The Picnic Table That Loses Its Legs

On hands and knees, children are picnic tables with a stuffed animal on their back, lifting a hand, a leg, or both without the snack falling off. It works on static balance with hand and knee supports.

How to play

1. On the mats, we get on hands and knees: we're picnic tables with flat backs (2 min).
2. The teacher puts a stuffed animal on everyone's back: it's the picnic snack, and the table stays still (2 min).
3. The table loses a leg: we lift one hand and hold, then the other (3 min).
4. Now a back leg breaks: we stretch one leg out behind without the snack falling (3 min).
5. Two-legged table: we lift one hand and the opposite leg at the same time and count to three (2 min).
6. The picnic is over: the table turns into a cat that stretches and puts the stuffed animal back in its basket (2 min).

Rules

• My back is flat like a table.
• I lift my leg slowly and lower it slowly.
• If the snack falls, I put it back and keep going.
• My table doesn't touch the tables next to me.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: make the table by resting the forearms on a real table, with the stuffed animal on the back or shoulders.
• Visual impairment: the teacher guides the hand or leg to lift with a gentle touch.
• Autistic children: they can bring their own stuffed animal and choose which leg to lift first.

Learning goals

• Balance on hands and knees with three and two supports.
• Keep the back steady so an object doesn't fall.
• Tell arms from legs and front from back.

Equipment for a class of 25

• mats: 6
• stuffed animals: 25

Teacher tip

Place the stuffed animals yourself on the lower back, just above the waist, where they fall off least. The usual mistake is arching the back when lifting a leg: "Flat table, or the snack slides off!"

More main activities for Elementary