Falling Chestnut

Advanced
Age: 4-7
20-30 min
Children play and move to a chestnut rhyme, practicing rhythm, attention, coordination, and joyful cooperation in a group.
Flexibility Self-regulation
Movement Music
  • Basket of chestnuts
  • Plastic containers for making rattles (additional activity)
Falling Chestnut

Print version

Preparation

Prepare a basket filled with chestnuts (you can collect them together with the children during a walk or ask parents to bring some).

Implementation

Gather the children in a circle. Show them the basket of chestnuts collected on the walk and recite the rhyme “Chestnut.”

Teach the children the rhyme and the rules of the game.

While reciting the verses, children pass a chestnut rhythmically from one hand to the next, around the circle.

When the rhyme ends, the child holding the chestnut is out of the game.

The game continues until one child remains - the final winner.

Encourage a cheerful and cooperative atmosphere where the focus is on rhythm, attention, and participation rather than competition.

Reflection

Ask the children:

  • How did you feel during the game?
  • What did you like most?
  • What was difficult or funny?
  • How did we help each other keep the rhythm?

Variations and Additional Ideas

Tell the story “The Tale of the Horse Chestnut”.

Put chestnuts in plastic containers to make simple rattles.

Say the rhyme while shaking the rattles to the rhythm.

Move or dance to the rhythm of the rhyme using the rattles as percussion.

Chestnut-and-dice maths game (Man, Don’t Get Mad).