My Box Is My Little House
Every child has an open box set somewhere in the yard that is their little house; while the music plays they walk and jog around the neighborhood, and when it stops they go back home and climb inside. It warms up the body and builds spatial awareness and memory for places.
How to play
- Each child picks a box, notices where it is (“mine is by the tree”), and sits inside to learn where they live (1 min).
- Music on: we leave home and stroll around the neighborhood; when it stops, we walk back to our little house and sit inside (1 min).
- Now we jog out and tiptoe back, super quiet so we don't wake the neighbors (1 min).
- We bunny-hop out and crawl back; when we get home, only our feet go in the box (1 min).
- The teacher calls “It's raining!” and everyone runs home and curls up inside; at “The sun is out!” we climb out stretching (1 min).
- One last slow lap around the neighborhood, then we sit in our box and wave hello to the neighbors (1 min).
Rules
- My house is always the same box.
- When the music plays, I leave my house.
- When the music stops, I go home without pushing.
- I don't step on other kids' houses.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, the boxes sit close together and each one has a colored scarf so it's easy to find.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, the boxes are spread across the whole yard and the way of moving changes each round.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, when the music stops the teacher calls “Moving day!” and children find the house to their right or a free house of a given color.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the child's house is a big hoop on the floor or a box turned on its side at wheelchair height, close to the main path.
- Autism: put the child's photo or drawing on their box and raise a hand as a warning right before the music stops.
- Hearing impairment: along with stopping the music, the teacher holds up a red card that means “go home.”
Learning goals
- Warm up the body with different ways of moving.
- Remember and find a place in the space again.
- Climb in and out of a box with control.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Medium cardboard boxes: 25
- Music
Teacher tip
Use low boxes (produce crates or copy-paper boxes) so kids can step in and out without tripping. Early on, some kids won't leave their box at all; that's fine. Go for a walk yourself and invite them out one by one.
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