Lizards in the Sun
Team collecting game where lizards may only crawl to bring bugs back to their rock, and must freeze flat whenever the eagle appears. Students practice different crawling patterns, upper-body strength and body control.
How to play
- Place 5 mats (rocks) around the edge of the gym and scatter 40 bean bags (bugs) in the middle. Make 5 teams of 5, one per rock.
- Teach the first crawl: belly down, pulling with the forearms and pushing with the legs. Off the rock, this is the only way to move.
- On the signal, lizards bring back bugs one at a time, in a hand or on the back, and drop them on their rock.
- When the teacher calls 'Eagle!', everyone freezes flat for 5 seconds. Anyone who moves returns their bean bag to the middle.
- Play 3 rounds of 3 minutes, counting bugs after each and changing the crawl: on the back pushing with the feet, then a very low hands-and-feet lizard crawl.
Rules
- Off the rock, nobody stands up.
- One bug per trip, and never take one from someone else.
- On 'Eagle!', freeze immediately.
- Crawl looking forward to avoid bumping heads.
Variations
Easier
Allow hands-and-knees crawling and place bean bags closer to the rocks.
Standard
Three 3-minute rounds with a different crawl each round.
Harder
The bean bag rides on the back with no hands; if it falls, go back to the rock.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: collect bean bags with a grabber from the chair in a nearby zone, and be the eagle for a round.
- Deaf or hard of hearing: the eagle call also comes with a bright pinnie held up high.
- Fitness level: students who tire alternate crawling patterns; stronger students carry two bean bags.
Learning goals
- Crawl on the belly and back while coordinating arms and legs.
- Bring the body to a complete stop on a signal.
- Work with teammates toward a shared goal.
Equipment for a class of 25
- mats: 5
- bean bags: 40
Teacher tip
Check that the floor is clean and dry, and ask for long pants to protect elbows and knees. Vary the time between eagle calls so nobody anticipates.
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