Walruses Push the Ball Home

Lying on their bellies, walruses crawl and push a big ball with their hands or head to the ice cave. Children practice belly crawling and controlling an object without getting up.

How to play

1. We talk about how walruses drag themselves across the ice and try belly-crawling with our arms (2 min).
2. Each walrus belly-crawls and pushes its ball with its hands, without standing (3 min).
3. Now we push with our forehead or shoulder, gently (3 min).
4. Two tables are the ice cave: we push all the balls under them while belly-crawling (3 min).
5. In pairs, two walruses push one ball together (2 min).
6. The walruses rest on their bellies, fanning themselves with their flippers (1 min).

Rules

• Walruses always stay lying down.
• I push the ball; I don't throw it.
• If it rolls away, I crawl after it.
• Together we get every ball inside.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: from the wheelchair, the child pushes the ball along the floor with a pool noodle.
• Blind or low vision: use a ball with a bell inside so they can hear where it is.
• Less coordination: use a bigger ball, which rolls less and is easier to control.

Learning goals

• Belly-crawl while moving an object.
• Steer a ball from the floor.
• Work together toward a shared goal.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Large foam balls: 8
• Tables: 2

Teacher tip

Only soft foam balls for head pushing. Outdoors, play on artificial turf or mats.

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