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Hot Potato
Kids pass a 'hot' ball around a circle as fast as they can, hoping not to be holding it when the music stops.
AgesPre-K, K–2nd, 3rd–5thKids5-25Time5-10 minWhereIndoor or outdoorEnergyActive
Get ready
- Have kids sit in a circle on the floor.
- Hand one kid the ball.
How to play
- Start the music. Kids pass the ball around the circle quickly, like it's too hot to hold.
- Stop the music without warning.
- Whoever is holding the ball when the music stops goes to the middle of the circle.
- Start the music again. The last kid in the middle gets to rejoin when someone new comes in.
- Keep playing as long as kids are having fun.
Tips & variations
- Pass, don't throw. Hand to hand keeps it safe and fair.
- Add a second ball to make it wild.
- Instead of going to the middle, the kid holding the ball can answer a review question from today's lesson.
