Stir the Hot Chocolate, Then Run!

A traditional Spanish chant in a circle: everyone stirs the hot chocolate with a whisk, and at the end the teacher says “Run, I’ll catch you!” and everyone runs off around the playground while the teacher playfully chases. It builds a general warm-up, running, and handling game excitement.

How to play

1. Children stand in a circle. Say the chant (“Chocolate, molinillo…”) while everyone mimes stirring with one arm, slowly at first (30 s).
2. Repeat stirring faster, then with the other arm, then with hips, as if the whole body were the whisk (1 min).
3. Say: “When I say Run, I’ll catch you!, we run all over the playground and I try to catch you.” Chase without really catching; if you touch someone, tickle their shoulder and keep going (30 s).
4. “Back to the circle!” Everyone returns, and the next round has a twist: stir while sitting, squatting, or on tiptoes (3 rounds, 2 min).
5. Last round: anyone who wants can be a chaser along with you (1 min).

Rules

• Run looking ahead, no pushing.
• If you get caught, you stay in: you just get a tickle.
• When you hear “Back to the circle,” walk back.
• Run only inside the marked area.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child can lead the chant or chase in a wheelchair; the running is at a slower pace.
• Shy kids or autism: play holding a buddy’s hand, or choose to help the teacher chase.
• More skilled kids change direction when you clap; less skilled kids run with small steps in a smaller area.

Learning goals

• Warm up the body with big movements and running.
• Enjoy a traditional chant as a group.
• Handle the excitement of being chased without fear.

Teacher tip

Ham up the chase and let them escape almost every time: the fun is the thrill, not the catch. Mark the boundaries before starting so nobody wanders off.

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