little hops and peep, then everyone goes back to the barnyard to say hi to the rooster (2 min).
Rules
- Stay asleep until you hear “cock-a-doodle-doo!”
- Each animal moves its own way.
- Horses gallop through the open spaces without bumping.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, three animals (cow, dog, horse), with the teacher doing every animal along with them.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, five animals in order from slowest to fastest.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, a child plays the rooster and picks which animal wakes up; the others figure out the speed order.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: show each animal with arms, head and sound from the chair.
- Hearing impairment: the rooster holds up a picture card of the animal while crowing.
- Autism: show the animal cards in order beforehand and keep them visible.
Learning goals
- Increase intensity gradually.
- Imitate animal movements.
- Wait for the sound cue to start.
Teacher tip
Make the crow very dramatic, with wings and a stretched neck: it's both the signal and the fun part. The usual mistake is everyone running from the first crow, so really show how slowly the cow walks.
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