The Mixed-Up Bunny: Hear the Word, Move

The teacher tells a made-up story about Pip, a mixed-up bunny looking for his carrot, and every time a magic word comes up (hop, spin, slither, hide, shake) everyone acts it out. Children practice careful listening and understanding action words within a story.

How to play

1. Seated, introduce the five magic words, each with its move, and practice them once (2 min).
2. The story begins: "Pip woke up and started to hop across the meadow..."; hop until the teacher says "and he stopped" (3 min).
3. "He got dizzy from spinning and had to slither under the bushes..."; spin and slither around the space (3 min).
4. "He heard a noise and began to shake, then ran to hide behind a tree"; shake and curl into a ball (3 min).
5. "And there, behind the tree, he found his carrot!"; celebrate with jumps and share it with a friend (2 min).
6. Review: say the magic words in mixed order and do them quickly (1 min).

Rules

• I move only when I hear a magic word.
• While the story goes on, I listen quietly.
• I hide without pushing anyone.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: each magic word has an arm and face gesture.
• Hearing impairment: hold up a picture card with each magic word.
• Autism: preview the story sequence with pictures so they know what's coming.

Learning goals

• Listen carefully to a short story.
• Recognize action words within a story.
• Hop, spin and slither.

Teacher tip

Pause clearly just before each magic word the first time, then gradually drop the pause. Kids bunch up when slithering and hiding, so scatter cone "trees" across the whole space.

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