Knock, Knock: Who Lives in This Box?

Each big box lying on its side is an animal's house; one child hides inside and, when the others call “Knock, knock,” comes out moving like the animal they picked, and everyone copies. It builds body expression and pretend play, and practices waiting your turn to come out.

How to play

1. We set the boxes on their sides around the yard with the openings facing out; the teacher is the first hidden animal (1 min).
2. Everyone knocks on the box: “Knock, knock, who lives here?” The teacher hops out like a frog and everyone hops like frogs (2 min).
3. In groups of five, one child hides in the group's house and secretly picks an animal (1 min).
4. The others knock, the animal comes out moving, and the group copies it around the yard until it says “Back home!” (6 min).
5. We switch the hidden animal until everyone has had a turn in the box (2 min).
6. All the animals crawl into their houses to sleep, with only their heads peeking out (1 min).

Rules

• I knock softly with my knuckles.
• Only one animal in the house at a time.
• When the animal comes out, we all copy it.
• If I don't want to go inside, I can come out from behind the house.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the house is a big open box next to the wheelchair to peek out from; the child acts out the animal with arms, face, and voice.
• Autism: the child may always choose the same animal and come out without the knocking if it feels like too much.
• Hearing impairment: the knockers also gently rock the box so the child can feel it.

Learning goals

• Act out an animal with the whole body.
• Copy a classmate's movements.
• Take turns going in and out of the house.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Large cardboard boxes: 5

Teacher tip

Washer or fridge boxes on their side are perfect. Put a cushion inside so kids don't bump themselves crawling in, and never close the flaps with someone inside.

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