Snakes and Worms in the Grass
On mats, kids imitate a snake slithering on its belly and a worm that scrunches up and stretches out. It wakes up the whole body with crawling, rolling and stretching, and builds arm-leg coordination.
How to play
- Push the mats together into one big "grass" area. Children lie spread out on their tummies, shoes off if the floor allows.
- The teacher lies down and shows the snake: belly on the mat, pull forward with the arms while hissing "ssss." Everyone slithers for a minute and a half.
- Cue "Curl up, snake!": lie on your side and make a little ball. On a clap, "Stretch out, snake!": arms and legs super long. Repeat three times.
- Show the worm: on the back or tummy, scrunch by bending the knees and stretch by pushing with the feet. Be worms for a minute and a half.
- Cue "Here comes the sun!": everyone on their backs, stretch and slowly roll one way and the other, like worms sunbathing.
- Last minute: the teacher switches between "snakes!" and "worms!" and kids change their crawl without standing up.
Rules
- Crawl slowly and look where you're going.
- Never crawl over another child.
- No standing up in the grass until the teacher says so.
- Bare feet or grippy socks.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, just the snake and the curled-up snake.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, snakes and worms with slow switches.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, slither with a beanbag on the back without dropping it.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: pull with the arms only, or curl and stretch lying in place.
- Visual impairment: a buddy or the teacher guides with their voice and the mat area is smaller.
- More skilled kids slither backward; less skilled kids crawl on hands and knees.
Learning goals
- Crawl and slither coordinating arms and legs.
- Imitate how small animals move.
- Stretch and curl the body on the floor.
Equipment for a class of 25
- mats: 8
Teacher tip
Get down and show it yourself: kids love seeing the teacher slither and copy right away. Use the mats to mark a clear area so nobody ends up on the hard floor.
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