The Sponge That Soaks Up and Squeezes Out

First kids play with a real sponge, soaking it and squeezing it out, then they become sponges themselves: puffing up as they “soak” and scrunching tight as they're “squeezed.” The whole body warms up by switching between tension and release.

How to play

1. Each child dips their sponge in the shallow basin and squeezes it hard with both hands to watch the water drip out (1 min).
2. We line up the sponges and the teacher explains that now we are dry sponges: curled up small and hard on the ground (1 min).
3. “It's raining!”: we slowly stretch and fill with water until we're big and wide, on tiptoe with arms spread (1 min).
4. “Squeeze!”: we twist and tighten our whole body, make a “shhhh” sound, and shrink down small; we repeat several times (1 min).
5. Wet sponges are heavy: we walk slowly around the playground dragging our feet until we pick up our real sponge (1 min).

Rules

• Basin water is for sponges, not for splashing.
• I squeeze my own sponge, not my friend's.
• I get big and small in my own spot.
• I walk slowly: the ground might be wet.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: play seated, puffing up with arms and torso and squeezing fists and shoulders.
• Autism or tactile sensitivity: the child can use a dry sponge or wear a glove if they dislike water; never force them to get wet.
• Hearing impairment: the teacher holds the sponge up high for “soak” and squeezes it in plain view for “squeeze.”

Learning goals

• Warm up by alternating tension and release.
• Explore how water feels in the hands.
• Show with the body an object that changes.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Large sponges: 25
• Shallow basin: 2

Teacher tip

Set the basins on grass or sand, never on smooth tile, with just an inch of water. Before you become a sponge, squeeze a real one in front of them: that's what they'll copy.

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