Little Ants Carry the Food
Kids are little ants carrying food from the field to their anthill, moving beanbags in different ways: in a hand, on the head, on the back while crawling. Children practice carrying objects, balance, and working together.
How to play
- Scatter lots of beanbags on one side of the gym (the field) and place 4 hoops on the other side (the anthills). Each child picks an anthill (1 min).
- Round one: "Little ants, go find food!" Kids walk over, pick up a beanbag in one hand, and drop it in their hoop. Then go back for another (3 min).
- On a tambourine tap, change how they carry it: on the head with no hands, on a shoulder, on the back of the hand (3 min).
- Crawling ants: the beanbag rides on the back while kids crawl slowly on hands and knees. If it falls, stop, put it back, and go on (3 min).
- Partner round: two ants carry one beanbag held gently between their hands (3 min).
- Finish: the teacher is a sleeping anteater; the ants tiptoe and quietly return all the food to the field (2 min).
Rules
- Carry one beanbag per trip.
- If it falls, stop and put it back.
- Walk or crawl, no running, and watch the other ants.
- Don't take food from other anthills.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, always carry it in a hand or hugged, with the field close to the anthills.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, carry it on the head and on the back while crawling.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, carry two beanbags at once (head and shoulder) or walk along a rope on the floor.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: carry the beanbag on the lap or the wheelchair armrest along a wide path.
- Autism: tape the path on the floor and keep the same anthill for that child every time.
- Skill levels: confident kids carry it on a knee while hopping a few steps; kids who need support can hold it with one hand.
Learning goals
- Carry an object on different body parts without dropping it.
- Keep balance while moving slowly.
- Work with a partner to carry something together.
Equipment for a class of 25
- bean bags: 40
- hoops: 4
- tambourine: 1
Teacher tip
Tell a tiny story to start: winter is coming and the ants are storing food. Switch the carry every few minutes even if kids are into it; novelty keeps attention.
PatioLab has "Little Ants Carry the Food" and 4199 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More main activities for Elementary
1-on-1 Mini Volleyball Up and Down the River
One-on-one mini volleyball duels on 3 x 3 m courts under a rope 2 m high, using a receive, self-set and send rule.
1-on-1 Side-Step Square Duels
In pairs, inside 5 x 5 m squares, an attacker holding a football tries to get from the starting side to the far side without the defender pulling a flag.
1v1 Four-Gate Soccer Duels
In a square with a gate on each side, two players go head to head and score by dribbling through any of the four gates.
2-on-2 Mini Volleyball with a Neutral Setter
Two-on-two mini volleyball with a neutral setter under the rope who always plays for the team with the ball.
2v1 Attack Waves to Mini Goals
Two attackers take on one defender and try to score on a small goal in under 10 seconds.
2v2 Alley Mini-Volleyball
A 2v2 mini-volleyball game on a very long, narrow court, about 33×10 feet, where the only way to win a point is by playing for depth: short near the net or deep to the…