Four Corners: May I Have Your House?
We adapt the traditional Spanish game 'las cuatro esquinas' (four corners): children live in houses (hoops), and those without a house ask 'May I have your house?' while the others keep swapping. It's a first traditional rule game with running and accepting being houseless for a bit.
How to play
- Scatter hoops around the playground, one per child minus three. The teacher explains that grandparents used to play this game in the street (2 min).
- The three without a house go from hoop to hoop asking 'May I have your house?' and the child inside answers 'Try the one across the way' (2 min).
- Meanwhile, children with houses signal each other to swap secretly; if a hoop is left empty, a houseless child can step in (4 min).
- On the drum, 'Moving day!': everyone swaps houses at once and someone different ends up without a house (3 min).
- Play another round with one hoop fewer for more movement (3 min).
- Sit down and count how many different houses we've had today (1 min).
Rules
- Only one child fits in each house.
- I ask 'May I have your house?' politely.
- Being without a house isn't losing: I keep playing and look for another.
- When we hear 'Moving day!', everyone swaps.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, play only the 'Moving day!' part with almost as many hoops as children and the teacher as the only houseless player.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, three houseless players and the traditional question.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, play with real four corners (cones at the corners of a square) in groups of five, like the original game.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: their house is a big fixed hoop; on moving day a buddy comes to swap with them together.
- Autism: they can have a colored house no one takes and leave it when they want to join in.
- Hearing impairment: also signal 'Moving day!' by circling your arms in the air.
Learning goals
- Learn and play a traditional local game.
- Move quickly, finding open spaces.
- Accept being without a house without feeling out.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Hoops: 22
- Hand drum: 1
Teacher tip
Stress that the houseless child keeps playing: it's a role, not a punishment. Space the hoops well so runs are short and collision-free.
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