The Bear Went Over the Mountain
With the traditional "The Bear Went Over the Mountain," kids are bears climbing over a mountain of mats and benches to see what's on the other side. It works on climbing, crawling and balance on a simple course.
How to play
- Build the mountain: benches topped with mats, a rolled mat to climb, cones around it (2 min).
- Walk like bears on all fours around the yard while singing (2 min).
- Cross the mountain one at a time: climb up, crawl across, slide down on your bottom onto the mat (4 min).
- On the other side, each bear says what they see ("I can see… a tree!") and comes back around the cones (3 min).
- Change it up: cross the bench on tiptoes with a hand to hold, or crawl backward (2 min).
Rules
- One bear on top of the mountain at a time.
- Come down on your bottom—never dive.
- Wait in line until the bear ahead is down.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, a low mountain of mats only, with the teacher beside it.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, bench with a mat and a bottom slide down.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, walk across the bench balancing and climb down in a squat.
Adaptations
- A child with limited mobility crosses a lower mountain or rolls down a mat ramp with help.
- A blind or low-vision child crosses holding the teacher's hand with clear cues ("step up, now down").
- Kids afraid of heights always have a path around the mountain.
Learning goals
- Climb, crawl and come down safely.
- Balance on low raised surfaces.
- Enjoy a traditional English song.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Mats: 4
- Gym benches: 2
- Cones: 8
Teacher tip
An adult always stays next to the highest part. The song is short and repetitive—sing it while kids wait in line so the wait feels short.
PatioLab has "The Bear Went Over the Mountain" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
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