Doña Blanca and the Bumblebee
A traditional Mexican ring game in which the circle forms the "pillars of gold and silver" that protect Doña Blanca, while the jicotillo (a bumblebee) looks for the pillar that breaks so he can get in. The group works together to hold the circle and enjoys a short chase in which nobody is out.
How to play
- Hold hands in a circle: we are the pillars. One child is Doña Blanca in the middle, and another is the jicotillo outside. The teacher explains that a jicote is a bumblebee and shows how it buzzes (2 min).
- Sing while circling the Spanish song ("Doña Blanca is surrounded by pillars of gold and silver; we'll break a pillar to see Doña Blanca. Who's that bumblebee chasing Doña Blanca? I am, I am!") (3 min).
- The bumblebee buzzes around and touches a pair of joined hands: "What is this pillar made of?" The pillars answer "gold," "silver," "iron"… until at some point "paper!" and that pillar opens (4 min).
- Doña Blanca slips out of the gap and runs one lap around the circle with the buzzing bumblebee behind her. When she's back in the middle, the circle closes and everyone claps (3 min).
- Choose new characters and, at the end, we're all bumblebees buzzing around the yard and slowly landing on the ground as if on a flower (2 min).
Rules
- The pillars hold on until they say "paper!"
- The bumblebee touches hands but never pulls arms.
- Doña Blanca runs just one lap and goes back home to the middle.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, the teacher is the bumblebee and picks the paper pillar; Doña Blanca walks quickly instead of running.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, one child bumblebee and one child Doña Blanca, switching each time through the song.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, run two circles at once, or two bumblebees and two Doña Blancas in a big circle, with the pillars secretly deciding which one is paper.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair can be Doña Blanca, leaving through a wide gap and going around with help, or a pillar holding classmates' hands.
- Hearing impairment: the teacher shows a white card for the paper pillar as well as saying it.
- Autism: preview the three roles (pillars, Doña Blanca, bumblebee) with pictures and let the child choose.
Learning goals
- Hold the circle together by cooperating with classmates.
- Learn a traditional Mexican ring game and its characters.
- Enjoy the thrill of a chase without fear of being out.
Teacher tip
"Jicote" comes from Nahuatl and means bumblebee; "en pos de" means "after" or "chasing." The lyrics vary by region, so if families know another version, use it. Make it clear the chase is only one lap so nobody gets overwhelmed.
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