Tall as the Moon: Grow and Shrink Circle
A traditional circle game sung to "Quisiera ser tan alta" (Spanish song about wishing to be as tall as the moon, title only) where the group grows huge and shrinks tiny without letting go. Kids explore high and low levels, body control, big and small, and moving together.
How to play
- Children hold hands in a circle. While singing, the circle walks around (1 minute).
- At the end of the song, call "Tall as the moon!": everyone goes up on tiptoes, arms up, still holding hands, stepping back to make a huge circle. "Small as a seed!": step in and crouch down.
- Alternate tall and small several times, first slowly, then fast. Add a middle level: "Like a table!" with bent knees and a flat back (3 minutes).
- Growing circle: count from 1 to 5 and on each number everyone rises a little until they are on tiptoes; then count back down from 5 to 1 (2 minutes).
- Taking turns, two kids step into the middle and choose "tall" or "small": the circle copies them. Switch every time the song repeats (3 minutes).
- Finish without holding hands: everyone becomes a seed on the floor and grows very slowly like a plant until they touch the moon (1 minute).
Rules
- Keep holding hands when going up or down.
- If someone falls, the circle stops and waits.
- Walk backward slowly and watch your neighbor.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, use only tall and small, with no middle level, and hold the teacher's hand.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, use tall, small, and table, alternating with the song.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, use quick mixed calls: "Tall circle, small bodies" means a big circle but crouched down.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: from the wheelchair, arms up for "tall" and hugged in for "small."
- Autism: if holding hands is hard, the child can hold one end of a scarf while a neighbor holds the other.
- More skilled kids lead from the middle; less skilled kids stand next to you to copy.
Learning goals
- Show high, middle, and low levels with their bodies.
- Control balance on tiptoes and when crouching.
- Move in sync with the group in a traditional circle game.
Teacher tip
Exaggerate the levels yourself: stretch all the way up on tiptoes and curl into a ball. The moon and seed images help more than the words high and low.
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