Animal Walks

Take a trip to the zoo! Children move around the play space performing different animal movements in response to the educator's instructions.

Set up

Designate a play space, with the educator standing in front of the children.

How to play
Step 1
  • Educator begins moving like an animal they choose (e.g., kangaroo) around the designated area or between the cones, and the children copy  
Step 2
  • Educator changes to a new animal movement. Ideas of animal walks to try out include;
    • Hop like a kangaroo
    • Jump like a frog
    • Crawl like a bear (on all fours, belly button facing down)
    • Walk tall on tiptoes like a giraffe
    • Stomp like an elephant
    • Run fast like a cheetah
    • Walk like a crab (on all fours, belly button facing up)
    • Jump and swing arms around like a monkey
    • Gallop like a horse
    • Slither like a snake
    • Fly like a butterfly
    • Zoo! Be any animal that you like
Step 3 
  • Educator calls out 'Zoo' and children can choose to move like an animal of their choice 

     

    Variations
    Make it easier
    • Start with simple, familiar animal walks such as jump like a frog, run like a cheetah
    • Shorten the distance
    Make it harder
    • Perform animal walks over a larger distance
    • Introduce some more tricky animals. Try a donkey kick, bear crawls, or an inchworm!
    Activity information
    Age: Kindergarten / Pre-school, Foundation, Year 1, Year 2
    Participants: 1 +
    Equipment: Cones (optional)
    Duration: 5 minutes
    Skill focus
    Explore these skills for teaching tips
    Activity summary
    Physical literacy tips
    • Join in with the children
    • Make the animal noises while doing the actions
    • Let a child choose the animal