I took a variety of bean stuffed animals on the ice during the Snowplow Sam 1 class last night. The kids had a great time throwing them, then skating and picking them up. It took their minds off of the ice while they skated.

Now I need some more games/practices using the critters. Any suggestions?

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Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. - Henry David Thoreau

• Let the kids remove the animals from their "sleeping bag" and toss them onto the ice
  
• Draw stars on the ice and have the kids put each animal on a star (every skater is a star)
  
• Have them go back to the wall, then retrieve their animal
  
• Draw parallel lines on the ice, line the kids up on one, and have them throw the animals across the other, then back again etc
  
• Have them do swizzles holding an animal with both hands right out in front (like Rudolph's nose, leading the way)
  
• Have them pair off and toss an animal back and forth, if the animal is dropped, a swizzle must be done over it before picking it up
  
• When done with the animals (they are tired), let each kid put their animal back into the "sleeping bag" for a nap

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My Snowplows like the "throw and go get it" game, too. They also like to skate balancing the beanbags on their heads. In both cases, they have to show me a good dip when picking them up off the ice.

I line a few up & they do swizzles over them--I also draw lines on the ice to show where their feet should go--so they understand they have to bring their feet together in between each one.

I also have them skate w/ the beanie balanced on their head (or shoulder; sometimes the beanie slides off when they're wearing a helmet).

We also have "beanie bag fights", where you throw your beanie at the teacher (me), & I throw it back at you. They LOVE this! The rule is, they may throw them ONLy at me--not each other.

In general beanies are a Godsend for tots teachers (that & washable markers!!!). You get the occasional problem when a kid gets attached to one particular one & won't let anyone else touch it, or will pick it up off the ice even if it's being used for a swizzle exercise......*sigh* I recall the one 3 year old who wouldn't move an inch on his own across the ice......until the day a little girl inadvertantly picked up HIS beanie baby---suddenly from behind me I hear, "THAT'S MINE!!!!!!", and turn to see him shuffling hell-bent across the ice, fully intending to pound the poor little girl into submission....*sigh*