Shrinking Newspaper Islands

Each child has a newspaper island; while the music plays they swim in the sea, and when it stops they go back to their island, which gets folded smaller each time. Children work on balance on shrinking surfaces, and no one is ever out.

How to play

1. Each child lays an open sheet on the floor: that's their island. Practice stepping on and off (1 min).
2. The music plays and we swim in the sea with our arms; when it stops, everyone goes back to their island (3 min).
3. Fold the island in half and keep playing: now both feet fit together (3 min).
4. Fold it again: find a way to stay on it, on tiptoe, on one foot, or with just one foot (3 min).
5. Last island, a tiny one: a toe or a hand on it counts. Sit down and unfold the island to see how big it was (2 min).

Rules

• Everyone goes back to their own island.
• If your feet don't fit, find another way: one foot, tiptoe or a hand.
• No one is out; there's always room on your island.
• In the sea, don't step on any islands.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the island goes on a table or in the lap, and the child puts their hands on it when the music stops.
• Autism: mark the child's island with a sticker in their color and raise a hand before each fold as a warning.
• Less balance: lean on a friend's shoulder or the wall when the island gets very small.

Learning goals

• Keep balance on smaller and smaller surfaces.
• Find different body solutions to the same challenge.
• React when the music stops.

Equipment for a class of 25

• newspaper sheets: 25
• music

Teacher tip

Paper slides on smooth floors, so play outside, on carpet or mats, or tape the island down. Keep repeating that nobody is out; the challenge is figuring out how to stay on.

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