The Beanbag Listens: Up, Down, In Front, Behind

Each child moves around with a beanbag and, on the signal, places it where the teacher says: up over the head, down on the floor, in front of or behind the body. It builds basic spatial concepts using their own body as the reference point.

How to play

1. Walk holding the beanbag, following the drum (1 min).
2. Drum tap and "Up!": lift the beanbag over your head (1 min).
3. "Down!": put it on the floor, pick it back up and keep going (1 min).
4. "In front!" and "Behind!": set it on the floor in front of or behind your feet (1 min).
5. Mix all four calls and add "Beside!" (1 min).
6. Finish standing still with the beanbag wherever you like and tell us where it is (1 min).

Rules

• I wait to hear the word before moving the beanbag.
• The beanbag goes where the teacher says.
• I move without bumping.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: in a wheelchair, the beanbag goes up, on the knees, in front or on the floor beside the chair.
• Hearing loss: each call has a set gesture (hand up, hand down, hand forward, hand behind the back).
• Visual impairment: the child says out loud where they put the beanbag and checks it with their hand.

Learning goals

• Understand up, down, in front and behind.
• Use their own body as a spatial reference.
• Respond to a spoken direction.

Equipment for a class of 25

• beanbags: 25
• hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

Turn your back to the group when demonstrating in front and behind so they don't get mixed up mirroring you. Go slowly; the usual mistake is calling the next direction before everyone has placed their beanbag.

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