The Bunnies' Growing Meadow

Children are bunnies who hop out of their burrow, next to the teacher, into a meadow marked with ropes that gets bigger every round. It builds two-footed jumping and moving away from the adult little by little, with a clear boundary.

How to play

1. The bunnies sleep in the burrow (two mats pushed together) with the teacher; the meadow is marked with ropes very close by (1 min).
2. The teacher says "The sun is up!" and the bunnies hop out with feet together around the small meadow (2 min).
3. The teacher taps the drum and says "Back to the burrow!": hop back and curl up (1 min).
4. The teacher moves the ropes out: the meadow is bigger, and we hop out to nibble pretend carrots (3 min).
5. Last round with a really big meadow: hop, sniff flowers and come back when the drum sounds (3 min).
6. The bunnies fall asleep in the burrow, breathing through their noses like bunnies (2 min).

Rules

• We hop only inside the meadow, not past the ropes.
• When we hear the drum, we go back to the burrow.
• In the burrow we curl up without squishing anyone.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the bunny moves however they can (crawling, scooting or in a wheelchair), and the ropes lie flat so no one trips.
• Autism: mark the meadow edge with brightly colored ropes and announce before it grows.
• Hearing impairment: the sun is a yellow scarf held up, and the burrow call is the teacher crouching with open arms.

Learning goals

• Jump continuously with feet together.
• Move away from the adult within clearly marked boundaries.
• Return to base at a signal.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Ropes: 4
• Mats: 2
• Hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

Tape the ropes to the floor so they don't tangle around feet. No wolf and no scares: during the transition period, going home is cued by the drum, not by fear.

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