Harbor Cranes

Children become harbor cranes that walk around, lower their hook-arm, grab a beanbag and unload it onto a ship (hoop). It builds controlled grasping and releasing while moving.

How to play

1. The teacher shows the crane: arm straight, hand shaped like a hook, "down, grab, up" with a beanbag (1 min).
2. Everyone walks around as cranes, humming "mmmmm" while the drum plays (1 min).
3. When the drum stops, each crane lowers, picks up a beanbag, lifts it slowly and carries it to a hoop ship (2 min).
4. Switch hooks: now the crane uses the other hand, then two fingers as a pincer (1 min).
5. To finish, the cranes unload every beanbag into the ships and power down by lowering the arm very slowly (1 min).

Rules

• Cranes go down and up slowly so the load doesn't fall.
• The beanbag is placed inside the ship, not thrown.
• Drum playing: the crane walks. Drum stops: the crane works.
• Each crane carries one beanbag at a time.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: put the beanbags on a table or bench at the child's height and the ship in their lap or beside them.
• Autism: draw the three steps "down, grab, up" on a card and show it before each change.
• Deaf or hard of hearing: along with the drum, raise a scarf for "walk" and lower it for "work."

Learning goals

• Grasp and release objects with control while moving.
• Alternate both hands and the finger pincer grip.
• Warm up the body with easy walking and stops.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Beanbags: 25
• Hoops: 6
• Hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

Spread the beanbags far from the hoops so there's a path to travel. Kids tend to toss the beanbag at the hoop; ask the crane to "land" its load gently.

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