The Cobra Peeks Out of Its Basket

Each child is a cobra sleeping curled up in its basket (a hoop) that peeks out, lifting its chest, when the snake charmer's music plays. They strengthen the back and gently stretch it backward.

How to play

1. Each child sits inside their hoop, which is their basket, and the teacher says a very calm cobra sleeps inside (1 min).
2. Learn to sleep curled up: kneeling, forehead on the floor, arms back, like a little ball (1 min).
3. When the drum plays softly, the cobra wakes up: lie on the belly, hands under the shoulders, and slowly lift the chest going «sss» (3 min).
4. The cobra looks side to side for the charmer, hips staying down, and goes back down when the drum stops (3 min).
5. Last song: the cobra peeks out, flicks its tongue three times and goes back to sleep curled up in its basket (2 min).

Rules

• The cobra rises slowly with the music and goes down when it stops.
• My belly stays on the floor.
• The cobra stays in its basket.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: do cobra seated, hands on a table, bringing the chest forward and up.
• Hearing impairment: the drum goes up so they can see it playing, and down when it stops.
• Autism: the child can stay curled in their basket if needed; the hoop gives a clear spot of their own.

Learning goals

• Strengthen the back muscles.
• Stretch the front of the body.
• Control rising and lowering to the sound.

Equipment for a class of 25

• aros: 25
• pandero: 1

Teacher tip

Don't let them lock their elbows or throw their head way back: «the cobra looks straight ahead». If the floor is cold, give each child a mat or towel inside the hoop.

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