Stone Soup for the Whole Village
Based on the folktale Stone Soup, all children bring ingredients to one big shared pot in lots of different ways, alone and in pairs. It builds carrying skills, running and the idea that things turn out better when everyone helps.
How to play
- The teacher tells the folktale: a hungry traveler comes to a village and says he can make soup from a stone. Put the pot (the big hoop) in the middle with the stone (the cushion) inside (2 min).
- Scatter the balls along the edges of the playground: they are vegetables hidden in the village houses (2 min).
- To the drum, each villager fetches an ingredient and brings it to the pot in different ways: running, hopping, ball on the head, holding it between the elbows (4 min).
- Now in pairs: carry one ball together without using hands (tummy to tummy, back to back) to make the soup even tastier (4 min).
- Everyone stirs the soup around the pot with a pretend spoon, blows on it and tastes it: “Mmm, everyone's soup is delicious!” (2 min).
Rules
- We carry one ingredient at a time.
- We place the ball in the pot, we don't throw it.
- In pairs, if the ball falls, we pick it up and keep going.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, carry the ball in their hands, walking and running.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, add carrying it on the head or between the knees.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, carry in pairs without hands, and in threes.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the child carries balls on their lap, or is the cook who receives the balls and places them in the pot.
- Visual impairment: put a shaker or drum in the pot and have someone play it to guide them.
- Less confident movers: use bigger, softer balls for hands-free carrying.
Learning goals
- Carry objects in different ways.
- Work with a partner to carry something together.
- Value each person's contribution to the group.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Large hoop: 1
- Soft colored balls: 30
- Cushion or big ball: 1
- Hand drum: 1
Teacher tip
The more balls, the more everyone plays without waiting. At the end, count together how much soup you made; they love seeing the pot full.
PatioLab has "Stone Soup for the Whole Village" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
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