What's Peeking Out from the Tree?
Children hide behind tree trunks and let only the body part the teacher names peek out, while the others guess what it is. It works on laterality, body awareness and playing hide-and-peek while always staying in sight.
How to play
- The teacher picks an area with several thick trees, hides behind one and sticks out just an arm: 'What do you see?' (2 min).
- Each child finds a tree and hides; the teacher calls 'Peek out your hand!', 'Your foot!', 'Your head!' (3 min).
- Now add sides: 'The arm with the bracelet!', 'The foot on the bench side!', and right and left for 5-year-olds (3 min).
- In pairs, one hides and sticks out a body part and the other names it and touches it gently; then they switch (3 min).
- Everyone comes out from the trees for a group hug in the open space (1 min).
Rules
- We only hide behind trees in the area the teacher showed us.
- You must always be able to see the teacher from your tree.
- When you hear 'Come out!', everyone goes back to the open space.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, only hand, foot and head, with the teacher peeking out the same part at the same time.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, add elbow, knee and shoulder, and sides using landmarks (the bracelet side, the bench side).
Harder
For 5-year-olds, right and left and two parts at once ('right hand and left foot').
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair stays beside the trunk and peeks out a hand, elbow or head on one side.
- Hearing loss: the teacher peeks out the requested body part so children can see it.
- Autism: the child can stay with the teacher and be the one who guesses what's peeking out instead of hiding.
Learning goals
- Identify and show body parts one at a time.
- Tell the two sides of the body apart.
- Enjoy a hiding game with safe rules.
Teacher tip
All the trees must be visible from one fixed spot where you stay. If a child sticks their whole body out, don't correct them: just model the move again, big and exaggerated.
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