By using animal noises to find their group, children practise listening carefully, responding quickly and working together.
1. Set the starting position
Ask the children to line up against one wall so everyone begins together.
2. Explore animal sounds
Ask the children what sound a cow makes, then a pig, then a sheep. Encourage confident, clear animal noises.
3. Assign the animals
Quietly give each child an animal to be, choosing from pig, sheep or cow.
4. Begin the movement
Say "go" and play some upbeat music. Ask the children to walk around the room, making the sound of their animal.
5. Find your group
If children meet or hear someone making the same animal sound, they join hands and continue moving together to find the rest of their group.
6. Finish together
Continue until all the pigs, cows and sheep have found each other and are grouped together.
This active game is exciting and noisy in the best possible way. Children love discovering their animal partners by listening carefully and it builds teamwork and awareness of others in the space, too.
Lucy Quick, Principal of Perform.
