Firefighters Crawl Up to Rescue the Kitten
The bench hooked onto the wall bars is the fire truck ladder: kids crawl up, holding the edges, to rescue a stuffed kitten waiting at the top. It builds climbing an incline with hands and feet and helping others through pretend play.
How to play
- The teacher hooks each bench onto the second rung of the wall bars, places a crash mat at the same height beside the top end with the stuffed animals on it, and floor mats all around (2 min).
- Demo: we crawl up on hands and knees, hands gripping the bench edges, looking up (2 min).
- First practice climb: we go up, scoot across sitting onto the crash mat and slide down its side sitting, with an adult (3 min).
- Emergency! The siren goes off (we all go "wee-ooo") and each firefighter climbs up, grabs a kitten, slides down the crash mat holding it and takes it to the shelter (4 min).
- We bring the rescued kittens to their owners (another group of kids), who put them back up top with an adult's help, and then we switch roles (3 min).
Rules
- One at a time: the next one starts when the one at the top is sitting down.
- Hands always hold the edges of the ladder.
- We come down sitting, never standing or head first.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, the bench on the first rung, an adult climbs alongside, and the kitten is right at the top.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, the second rung and the full rescue.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, climb up crawling on the tummy instead of on hands and knees, or rescue two kittens in two trips.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the adult helps them go up sitting, scooting backward with their hands, or they run the shelter and receive the kittens.
- Autism: warn them before the siren and let them make it quietly or with a gesture.
- Visual impairment: an adult in front guides them by voice, and the crash mat has a textured edge.
Learning goals
- Crawl up an incline using hand grip.
- Move from one surface to another with control.
- Help and care for others in pretend play.
Equipment for a class of 25
- banco sueco: 2
- espaldera: 1
- colchoneta gruesa: 2
- colchonetas: 6
- peluches: 10
Teacher tip
Check that the bench hooks are firmly seated and the crash mat doesn't slide. Always keep an adult at the top: that's where kids bunch up and hesitate.
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