Orchard Day: Reach High, Squat Low
A pretend trip to the orchard: reach up on tiptoes for high apples, squat down for fallen ones (beanbags), and carry them to the baskets (hoops). It works mobility, active stretching, and carrying objects.
How to play
- Scatter beanbags on the floor and set four hoops in the corners as baskets. Children spread out: “Today we’re going to the orchard to pick apples.”
- “Apples way up high”: everyone stands on tiptoes, stretches one arm, then the other, and twists the wrist to pick them (1 min).
- “Apples on the side branches”: stretch to one side and then the other with feet still (1 min).
- “The wind blew and they fell!” Each child bends their knees, picks up one beanbag, and walks it to a basket. Keep going until none are left (2 min).
- Dump the baskets on the floor again and repeat, carrying apples a new way: on the head, on the back of the hand, or between the knees (1 min).
- Wrap-up: everyone sits, “eats an apple” with one big pretend bite, and says thanks for the harvest (30 s).
Rules
- Bend your knees to pick things up from the floor.
- Pick up one apple at a time.
- Walk the apples to the basket and put them in, no throwing.
- Keep space around you so you don’t bump when squatting.
Variations
Easier
Only pick up from the floor and carry by hand.
Standard
High and side stretches plus carrying by hand.
Harder
Carry on the head or between the knees, and take each color to a specific basket.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: you or a classmate place beanbags within reach, and the child carries them on their lap to the basket.
- Visual impairment: mark baskets with sound (clap next to them) and pair the child with a guide buddy.
- More skilled kids carry two apples at once without hands; less skilled kids use a closer basket and carry with both hands.
Learning goals
- Stretch the body up and to the sides.
- Squat by bending the knees to pick things up.
- Carry objects with different body parts.
Equipment for a class of 25
- beanbags: 20
- hoops: 4
Teacher tip
Tell the story with big gestures and model every stretch. Sorting beanbag colors into baskets adds an extra focus challenge for 5-year-olds.
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