Mother Duck and Her Ducklings
The teacher is Mother Duck and the group are the ducklings. On her signal, the ducklings waddle far away to explore the pond or hurry back close to Mother Duck, then follow her in a line. Kids practice near and far, behind and in line, and listening for the signal.
How to play
- Everyone crouches around you like ducklings. Say: “I'm Mother Duck. When I say ‘Go explore!’ you go far away. When I say ‘Quack, quack, ducklings!’ you come back really close to me.”
- “Go explore!”: ducklings waddle far away, near the wall or fence. “Quack, quack, ducklings!”: they come back and crouch close to Mother Duck. Repeat, changing your spot each time (4 min).
- “Ducklings in a line!”: they line up behind Mother Duck and follow, copying what she does: wings flapping, big steps, crouching (3 min).
- New call: “Far from Mother Duck, but close to a friend.” Kids pair up far away from you (2 min).
- To finish, three or four kids play Mother Duck with a small group of ducklings at the same time, while you give the calls for everyone (3 min).
Rules
- Waddle like ducks, no fast running.
- When you come back to Mother Duck, make room for everyone without pushing.
- In line, don't touch or step on the child in front.
- No one leaves the playground when going far.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, only far and near, with you staying in one spot.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, Mother Duck moves around and the line is added.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, add “in front of Mother Duck,” “next to Mother Duck,” and “far from Mother Duck but close to a friend.”
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: shorten the distances, or let the child be Mother Duck while the others come to them.
- Autism or shyness: the child can hold Mother Duck's or a buddy's hand the whole game.
- Skill level: skilled kids waddle in a squat like real ducklings; kids who get tired can walk normally.
Learning goals
- Tell near and far apart in relation to a person.
- Line up behind someone and follow their movements.
- Respond to a spoken signal by changing how they move.
Teacher tip
Move around often so kids have to find you. On the playground, show them beforehand how far is too far.
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