The Chestnut Seller Fills Her Paper Cones
Children gather chestnuts (beanbags) in the woods and carry them to the chestnut seller’s stands in trickier and trickier ways: in a hand, on the head and on the back while crawling. It builds balance on the move and teamwork to fill every paper cone.
How to play
- Scatter the beanbags in the woods (one end of the playground) and set out five baskets, the paper cones, at the other end; the teacher shows each way to carry a chestnut (2 min).
- First harvest: everyone picks up a chestnut, jogs it to any cone and goes back for another (3 min).
- The chestnuts go back to the woods and now we carry them on our head or shoulder, walking slowly without touching (3 min).
- Squirrel chestnuts: the chestnut rides on your back while you crawl; if it falls, put it back and keep going (3 min).
- In pairs we play chestnut sellers: empty the cones and scatter the chestnuts in the woods for the next group (2 min).
- Count the chestnuts in one cone together, sniff them and pretend to eat them, careful, they’re hot! (1 min).
Rules
- I carry one chestnut at a time.
- If it falls, I pick it up and keep going, no problem.
- Any cone is fine: we fill them all together.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, carry only in a hand and on the shoulder, with the cones a few steps away.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, use all three ways to carry and put the cones across the playground.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, carry the chestnut on the head while zigzagging through cones, and try two chestnuts, one on each open palm.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: carry the chestnut on the lap or wheelchair tray, with a cone placed along their route.
- Visual impairment: baskets with a jingle bell or bright tape, and a buddy guides with their voice: “Over here!”
- Less skill: the head chestnut can be held with one hand; more skill: head chestnut with arms out wide.
Learning goals
- Keep balance while carrying an object on different body parts.
- Travel in different ways: jogging, walking, crawling.
- Work together to finish a shared task.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Beanbags: 30
- Baskets: 5
- Cones: 6
Teacher tip
Put out more beanbags than children so nobody waits. Demonstrate each carry before switching, since 3-year-olds will hold the head chestnut with a hand; that’s fine, celebrate it anyway.
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