Le Facteur: The French Mail Carrier Drops a Letter
We adapt "Le facteur n'est pas passé," a circle game from France: the mail carrier walks around the outside of the circle and drops a letter behind someone, who picks it up and goes around the circle after them. Children practice reacting quickly, moving around a circle and waiting their turn.
How to play
- Sitting in a circle, the teacher explains that kids in France play mail carrier and teaches the translated chant: "The mail carrier hasn't come, and never will: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday..." (2 min).
- The teacher is the mail carrier: walk around the outside with the envelope while everyone chants, then gently set it behind one child (2 min).
- That child checks behind, grabs the letter and speed-walks after the carrier; the carrier sits in the empty spot and the new carrier keeps going (2 min).
- Children take turns as carrier, changing how they go around: tiptoeing, hopping, waddling like penguins (2 min).
- Finish with the carrier delivering an "imaginary letter" to each friend with a gentle tap on the back while everyone breathes calmly (2 min).
Rules
- While sitting, peek behind you now and then.
- Go around the outside of the circle, never across it.
- No grabbing: just follow the carrier.
- Set the letter down, don't throw it.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, the carrier sets the letter in front of the child so they can see it, and everyone walks.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, the letter goes behind and children speed-walk around.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, they jog around and the carrier tries to sit before being caught.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: make the circle bigger so the wheelchair can go around, or the child is the mailbox who hands the letter to the next carrier.
- Visual impairment: when dropping the letter, the carrier gives a gentle tap on the shoulder.
- Autism: say how many rounds there will be and let the child watch one round seated before joining.
Learning goals
- React quickly to a signal.
- Move around a circle without cutting across.
- Learn about a traditional circle game from France.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Large envelope: 1
Teacher tip
A large cardstock envelope is easier to see than a scarf. Kids often cut across the middle; chalk a "mail route" around the outside.
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