Showing My Stuffed Animal Around the Room
Each child gives their stuffed animal a tour of the room: they take it to the mat, walk it along the bench, send it through the tunnel and tell it what's there. Children explore the new space and equipment at their own pace, with the toy as a brave little buddy.
How to play
- In a circle, the teacher introduces their stuffed animal: "It's her first day and she's a little scared. Should we show her the room?" (1 min).
- Take the stuffed animal to the mat: roll it, bounce it and lay it down, then roll ourselves (3 min).
- Walk the stuffed animal along the top of the bench, holding it while we walk beside it (2 min).
- The stuffed animal goes into the fabric tunnel; push it through and, if you want, crawl in after it (3 min).
- Each child takes their stuffed animal to their favorite spot in the room and shows the teacher (2 min).
- Back in the circle, ask the stuffed animals what they thought of the room (1 min).
Rules
- The stuffed animal always stays with its owner; no throwing.
- We wait for our friend to come out of the tunnel before going in.
- If a place feels scary, the stuffed animal tries it first.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, try only the mat and the tunnel, with the teacher at each station.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, visit all four stations and let the child pick the order.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, the child makes up a path around the room for their stuffed animal and then follows it themselves.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the stuffed animal does the stations in the child's hands, and a classmate or adult brings them to each one.
- Autism: show photos of the four stations first and always visit them in the same order.
- Less confident children: they can watch and move only the stuffed animal; they don't have to go in the tunnel.
Learning goals
- Explore the room's equipment calmly.
- Overcome fear of new spaces with the help of a familiar object.
- Move in different ways: rolling, walking, crawling.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Stuffed animals from home: 25
- Mats: 4
- Fabric tunnel: 1
- Gym benches: 2
Teacher tip
The stuffed animal is the one who's "scared," so children can talk about fear without owning it. Let them explore without rushing; not everyone has to try everything.
PatioLab has "Showing My Stuffed Animal Around the Room" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More main activities for Elementary
"Al Pasar la Barca" Parachute Rowing
Sitting around the parachute, children row by pulling the fabric toward them and letting it go toward the middle to the rhythm of the traditional Spanish song "Al pasar…
"Corro de la Patata" Parachute Circle
Children circle with the parachute while singing the traditional Spanish song "Al corro de la patata" (Potato Circle), and on "achupé, achupé" everyone sits down…
"El Patio de Mi Casa" Parachute Song
Children sing the traditional Spanish ring song "El patio de mi casa" while circling with the parachute and lowering it to the ground on "agáchate" (squat down).
"Que Llueva" Parachute Rain
Using the traditional Spanish children's song "Que llueva, que llueva" (Let It Rain), children make rain, clouds and sun with the parachute, and some hide underneath as…
«A la Zapatilla por Detrás»: The Slipper Behind Your Back
Sitting in a circle with eyes covered, one child walks around the outside with a slipper singing the traditional Spanish rhyme «A la zapatilla por detrás» («the…
«A Tapar la Calle»: The Chain That Blocks the Street
Half the class forms a hand-in-hand chain that walks forward singing the traditional Spanish song «A tapar la calle» («Block the street so nobody passes»), while the…