Popcorn Circle

The circle closes in like a pot full of corn kernels, heats up by trembling and, on "Pop!", everyone jumps out like popcorn before going back into the pot. It builds jumping, closing and opening the circle, and switching from stillness to bursts of movement.

How to play

1. Standing in a circle holding hands, the teacher explains that the circle is a pot and we're the corn kernels (1 min).
2. The pot closes slowly: take tiny steps toward the middle and crouch down close together, like kernels in the pot (2 min).
3. The teacher turns on the heat: first we tremble a little, then bounce in a squat, hotter and hotter (2 min).
4. "Pop!": let go and jump out; the popcorn hops around the playground with feet together, each on their own (2 min).
5. "Back in the pot!": make the circle again and repeat with salty popcorn (small jumps) and sweet popcorn (big, high jumps) (2 min).
6. The popcorn cools down: lie on our backs very still around the pot (1 min).

Rules

• The pot closes slowly, no pushing.
• Popcorn jumps without bumping.
• When the teacher says "back in the pot!", we return to the circle.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair trembles and pops with their arms, and moves around the playground with the others.
• Autism: give a three-second countdown before "Pop!".
• Hearing impairment: pair "Pop!" with a big overhead clap from the teacher.

Learning goals

• Jump with feet together in place and while moving.
• Go from stillness to an explosive movement and back to calm.
• Open and close the circle in a coordinated way.

Teacher tip

Mark out a wide jumping area with nothing in the way around the circle. The typical mistake is pushing when the pot closes: practice "closing without touching the person in front" first.

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