Squirrel Tails
Gross motor skills.
1. Tuck a scarf or piece of felt about 30cm long in to the children’s pockets or waistbands.
2. Make a line on the ground using tape or sidewalk chalk, or use existing lines on the floor (i.e. patterns in between tiles) and encourage the children to balance on the line, putting one foot in front of the other, like they are squirrels balancing on a wire.
3. Encourage the children to cross the ‘wires’ faster and faster each time they go across, without “falling off” (if their feet take a step off the tape).
You can also try this rhyme with the children as you play this activity:
Five Little Squirrels – A Movement Rhyme
Five little squirrels sitting in a tree
The first one said, “What do I see?” (place hand to forehead, looking side to side)
The second one said, “Some nuts on the ground” (pointing to “nuts”)
The third one said, “Those nuts I found” (cross arms in frustration)
The fourth one said, “I’ll race you there” (run forward)
The Fifth one said, “All right, that’s fair” (shrug)
So they shook their tails and ran with glee
To the nuts that lay at the foot of the tree.
This activity aims to develop the fundamental movement skills of locomotion (walking) and balance.
Source – Adapted from a Hop, Skip and a Jump