Dunes, Scorpions and a Sandstorm
A team of explorers crosses the desert: walking on burning sand, climbing up and down dunes, dodging scorpions and huddling together under a big tent during a sandstorm. It works different ways of moving for different terrain and staying calm as a group after an intense moment.
How to play
- We're explorers: put on your hat and pull a scarf over your face and head into the desert. The sand is hot, so walk quickly on tiptoes, lifting feet high (2 min).
- We find dunes (mats in a row): go up and down them log-rolling or on hands and knees, whichever you like (3 min).
- Scorpions! When the teacher calls “scorpion!”, jump backward three times with feet together to get away, then keep walking (3 min).
- A sandstorm blows in: the drum beats very fast and the wind pushes us; run with eyes squinted and a hand over the mouth to the tent (3 min).
- The tent is the parachute: two adults hold it high, everyone gets underneath, sits close together and waits for the storm to pass while the teacher tells it (2 min).
- The sun comes out: leave the tent, shake the sand off your whole body and drink from your canteen (2 min).
Rules
- On the dunes, one goes up and one comes down, no crashing.
- Don't step on scorpions: jump away.
- In the storm, find the tent without pushing.
- There's room for everyone under the tent: make space.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, skip the scorpions; crawl up the dunes and keep the storm short and gentle.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, play dunes, scorpions and storm as described.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, scorpions come from one side (right or left) and children jump the opposite way; everyone lifts the parachute together to put up the tent.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the child in a wheelchair goes under the tent first and warns of scorpions with the drum.
- Autism: preview the storm and let the child wait in the tent from the start, with the parachute edge lifted to see out.
- Hearing impairment: announce the storm by waving arms and the scorpions with a red card.
Learning goals
- Adapt movement to different “terrains.”
- Respond to a cue with a backward jump.
- Stay calm as a group after an intense moment.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Floor mats: 5
- Play parachute: 1
- Hand drum: 1
Teacher tip
You need two adults to hold the parachute during the storm; on your own, use a big mat as the shelter. Lower your voice under the tent: the contrast between running and silence is what settles the group.
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