The Turtle Naps in Its Shell

Through a short story, children become turtles who tuck into their shells for a nap, peek out when they feel the sun and hide again when the wind blows. It works on relaxing in a curled-up position and listening.

How to play

1. Kneel down, sitting on your heels, forehead on the floor and arms tucked in: we're inside our shells (1 min).
2. The teacher narrates: "The turtle is so tired it breathes slowly and its shell goes up and down"; we feel our back move as we breathe (1 min).
3. "Here comes the sun": we slowly peek our heads out, look side to side, and stretch our arms forward (1 min).
4. "A cool wind is blowing": we slowly tuck back into our shells (1 min).
5. The teacher gently strokes each turtle's shell to say good night and we stay still (1 min).

Rules

• The turtle moves very, very slowly.
• No talking inside the shell.
• I listen to the story to know when to come out.
• Every turtle stays in its spot.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: seated in a chair, they lean forward over their knees and hug their legs.
• Hearing loss: sun and wind are shown with two picture cards or by switching the lights on and off.
• Autism: if the position feels too closed in, they can put a blanket or cushion over themselves as a shell.

Learning goals

• Relax in a curled-up position.
• Move slowly following a story.
• Feel their breathing in their back.

Teacher tip

If kneeling bothers anyone, put a cushion between their heels and bottom. Talk more and more softly and stretch out the pauses between sentences.

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