The Sea Serpent Bridge
A traditional Mexican singing game: a long serpent of children passes under a bridge made by two classmates who, at the end of the song, bring their arms down and catch one child, who secretly picks "melon" or "watermelon." Children practice moving in a line, ducking under the bridge and following the game's turns.
How to play
- Two children make a bridge by holding hands up high; secretly, one is "melón" (melon) and the other "sandía" (watermelon). Everyone else lines up as the serpent with hands on the shoulders of the child in front (2 min).
- The serpent winds under the bridge singing the Spanish song "A la víbora, víbora de la mar…" ("To the sea serpent, you can pass through here; the ones in front run fast, the ones in back will stay") (3 min).
- Keep singing the second verse about a Mexican woman selling fruit (plums, apricots, melon or watermelon); on the last "día, día, día" the bridge slowly lowers its arms and hugs whoever is passing through (5 min).
- The caught child whispers "melón" or "sandía" and stands behind that side of the bridge, holding their waist; the serpent continues until everyone has chosen (3 min).
- A finish with no pulling: the melon line and the watermelon line become two serpents that zigzag around the yard and meet in a big serpent hug (2 min).
Rules
- The bridge lowers its arms slowly, no bonking heads.
- The serpent never breaks: always hold on to the friend in front.
- Melon or watermelon is a secret, whispered in the ear.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, the teacher and another adult make the bridge, the serpent walks instead of running, and make two or three short serpents so nobody waits.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, two children make the bridge and the serpent walks quickly through.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, set up two bridges in the yard and the serpent passes through both in a figure eight.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair can be part of the bridge with a standing partner, or be the serpent's head with a friend pushing.
- Visual impairment: the child walks in the serpent behind a friend who calls out "Bridge, duck down!"
- Autism: the child can be the bridge from the start, with a set, predictable role.
Learning goals
- Move in a line, ducking to pass under the bridge.
- Follow the song and the turns of the game.
- Learn a traditional Mexican game and its words (chabacano, víbora).
Teacher tip
Traditionally the game ends with the two lines in a tug-of-war; with little ones we swap that for the two serpents meeting. Explain beforehand that a chabacano is an apricot and a víbora is a snake.
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