MA Standards:
English Language Arts/Speaking and Listening/SL.PK.MA.1a Observe and use appropriate ways of interacting in a group (e.g., taking turns in talking, listening to peers, waiting to speak until another person is finished talking, asking questions and waiting for an answer, gaining the floor in appropriate ways).
English Language Arts/Literature/RL.PK.MA.3 With prompting and support, act out characters and events from a story or poem read aloud.
Head Start Outcomes:
Social Emotional Development/Self-Regulation Follows simple rules, routines, and directions.
Approaches to Learning/Cooperation Joins in cooperative play with others and invites others to play.
PreK Learning Guidelines:
English Language Arts/Language 1 Observe and use appropriate ways of interacting in a group (taking turns in talking; listening to peers; waiting until someone is finished; asking questions and waiting for an answer; gaining the floor in appropriate ways).
EEC Infant and Toddler Guidelines:
PW50. The older toddler engages in a variety of physical activities.
Play Together: Huff and Puff Tag
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
ELA Focus Skills: Following Directions, Gross Motor Skills, Story Comprehension
Play this game during outside time or in a large area. Model the rules of the game for children.
- Choose a child to be the “wolf.” Say, I will play one of the three little pigs.
- Signal the wolf to say, Little pig, little pig, let me come in.
- Respond, Not by the hair of my chinny, chin, chin!
- Signal the wolf to say, Then I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house in!
- Run away, with the wolf in pursuit until he or she tags you. Then, freeze. Say, When the wolf tags someone, that person must freeze, or stand very still.
- Discuss rules about tapping gently and running carefully.
Now, choose a wolf and play. Remind each child to freeze when tagged.
- The game ends when all the little pigs have been tagged.
- Play the game several times so each child has a chance to be the wolf.
Adaptation: You may prefer to have very young children walk fast or skip rather than run.