One Elephant Went Out to Play
With the counting song "Un elefante se columpiaba," children walk like heavy elephants along a long rope that stands for a spider web and join an elephant train one by one. It works on balance while walking a line and gradually gets the whole group moving.
How to play
- The teacher lays a long rope on the ground in curves: it's the spider web. Children sit around it and learn the Spanish song ("One elephant was swinging on a spider's web; since the web held up, he went to call another elephant") (1 min).
- One child walks along the rope with heavy steps, swinging an arm like a trunk; at the end of the verse they call another elephant, who holds on to their waist (2 min).
- Sing "Two elephants…", "Three elephants…" as the train grows; to keep things moving, call two elephants at a time until everyone is on (2 min).
- When the whole herd is on the web, the teacher says "The web broke!" and everyone slowly drops to sit like tired elephants (1 min).
- Standing again, stretch your trunk (arm) up and out to the sides and shake off like elephants coming out of the river (1 min).
Rules
- Our feet stay on the rope, like on a spider web.
- In the train we hold the waist of the friend in front gently.
- When the web breaks, we sit down slowly, no flopping.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, lay the rope straight and walk beside it, stepping on it now and then; elephants join two at a time.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, lay the rope in gentle curves and each elephant walks on it.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, make tighter curves; elephants walk heel to toe and count out loud how many are on the web.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair moves alongside the rope with a friend holding the chair as the first car.
- Visual impairment: use a thick rope that can be felt underfoot, and the friend in front calls out the curves.
- Autism: the child can be the elephant who stands with the teacher counting the herd, or join the train whenever they're ready.
Learning goals
- Walk along a line while keeping balance.
- Count elephants up from one with the song.
- Move in a train, matching steps with a partner.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Long rope: 1
Teacher tip
This counting song is popular in Mexico and across the Spanish-speaking world, and it's perfect for warming the group up bit by bit. With 25 kids, call two or three elephants per verse so nobody sits waiting too long.
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