Trade You My Beanbag

Each child walks around holding a beanbag and, when the music stops, finds a friend, says hello and trades beanbags hand to hand. It gets the group moving, practices giving and receiving carefully and mixes up partners.

How to play

1. Everyone takes a beanbag and walks to the beat of the music (1 min).
2. The music stops: find someone nearby, say "Hi!" and trade beanbags (1 min).
3. Now jog, and when you trade, high-five with your free hand (1 min).
4. Trade by placing the beanbag in your friend's hand and not letting go until they hold it (1 min).
5. Last trade: say thank you and sit down together with your new beanbag (1 min).

Rules

• I hand the beanbag over, I don't throw it.
• Each time I find a different friend.
• If someone is alone, I go trade with them.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child in a wheelchair stays in one spot and classmates come to trade with them.
• Visual impairment: trade by first touching the partner's hand and saying their name.
• Autism: they may always trade with the same trusted classmate or with the teacher.

Learning goals

• Warm up with gentle movement.
• Give and receive an object carefully.
• Interact with different classmates.

Equipment for a class of 25

• beanbags: 25
• music

Teacher tip

If a child is left without a partner, have them trade with you so no one waits. Model the hand-to-hand trade first, or they'll toss it.

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