The Pied Piper's Dancing Mice
A movement story inspired by the Pied Piper: the mice follow the piper in a line copying his steps to the music, and when the music stops they scurry to their mouse holes. Kids practice keeping the beat, follow-the-leader imitation and taking turns leading.
How to play
- Scatter hoops around the gym: they're mouse holes. Circle (1 min): 'A town had lots of mice, and one day a piper arrived with magic music.'
- Follow the piper (3 min): you're the piper and the whole class follows in a line, copying your moves to the music: tiptoes, high knees, low walking, zigzags, turns.
- Quiet! (2 min): when the music stops, mice scurry to a hole and crouch inside; lots can share. When the music starts, the line forms again.
- Lots of pipers (4 min): make four groups of five, each with a piper. Pipers lead moves and mice copy. Every time the music stops, a new piper takes over.
- Leaving town (2 min): the whole line follows you around the gym with slower and slower steps until everyone sits in a circle in the meadow.
Rules
- In line, each mouse behind the other, no pushing.
- Copy the moves; don't pass the piper.
- When the music stops, go to a hole without racing.
- Every hole has room for whoever arrives.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, just one piper, the teacher, and very simple moves.
Standard
Groups of five with rotating pipers.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, each piper must lead a brand-new move nobody has done yet.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: be a piper in the wheelchair, leading moves with the arms.
- Autism: preview when the music will stop with pictures and keep the same group.
- More skilled kids lead with turning moves; less skilled kids walk right behind the teacher.
Learning goals
- Move to the beat of the music.
- Imitate the leader's movements.
- Take turns leading a small group.
Equipment for a class of 25
- music: 1
- hoops: 10
Teacher tip
Use music with a clear beat and tempo changes. Tell the story without the sad ending: the mice go off to live in a meadow.
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