The Camel Carries Its Load

Children are camels crossing the desert carrying a tightly sealed rice bag on different body parts: on their back while crawling, on their head, shoulder or hand. It builds noticing where an object weighs, balance and postural control.

How to play

1. Each camel takes their bag and weighs it in the hand, then on the head: “Where do you feel it more?” (2 min).
2. Crawling camels: the bag on the back, strolling the desert without dropping it (3 min).
3. Standing camels: the bag on the head, walking slowly between the cones (3 min).
4. Carry it on the shoulder, on the back of the hand and on the foot, walking or sliding the foot (3 min).
5. Reach the oasis (ropes in a circle), set down the load and stretch your back while sipping pretend water (3 min).

Rules

• If the bag falls, pick it up and keep going, no grumbling.
• Camels go slowly: it's a long trip.
• Each camel carries their own load.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the bag rides on the lap, shoulder or hand while someone pushes the wheelchair or the child moves on their own.
• Visual impairment: a buddy walks alongside describing the desert and tapping their shoulder for turns.
• Autism: mark the route with tape on the floor so the path is always the same.

Learning goals

• Feel an object's weight on different body parts.
• Keep balance while carrying a load.
• Reach a small goal: get to the oasis without dropping the bag.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Sealed rice bags: 25
• Cones: 8
• Ropes: 2

Teacher tip

Use double-zip freezer bags, one inside another and taped: about 7 oz of rice is plenty. Check that no bag has opened at the end.

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