Beans
Fun, warm-up game for younger children incorporating all types of movement - no equipment required.
Set up
Designate a play space inside or outside. Children stand up and spread out in the designated area.
How to play
Step 1:
- On the educator's instruction, children become a different type of bean. Ideas of different beans to explore include;
- Runner bean – run fast around the area or on the spot
- Jelly bean – wobble your arms, legs, and body about
- Frozen bean – stop moving and freeze
- Baked bean - curl up tightly into a small ball
- Full of beans – crazy dancing on the spot
- Broad bean – stretch arms and legs out wide
- Snake bean - slither along the ground
- Chilli bean – shiver and shake
- Kidney bean - bend over and try and touch toes
- String bean – stand on tip toes with arms stretched up in the air
- Jumping bean – jump on the spot
- Balance bean – balance on 1 leg
- Dancing bean - show your best dance moves
- Hopping bean - hop on one leg
Step 2:
- Continue calling out new beans, going as fast or as slow as you like!
Variations
Make it easier
- Play Beans standing in one spot E.g. Standing behind chairs at their desks
- Start with a few simple beans e.g. runner bean, string bean, broad bean
- The educator demonstrates the bean at the same time
Make it harder
- Move around a larger area
- Call out different beans faster so children have to transition quickly from standing to jumping to frozen etc.
Activity information
Age: Kindergarten / Pre-school, Foundation, Year 1, Year 2
Participants: 1
+
Duration: 5 minutes
Skill focus
Explore these skills for teaching tips
Activity summary
Physical literacy tips
- Let a child be the leader and choose the beans
- Ask children to create their own bean
