The Sheep Pen and the Wolf

We build a pen with a low fence of poles resting on blocks and a cone gate; the sheep go out to graze and run back when the wolf appears. Children practice running and stopping, hopping a low fence and enjoying the thrill of the game without anyone being out.

How to play

1. Together we build a big pen: poles resting on flat blocks make the fence and two cones make the gate (3 min).
2. We're all sheep in the pen; the teacher is the shepherd who opens the gate: “Out to graze!”; the sheep go out the gate and graze around the meadow, baaing (2 min).
3. The shepherd shouts “The wolf is coming!” and the sheep rush back to the pen: through the gate or hopping the low fence (3 min).
4. Now the wolf is another adult or a volunteer child with a scarf tail; anyone tagged isn't out: they become a sheep with a bell and keep playing (4 min).
5. Tired sheep lie down in the pen to sleep and the shepherd counts them out loud (3 min).

Rules

• Leave the pen only through the gate; come back through the gate or over the fence.
• The wolf tags with a hand on the back, no pushing.
• Inside the pen we're safe and the wolf can't come in.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: make the gate wide enough for a wheelchair and offer a special role (shepherd who gives the signal or the guard dog at the gate).
• Autism: signal that the wolf is coming with an agreed gesture and let them stay in the pen as the guard sheep.
• Hearing impairment: the shepherd raises a red scarf when the wolf comes.

Learning goals

• Run and stop with control.
• Hop a low obstacle while running.
• Enjoy the thrill of a chase game with no one getting out.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Plastic poles: 12
• Agility blocks: 24
• Cones: 2

Teacher tip

The fence must be very low and only resting in place so it falls if anyone trips. Rotate the wolf role often: many little ones find tagging stressful.

More activities like this

More main activities for Elementary