«Pase Misí, Pase Misá»: Through the Arch

Two kids make an arch with their arms and the line passes underneath singing the traditional Spanish rhyme «Pase misí, pase misá, por la puerta de Alcalá» (a famous gate in Madrid). When the song ends, the arch gently catches whoever is inside and asks them to pick a fruit to join one side. It works on ducking under things, spatial awareness and taking turns.

How to play

1. The teacher and one child make the arch; everyone lines up and ducks under it while singing (2 min).
2. When the song ends, the arch slowly lowers its arms and catches whoever is inside like a cradle, rocking them (3 min).
3. The caught child is asked in secret «apple or banana?» and goes behind the arch-maker with that fruit, holding their waist (3 min).
4. Make several kid arches so everyone passes more often and two trains start to form (3 min).
5. The two fruit trains take a dancing lap around the yard and wave hello (2 min).
6. Sit down and count how many joined each fruit (1 min).

Rules

• Duck under, no running.
• The arch catches softly, like a cradle.
• Pick a fruit in secret and join that train.
• Nobody is left out: everyone ends up on a train.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: make the arch higher and wider for the wheelchair, rocking the caught child gently by the shoulders.
• Visual impairment: go through holding a buddy's hand, who warns when the arch is coming.
• Autism: they can be part of the arch with the teacher instead of going under.

Learning goals

• Pass under an obstacle by adjusting the body.
• Make a simple choice in the game.
• Learn a traditional Spanish arch game.

Teacher tip

Traditionally it ends with a tug-of-war between the trains; with little ones, swap it for a dance to avoid falls. Practice lowering the arms slowly with the arch kids before starting.

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