In Under the Fabric, Out as Someone New

A few children hide under a big fabric while the group chants a made-up rhyme, and when the fabric lifts they come out transformed into the animal or character they chose. It plays with being gone and coming back, the thrill of disappearing and being found, and pretend transformation.

How to play

1. Sitting in a circle, we learn the chant: “Cloth, little cloth, who's hiding there? Lift the cloth, who's coming out of there?” (2 min).
2. Three or four children go under a fabric in the middle and silently decide what they'll become (3 min).
3. The circle says the chant, we lift the fabric and the hidden children come out moving like their animal or character while the circle guesses (3 min).
4. The whole group copies them for a little while, then three or four new children go under, until everyone has had a turn (2 min).
5. To finish, the whole class goes under several fabrics at once and comes out as anything they like (2 min).

Rules

• Under the fabric we wait quietly.
• We come out when the circle finishes the chant.
• We guess without laughing at anyone.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: drape the fabric over the wheelchair like a cape over the head and let the child lift it themselves.
• Autism: the child may keep their face outside the fabric and come out with a simple gesture.
• Hearing loss: pair the chant with a hand gesture that lifts and lowers the fabric.

Learning goals

• Enjoy the game of disappearing and reappearing.
• Express an animal or character with the body.
• Recognize and respect classmates' turns.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Large fabric pieces: 6
• Hand drum

Teacher tip

Use thin fabrics that let light through; little ones stay calm underneath if they can see brightness. Celebrate every appearance; for many children it's the highlight of the session.

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