The Sleepy Crocodile's Mouth
The circle is a sleepy crocodile that yawns with its mouth wide open; some fish swim in, and the mouth closes slowly into a tickly hug before letting them out. It builds opening and closing the circle carefully, controlling strength, and playing with a pretend scare.
How to play
- Standing in a circle holding hands, the teacher explains that we're a very sleepy crocodile; two children let go of each other and raise their arms: that's the mouth (2 min).
- Practice: with the chant "Sleepy crocodile, open wide... what a yawn!" the circle opens very wide; with "Chomp, chomp, nice and slow!" the circle closes by walking little by little toward the middle (2 min).
- Four or five children are fish swimming outside; when the mouth opens, they swim in; the mouth closes slowly and gives gentle tickles on their arms before opening to let them out (2 min).
- Switch fish in turns until everyone has been a fish once, with two different children forming the mouth each time (5 min).
- The crocodile goes to sleep: the circle lies down on the floor like a long crocodile, breathing slowly (1 min).
Rules
- The mouth closes slowly, no squeezing.
- Fish swim, they don't run.
- Tickles are gentle and only on arms.
- If someone says "stop!", the crocodile opens up.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, the teacher is the crocodile's mouth and the fish swim in holding a friend's hand.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, use groups of four or five fish and take turns being the mouth.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, the fish hop in like flying fish and the crocodile only closes once the last fish is inside.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair can be a fish with a buddy, or be part of the mouth using their arms.
- Autism: explain that it's pretend, and allow being a fish without tickles, with the circle closing only partway.
- Hearing impairment: the mouth opens and closes with the teacher's big jaw-like arm movement.
Learning goals
- Open and close the circle while controlling speed and strength.
- Handle the feeling of a pretend scare calmly.
- Take care of classmates who are inside the circle.
Teacher tip
Practice closing "nice and slow" several times without fish: that's what makes the game feel safe. Some children find being inside intimidating; let them go in holding a friend's hand.
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