Sticky Bubble Gum from Head to Toe
Children are bubble gum that stretches, rolls up and sticks to the floor or to another piece of gum with the body part the teacher calls. It works on stretching and body awareness.
How to play
- Everyone pretends to chew a giant piece of gum and turns into it: stretching up, out to the sides and down, very slowly (1 min).
- They dance around like soft gum, and on "Stuck by your hand!" they stick a hand to the floor and stretch the rest of the body without lifting it (1 min).
- Repeat with other parts: foot, knee, bottom, elbow (2 min).
- "Gum buddies!": children stick to a friend with the part the teacher calls (shoulder, back, hand) and dance together without coming apart (1 min).
- The gum rolls into a ball: curl up small on the floor and breathe (1 min).
Rules
- Gum stretches slowly, no yanking.
- If a part is stuck, it stays in place.
- I stick to my gum buddy gently.
- When the teacher says "Ball!", I curl up small.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, stick only hand, foot and bottom to the floor, and do gum buddies with the teacher.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, add elbow and knee, and dance in pairs stuck by the hands.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, stick two parts at once (hand and foot), and pairs choose where they stick.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the child sticks the named part to an armrest or table and stretches the rest from the chair.
- Autism: if a child doesn't want to stick to a classmate, they can stick to the wall or a cushion; touch is always optional.
- Visual impairment: the teacher names the part and gently touches it if needed; play in a clear space.
Learning goals
- Stretch different body parts with control.
- Identify and name body parts.
- Accept gentle contact with a classmate.
Teacher tip
Clearly model "stuck" versus "free": one part stays still while the rest stretches. Some kids just lie down flat; encourage them to stretch far away from the stuck point.
PatioLab has "Sticky Bubble Gum from Head to Toe" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More warm-ups for Elementary
«Ahora que Vamos Despacio»: The Silly-Fibs Stroll
We stroll very slowly singing the traditional Spanish song «Ahora que vamos despacio» («Now that we're going slowly, let's tell some fibs»), and on each «tralará» we…
«El Cocherito Leré»: The Hopping Carriage
We're carriages trotting around the yard, and on every «leré» in the traditional Spanish song «El cocherito leré» («the little coachman») we jump with feet together.
«Sal de Ahí, Chivita»: The Get-Out-Little-Goat Chain
The little goat won't leave the field, so in this traditional Spanish cumulative song we call the wolf, the dog, the stick, the fire, the water and the ox.
A Bandage Where I'm Tagged
A few children tag holding a scarf; anyone tagged puts on a “bandage” by placing a hand exactly where they were touched and keeps running that way, and after a second…
A Walk Through the Pole Forest
We stand plastic poles upright in cones with holes and the playground becomes a forest of tall trees.
Achoo, Into Your Elbow!
Children move around like animals and when the teacher goes “Ah… ah… achoo!”, they stop and hide their face in their elbow as if sneezing or coughing.