Day Animals, Night Animals
Half the group are day animals (squirrels, birds, bees) and the other half night animals (owls, bats, hedgehogs): when the teacher shows the sun, day animals move and night animals sleep, and the other way around with the moon. Kids work on attention, waiting and moving like each animal.
How to play
- Sitting in a circle, the teacher shows the sun and moon and explains that some animals live by day and others come out at night; we act each one out together (3 min).
- We split the group: one half of the circle are squirrels and the other half are owls (1 min).
- The sun is up: squirrels hop and scurry while owls sleep sitting with eyes closed; the moon is up: owls fly slowly and squirrels curl into a ball (3 min).
- Switch animals: birds and bats, bees and hedgehogs (3 min).
- Final sunrise: all the animals wake up, say hello and go to sleep together in the circle (2 min).
Rules
- If it's not my time, I stay asleep and still.
- I move like my animal.
- I watch the teacher's sky: sun or moon?
- I don't wake up the sleepers.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, just one animal pair (squirrel and owl) and the teacher moves with the active group.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, three animal pairs, switching every few minutes.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, add sunset (sun half covered): everyone moves very slowly because some are going to sleep and others are waking up.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: acts out the animal with arms, head and sounds from the wheelchair.
- Visual impairment: the teacher says "Good morning!" or "Good night!" along with the card.
- Autism: give them a fixed cushion as a "nest" where they sleep and from which they go out to move.
Learning goals
- Respond to a signal by moving or staying still.
- Imitate how different animals move.
- Learn the difference between daytime and nighttime animals.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Sun card: 1
- Moon card: 1
- Music
Teacher tip
The hard part for little ones isn't moving, it's staying asleep while others play, so praise it out loud. Switch often so no one waits too long.
PatioLab has "Day Animals, Night Animals" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
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