OECS Logo
Back to Games Unit Activities

Animal Imitation Tag

20 minutes
Whole Class
Movement

Learning Objectives

  • Develop gross motor skills
  • Learn about local animals
  • Practice following rules in active games
  • Experience joy in movement

Preparation

  • Choose safe outdoor area with clear boundaries
  • Select local animals for imitation
  • Practice animal movements yourself
  • Set clear game boundaries

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. 1
    Gather children in play area
  2. 2
    Explain tag rules: taggers move like chosen animal
  3. 3
    Demonstrate animal movements: crab walking, hopping like grasshopper
  4. 4
    Choose first animal and select taggers
  5. 5
    Play for 2-3 minutes, then change animal and taggers
  6. 6
    Include local animals: iguana crawling, bird flying, fish swimming motions
  7. 7
    Ensure everyone gets chance to be tagger
  8. 8
    End with slow animal movements to calm down

Materials Needed

  • Open outdoor space
  • Animal picture cards (optional)
  • Boundary markers

Assessment

  • Child attempts animal movements
  • Child follows tag game rules
  • Child shows good sportsmanship
  • Child participates safely in active play

Key Vocabulary

animal
imitate
move
tag
hop
crawl
fly

Safety Notes

  • Check play area for hazards
  • Monitor for overexertion
  • Ensure inclusive participation

Teaching Tips

  • Keep games short to maintain engagement
  • Include animals all children can imitate
  • Focus on fun rather than perfect imitation
  • Have quiet signal to stop game

Extensions

  • Learn about habitats of animals imitated
  • Add sounds animals make
  • Create animal movement dance
  • Connect to science study of local animals
Back to All ActivitiesNext Activity