Grape Stomping at Harvest Time

Children live the grape harvest: they pick bunches of grapes (scarves) in the vineyard and carry them to the wine press (hoops), where they stomp the grapes on their heels, on tiptoe and marching in place. It works on different ways of stepping and on a local farming tradition.

How to play

1. We talk about the grape harvest and how people used to crush grapes with their feet; we spread hoops around the playground as the grape tubs (2 min).
2. We walk through the vineyard looking for grapes: scarves are on the ground and each child carries one to a tub with big steps (3 min).
3. Inside the hoop, we stomp the grapes with our heels, hard and slow, to get lots of juice (2 min).
4. Now we stomp on tiptoe and fast, as if the grapes were tickling us, while the music plays (3 min).
5. On the signal, we step out of the tub, walk backward to another empty hoop and keep stomping there (3 min).
6. We finish by toasting with pretend grape juice and stretching our tired legs (2 min).

Rules

• In the tub, stomp without jumping out.
• Two or three grape stompers fit in a hoop, no pushing.
• When the music stops, go find another tub.
• Walk backward looking over your shoulder.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: in a wheelchair, they stomp grapes with their hands on their knees, or with their feet if they can rest them on the floor.
• Visual impairment: give them one fixed hoop as a reference, with a classmate who tells them when to switch tubs.
• Autism: preview the harvest with pictures and give them their own hoop if close contact is overwhelming.

Learning goals

• Step on heels and on tiptoe in clearly different ways.
• Move backward safely.
• Learn about a local farming tradition.

Equipment for a class of 25

• hoops: 12
• purple scarves: 25
• music

Teacher tip

Grape stomping is a harvest tradition in Spain and many wine regions; ask if any family has seen it. Check that the hoops don't slide when stepped on to avoid slips.

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