Don't Wake the Basket

A basket is sleeping in the middle, and children in a circle tiptoe up and toss their paper ball very carefully so they don't wake it. It brings the energy down while working on fine force control.

How to play

1. Sit in a circle around the sleeping basket, each child holding a paper ball (1 min).
2. The teacher names a child, who tiptoes up and tosses the ball very softly underhand so it lands without a sound (2 min).
3. If the basket "wakes up" (makes noise), everyone says "Shhh" and the next child tries even more softly (2 min).
4. When all the balls are sleeping inside, cover the basket with a cloth and say goodbye in whispers (1 min).
5. Tiptoe back to your spot and take three very slow breaths (1 min).

Rules

• Tiptoe quietly.
• Toss when the teacher says your name.
• Very gently: the basket is sleeping.
• Everyone else watches quietly.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: bring the basket to the child's spot and they toss sitting down.
• Visual impairment: the teacher taps the edge of the basket softly so the child can hear where it is.
• Autism: the child can go first to avoid a long wait, or choose to just watch.

Learning goals

• Calm down after activity.
• Control force in very soft tosses.
• Respect the group's silence and turns.

Equipment for a class of 25

• paper balls: 25
• basket: 1

Teacher tip

Line the basket with a cloth or tissue paper so the balls barely make a sound. With a large group, have two children toss at once from opposite sides of the circle.

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