The Tooth Mouse's Secret Night Visit

A tooth mouse movement story, a cousin of the tooth fairy: half the class sleeps on mats while the other half, as tiny mice, leaves a gift next to each sleeper without a sound. Kids practice moving silently, careful listening and self-control.

How to play

1. Circle (2 min): 'In some countries, when you lose a tooth, a little mouse comes at night without a sound and leaves a gift.' Split the class into sleepers and mice.
2. Sleepers lie on their side on the mats with eyes closed. Each mouse takes a beanbag: the gift (1 min).
3. The visit (3 min): mice tiptoe very slowly and leave the beanbag next to a sleeper. If a sleeper hears steps, they whisper: 'Who's there?' and that mouse freezes like a statue for a count of three.
4. When done, mice go back to their mouse hole (a corner). Say: 'Good morning!' Sleepers wake up, stretch and find their gift (1 min).
5. Switch roles (4 min): sleepers become mice and repeat the visit.
6. Ending (1 min): everyone sits in a circle and shares whether they heard a mouse.

Rules

• Mice walk, never run.
• Don't step on or touch anyone sleeping.
• If someone says 'Who's there?', freeze.
• Sleepers keep their eyes closed.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: be a mouse rolling along a wide aisle, or a sleeper sitting up.
• Hearing impairment: the sleeper raises a hand and points instead of speaking.
• More skilled kids tiptoe in slow motion; less skilled kids hold another mouse's hand.

Learning goals

• Move silently with body control.
• Listen carefully to sounds around you.
• Respect the space of friends lying down.

Equipment for a class of 25

• mats: 6
• beanbags: 20

Teacher tip

Dim the lights if you can and whisper; the whole class calms down. You can call it the tooth fairy if that's more familiar to your kids.

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