«Un, Dos, Tres, Pollito Inglés»: Sneak Up to the Wall

We play the traditional Spanish game «Un, dos, tres, pollito inglés» («one, two, three, English chick»), similar to Red Light, Green Light: the teacher faces the wall saying the chant and turns around; while she talks we move forward, and when she turns we freeze in a farm-animal pose. Anyone who moves isn't out; they take three steps back. It works on body control and stopping.

How to play

1. Start line about ten steps from the wall; the teacher faces the wall and teaches the chant (2 min).
2. While she says «un, dos, tres, pollito inglés» we walk forward; when she turns, we freeze (3 min).
3. Each round, the teacher names a farm animal first and we freeze in its pose: chick, hen, cow, piglet (3 min).
4. Anyone who moves takes three steps back and keeps playing; when someone touches the wall, everyone goes back to the line (2 min).
5. Final round with the kids who reached the wall taking turns saying the chant (2 min).

Rules

• I only move while I hear the chant.
• When she turns, I freeze like an animal statue.
• If I move, three steps back and keep going.
• Walk, don't run.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: move forward in the wheelchair and do the pose with the arms when freezing.
• Hearing impairment: the teacher raises a scarf while saying the chant and lowers it when turning.
• Very impulsive kids: moving forward in hand-holding pairs helps them stop.

Learning goals

• Stop movement on a signal.
• Hold a still, balanced pose.
• Play a popular game by the rules.

Teacher tip

Vary the chant's speed: slow, fast and with pauses in the middle, which is where the fun is. Remember nobody is out; a mistake only costs three steps.

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