Water Jugs for Every House in Town

The town's water has been cut off, and children are delivery workers carrying jugs with a little water in them from the fountain to the houses, in different ways and in pairs. It builds carrying weight using the legs and deciding where each jug goes.

How to play

1. The teacher explains that the town's water is off: we're the delivery crew, the fountain is in the middle, and each house is a hoop around the playground (1 min).
2. Each child carries a jug from the fountain to a house with both hands, then goes back for another (3 min).
3. Try different ways: one hand on the handle, hugged against the tummy, or dragged along the ground (3 min).
4. The houses need more: "The yellow house needs three jugs!" and we deliver them (3 min).
5. Return all the jugs to the fountain in pairs, each child holding one side (2 min).

Rules

• I carry one jug at a time.
• I bend my knees to pick it up.
• We don't throw jugs, we carry them.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child carries a light jug on the lap and delivers it, or runs the fountain and hands out jugs.
• Visual impairment: each house makes a sound (a shaker or drum) for orientation, and a buddy walks along.
• Less strength: the child can always carry in a pair or drag the jug.

Learning goals

• Carry weighted objects in different ways.
• Use the legs when lifting weight from the floor.
• Decide where each jug goes based on the order.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Water jugs with a little water: 25
• Hoops: 8

Teacher tip

Put half a cup to a cup of water in each jug (no more than about 2 lb) and glue the caps on. Teach bending the knees to pick it up, since that's the most common mistake.

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