Rescuing the Lost Penguin
In pairs, explorers rescue a lost penguin (a stuffed animal) and carry it to the igloo across the polar ice: jumping the ice floes hand in hand, helping each other over the crevasse, crawling under the ice bridge and climbing the iceberg. At the end, everyone tosses snowballs to cover the igloo.
How to play
- Sitting down, the teacher shows the polar course: ice floes (hoops close together), crevasse (gym bench), ice bridge (tables to crawl under), iceberg (foam wedge with mats) and igloo (a box) (2 min).
- With one child as a partner, the teacher shows how to help: jump hoop to hoop holding hands, hold the hand of whoever is crossing the bench from the floor, and wait for each other at the end of each station (2 min).
- In pairs, one child carries the penguin under an arm and both do the course together until it's safe in the igloo (5 min).
- Switch roles: now the other partner carries the penguin and they rescue it again (4 min).
- Everyone gathers around the igloo and tosses snowballs (rolled-up socks) to cover it so the penguins stay warm (2 min).
- Say goodbye to the penguins with a partner hug (1 min).
Rules
- Partners stick together: if one waits, the other waits too.
- At the crevasse, one crosses while the other holds their hand from the floor.
- One pair at a time on the iceberg.
- Snowballs go on the igloo.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, play in threes with an adult nearby and make the crevasse a rope on the floor.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, pairs use the gym bench and a small wedge.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, pairs jump the floes without letting go, and both carry the penguin together, one hand each.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the pair takes the shoreline route beside the course and the child in a wheelchair carries the penguin in the lap.
- Visual impairment: the partner goes first describing each station, and the igloo has a bell.
- Autism: keep a fixed partner the child trusts and preview the role switch with a card.
Learning goals
- Link jumping, balancing, crawling and low climbing.
- Help a partner and accept help.
- Throw at a target with two hands and with one.
Equipment for a class of 25
- aros: 8
- banco sueco: 1
- mesas: 3
- cuña de gomaespuma: 1
- colchonetas: 4
- peluches: 12
- calcetines enrollados: 25
- caja: 1
Teacher tip
Set up pairs ahead of time and match similar paces. Rolled-up socks are perfect snowballs: they don't hurt and don't roll far. Watch the tables so two children don't squeeze into the same gap.
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