Newspaper Stuck to My Chest
Each child puts a newspaper sheet on their chest and runs without holding it, so the air keeps it stuck there. Children practice continuous running and discover that if they run fast, the paper doesn't fall.
How to play
- Hand out an open sheet of newspaper to each child; they touch it, wave it and listen to it (1 min).
- The teacher shows the trick: put the sheet on your chest, start running and let go; children try it walking and see it fall (1 min).
- Try it running in a straight line to the wall: if you run fast, the sheet stays on by itself (2 min).
- When the drum plays, change it up: run in a circle, zigzag, or carefully backward and see what the paper does (1 min).
- Slow down little by little, pick up the sheet and fold it for the next activity (1 min).
Rules
- Put the sheet on your chest, then let go with your hands.
- If it falls, pick it up and try again. That's okay!
- Look ahead, not at the paper, so you don't bump into anyone.
- When the drum plays loud, we stop.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, keep one hand near the sheet in case it falls and run only in straight lines.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, no hands, and try straight lines and big curves.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, try half a sheet (harder to keep on) and zigzag turns.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a classmate pushes the wheelchair quickly and the sheet stays on too; the child checks with free hands.
- Visual impairment: run holding an adult's hand along a clear straight path and feel the air pressing the paper.
- Less confident runners: start with fast walking and stick the sheet to the shirt with a small piece of tape.
Learning goals
- Run continuously while looking ahead.
- Discover the link between speed and keeping the paper on.
- Warm up the body in a fun way at the start of the session.
Equipment for a class of 25
- newspaper sheets: 25
- hand drum: 1
Teacher tip
Use a wide playground on a calm day: a headwind helps, a tailwind blows it off. The typical mistake is running while looking down at the sheet, so say "Look at the wall, not the paper."
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