I Run When the Paper Crunches
The teacher makes a newspaper sheet sound in different ways, and each sound means a different way to move. Children work on listening and reacting with their bodies.
How to play
- Sitting down, listen to the paper sounds: gently shaking, crumpling hard and slowly tearing (1 min).
- Give each sound a movement: shaking = tiptoe walk, crumpling = run, tearing = crawl very slowly (1 min).
- Play: the teacher makes a sound and everyone moves; when it's silent, freeze (1 min).
- The teacher switches sounds faster and faster, and we switch movements right away (1 min).
- Last round with eyes closed for a moment to listen better, then sit in a circle (1 min).
Rules
- Listen with your ears wide open.
- When it's quiet, we freeze.
- Run without touching friends.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, only two sounds: shaking to walk and crumpling to run.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, all three sounds, switching slowly.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, add a fourth sound (slapping the sheet = jump) and let a child be the paper conductor.
Adaptations
- Hearing impairment: the teacher makes the gesture high and clearly visible, and adds a colored card for each movement.
- Limited mobility: each sound matches an arm movement (flapping, circling, stretching) that can be done seated.
- Autism or noise sensitivity: the child can be the one making the sounds, so they can predict and control the volume.
Learning goals
- Tell apart different sounds from the same object.
- Respond with the body to a sound cue.
- Switch between movement speeds.
Equipment for a class of 25
- newspaper sheets: 5
Teacher tip
Practice the sounds with the group seated first, or the novelty takes over the game. Save the torn pieces to use later as paper snow.
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