Planting Seeds in the Garden
Children are farmers who take seeds (beanbags) from the basket and run to plant them by tossing them into hoop gardens spread around the yard. They warm up by running and practice underhand tosses at a short distance.
How to play
- Spread the hoops around the yard (these are the gardens) and put the seed basket in the middle (1 min).
- Each farmer takes a seed, runs to a garden, stops in front of it and tosses it underhand into the hoop, then goes back for another (2 min).
- When the basket is empty, run to collect the seeds from the gardens and bring them back to the basket (2 min).
- Walk slowly through the gardens looking at how everything we planted has grown (1 min).
- Before finishing, each farmer waters their garden with their arms, stretching slowly up and down (1 min).
Rules
- Take one seed at a time.
- Stop in front of the garden before you toss.
- If the seed lands outside, pick it up and try again.
- Run without pushing the other farmers.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, stand right next to the hoop and drop the seed in with an underhand swing.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, toss from one step away, marked with chalk.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, toss from two steps away and plant in a different garden each time.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: place one hoop beside the child's chair and another a bit farther; a classmate brings the seeds.
- Visual impairment: put a drum or tray inside one hoop so the child hears when a seed lands.
- More skill: use smaller hoops or toss from farther away.
Learning goals
- Warm up with short runs.
- Toss underhand at a target on the ground.
- Take turns at the same garden.
Equipment for a class of 25
- beanbags: 25
- hoops: 8
- basket: 1
Teacher tip
Set out about one hoop for every three children so they don't crowd. Teach the underhand toss as "watering" with your arm swinging from back to front.
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