Where Is the Tick-Tock Hiding?

The teacher hides a ticking kitchen timer, and children, moving like quiet cats, search for it using only their ears. They practice locating a faint sound, group silence, and moving stealthily.

How to play

1. Sitting down, the teacher shows the timer and holds it up to each child's ear so we can hear its tick-tock (2 min).
2. Everyone faces the wall with hands over their eyes while the teacher hides it somewhere at child height (1 min).
3. Set off crawling like silent cats: we have to be quiet to hear it. Whoever finds it doesn't pick it up: they sit next to it with a hand on their head (3 min).
4. The rest keep searching until everyone is sitting around the tick-tock; then the timer rings and we celebrate (2 min).
5. Second round: hide both timers in different places, and each child chooses which one to search for (3 min).
6. Stop and listen to the last ring in total silence, lying down (1 min).

Rules

• Cats search without talking.
• If you find it, don't grab it: sit down next to it.
• Crawl on hands and knees without pushing.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: searches from the chair by pointing where they think it is, and a classmate checks.
• Hearing impairment: use a timer that also vibrates or tie a bright ribbon to it; the child can also search with a hearing buddy.
• Visual impairment: searches with ears and hands; clear away objects they could trip over beforehand.

Learning goals

• Locate a faint sound in space.
• Stay quiet so everyone can hear.
• Move on all fours with stealth.

Equipment for a class of 25

• temporizador de cocina: 2

Teacher tip

Set the timer with enough time before it rings (about five minutes). Don't hide it up high or behind things that could fall; low spots keep kids crawling and calm.

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