Lights Out in the Big House
The whole class sits on the floor tracing the outline of a big house with its roof, and each child is a lit window the teacher turns off with a gentle tap until the whole house is asleep. It's a cool-down built on stillness, quiet and the feeling of being part of something together.
How to play
- Sit on the floor side by side, tracing the walls of a big house (1 min).
- The rest close up the pointed roof and we hold hands with our neighbors (1 min).
- Each child is a window with the light on: hands open next to the face (1 min).
- The teacher tiptoes around and, with a gentle tap on the shoulder, turns off each light: close hands and eyes and lie down (2 min).
- The whole house sleeps; we listen to the quiet and the teacher wakes us one by one by name (1 min).
Rules
- I wait quietly for my light to be turned off.
- When it goes off, I close my eyes and lie down.
- In the sleeping house, no talking.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, a simple house (a square) and the teacher turns off lights two at a time.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, a house with a roof and lights turned off one at a time.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, a child whose light is already off gets up quietly and helps the teacher turn off the last lights.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the child is the front door from their wheelchair and turns off their light by lowering hands to their lap.
- Autism: warn the child about the shoulder tap, or swap it for whispering their name.
- Visual impairment: the friend next to them guides them by the hand to their spot in the house.
Learning goals
- Relax by going from sitting to lying down.
- Keep still and quiet as a group.
- Make a calm group shape.
Teacher tip
Mark the house outline with tape or chalk before the session so kids settle quickly. Speak very softly: if you whisper, they will too.
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