Waking the Giant, One by One
The teacher plays a sleeping giant at the far end of the yard, and children take turns tiptoeing over to tickle the giant's shoe and coming back. Once every child has touched it, the giant wakes up and everyone runs home, practicing warm-up movement, turn-taking and reacting to a signal.
How to play
- The teacher lies down at the far end and explains: “I'm a giant who won't wake up until every child has tickled me” (1 min).
- Children in four short lines go one at a time on tiptoe, touch the giant's shoe and come back to high-five the next child (2 min).
- When the last child has touched it, the giant yawns, stretches and slowly stands up: everyone runs to the home line (1 min).
- Second, faster round: jog there and come back hopping with feet together (1 min).
- The giant “falls back asleep” and we all take a deep breath so we don't wake him (1 min).
Rules
- I tiptoe without making noise.
- I touch the shoe with one finger and never step on the giant.
- The giant only wakes up after everyone has gone.
- If the giant catches me, he just tickles me: nobody is out.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, children go holding the teacher aide's hand and the giant wakes up very slowly.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, play as described with two ways of going and returning.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, children choose how to wake the giant (blowing, tickling a knee) and the giant counts to three before standing.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: put the home line closer to that child's line and have the giant rise more slowly.
- Hearing impairment: the teacher signals waking up by raising both arms high.
- Autism: warn ahead of time that the giant will wake up and let the child watch the first round.
Learning goals
- Warm up with varied ways of moving.
- Respect turns in line.
- React quickly to a visual signal.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Hand drum: 1
Teacher tip
Keep lines to four or five so the giant wakes up soon. Make it clear the giant doesn't really catch anyone: the fun is the dash home, with no losers.
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