Tube Trunks, Horns and Tails

A cardboard tube turns into an elephant trunk, a rhino horn, a monkey tail or a bird beak, and children move like each animal. It builds creative movement, pretend play and different ways of moving around.

How to play

1. Each child takes a cardboard tube and we transform it: in front of the nose, it's an elephant trunk (1 min).
2. Elephants: walk heavily, swing your trunk, trumpet, and drink from the river (2 min).
3. The tube on the forehead, held with a hand, is a rhino horn: stomp around and snort (2 min).
4. Tucked into the back of the waistband, the tube is a tail: we're monkeys jumping and puppies wagging (2 min).
5. In front of the mouth, it's a bird beak: fly around the room and peck at the floor (2 min).
6. The teacher tells a story with all the animals, and every time one is named, everyone moves their tube and becomes that animal (3 min).

Rules

• The tube is not a sword, so no hitting with it.
• I hold it gently so it doesn't get squashed.
• I move like the animal without bumping anyone.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: act out the animals with the trunk, arms and sounds; the bird flies with its arms from the wheelchair.
• Hearing impairment: each animal has a picture card the teacher holds up during the story.
• Autism: preview the animals with their cards and keep the same order the first time.

Learning goals

• Use the body to show how different animals move.
• Use an object in a pretend way.
• Vary the way of moving: heavy, light, jumping, flying.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Cardboard tubes: 28

Teacher tip

Use paper towel tubes, one per child plus spares because they get squashed. If someone starts using it as a sword, turn it into a trunk right away: "Uh-oh, this elephant's trunk fell off!"

More main activities for Elementary