Zoo Delivery Crew
Children carry food (a beanbag) from one side of the zoo to the other, moving like the animal on the card: bear, crab, kangaroo, frog, seal or snake. They practice different ways of moving while keeping control of an object.
How to play
- The teacher shows the six cards and models each walk with the beanbag: bear on hands and feet with the beanbag on the back, crab with it on the tummy, kangaroo with it between the knees, frog with it in one hand, seal and snake sliding with it in front (3 min).
- Bear and kangaroo: the teacher holds up a card and everyone carries a beanbag from the storeroom basket to the zoo basket and comes back (3 min).
- Crab and frog: same deliveries with new walks; if the beanbag falls, I put it back and keep going (3 min).
- Seal and snake: we slide on our tummies, pushing the beanbag with our hands or head (2 min).
- Everyone picks their favorite animal to return the last beanbag to the storeroom (1 min).
Rules
- I move like the animal on the card.
- If my beanbag falls, I stop, put it back and keep going.
- I carry one beanbag at a time.
- No rushing: every delivery gets there.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, only bear, frog and snake, and the beanbag can be carried in a hand for every walk.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, all six animals with the beanbag placed where the teacher says.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, each child draws a card from a bag and decides where the beanbag goes for that animal; the others guess the animal.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: carries the beanbag on the lap or wheelchair tray and does the animal motion with the arms.
- Autism: keep the cards visible in order so they can see which animal is next.
- Less skilled children: beanbag always in hand, and the crab can be a seated scoot.
Learning goals
- Move in different ways by imitating animals.
- Keep an object in place while moving.
- Recognize how each animal moves.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Beanbags: 30
- Baskets: 2
- Animal picture cards: 6
Teacher tip
Place the baskets 20–25 feet apart and have more beanbags than kids so no one waits. Do the seal and snake on a smooth floor or on mats, never on rough blacktop.
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