Farmers Herd the Piglets Home
The balls are piglets that ran off across the farm, and the farmers dribble them back to the pen with their feet. Children practice dribbling in a cooperative pretend-play game.
How to play
- Make a pen with ropes in the middle; the teacher lets the piglets loose all over the playground (2 min).
- Each farmer dribbles one piglet to the pen and goes back for another (4 min).
- The wolf (the hand drum) comes near: on a loud beat, step on your piglet to protect it (3 min).
- The piglets escape again and we repeat, this time with the other foot (4 min).
- Count the piglets in the pen and give them pretend food (2 min).
Rules
- Piglets are moved with my foot, never booted.
- I bring one piglet at a time.
- When the wolf comes, I step on my piglet and freeze.
- I help a friend whose piglet runs away.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, a big pen close by; using a hand is fine if the piglet rolls far.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, a pen in the middle and the wolf signal.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, several colored pens, and each piglet goes to the pen of its color.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: move the piglet with a pool noodle or push it from the wheelchair.
- Hearing loss: announce the wolf by raising a card as well as the drum.
- Less coordination: big, slow balls that don't roll far.
Learning goals
- Dribble the ball with the foot to a destination.
- Stop the ball on a signal.
- Work together on a group task.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Soft balls: 30
- Ropes: 4
- Hand drum: 1
Teacher tip
Say "oink, oink" as you release the balls: they love it and get into character. The usual mistake is kicking the piglet far; remind them that a kicked piglet gets scared and runs away.
PatioLab has "Farmers Herd the Piglets Home" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
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