[Nursery Schools & Kindergartens] Liven Up Setsubun! Entertainment Ideas
As Setsubun approaches, it’s the time when nursery schools and kindergartens start thinking about what performances to put on.
There are many ideas to liven up a Setsubun assembly, such as plays, dances, and finger plays that children can get absorbed in.
It’s also fun in ways unique to this season—cheers erupt when the ogres appear, and everyone moves their bodies to the bean-throwing song.
Here, we’ve gathered ideas for performances perfect for Setsubun events at nursery schools.
Please use them as a reference to make your Setsubun assembly full of children’s smiles!
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[Nursery & Kindergarten] Setsubun Gets Exciting! Performance Ideas (1–10)
Three perfect games for Setsubun
We’d like to introduce “Bean Hunt Game,” “Setsubun Fruit Basket,” and “Words That Start with ‘Oni.’ In the Bean Hunt Game, the premise is that the important beans have gone missing on Setsubun day! Children search for beans made out of newspaper.
Setsubun Fruit Basket follows the same rules as the basic Fruit Basket game, but when someone calls out “Oni wa soto!” everyone changes seats.
In the Words That Start with ‘Oni’ game, pairs play using three words: “oni” (ogre), “onigiri” (rice ball), and “oniku” (meat).
First, one person says the three words while striking poses, and the other person imitates them.
If the words and poses don’t match, it’s a fail—so copy them perfectly!
Setsubun Magic
When you pull the card, the picture changes! It’s a Setsubun magic trick that uses a special mechanism.
Make red, blue, green, and yellow ogres in various colors so kids can enjoy all kinds of ogre expressions.
This card has a piece of white paper inside the frame that acts as a divider; when you pull out the card, the color illustration behind the divider becomes visible, and the picture changes.
If you don’t know the trick, it feels just like watching magic, doesn’t it? The kids are sure to love it!
How do we convey Setsubun?
Many of you may be wondering how best to explain Setsubun to children.
If that’s the case, please use this story as a reference.
Why is Setsubun in February? Why do we hang hiragi-iwashi (holly and sardines) on the front door? What kind of beans are used to drive away ogres? This content provides clear answers to those questions.
It’s explained while showing illustrations in a sketchbook, so it should be easy for children to understand.
[Nursery & Kindergarten] Liven Up Setsubun! Performance Ideas (11–20)
Puppet Paper Theater ‘Momotaro’
For teachers! This is recommended as an activity for Setsubun events.
A famous story featuring ogres (oni) is “Momotaro.” It’s the story of a boy born from a peach who is named Momotaro and sets off to defeat the oni.
Defeating oni is a bit similar to the Setsubun bean-throwing that drives away oni, isn’t it? So let’s present the story of “Momotaro” to the children using a paper puppet show (peep show).
Even children who are scared because the oni come during bean-throwing might feel encouraged to try their best after seeing Momotaro’s bravery.
Easy! Newspaper Theater
Let’s make an ehomaki using newspaper! Use the first sheet as the seaweed, then stack additional sheets as the “fillings” suggested by the children.
Once you’ve finished stacking, roll it up while wishing for everyone’s good health to complete the ehomaki.
But we’re not done yet! Next, while pretending to eat it, the teacher will make a cross-shaped cut on one end of the newspaper with scissors.
After making the cuts, twist the center of the newspaper and pull it out.
Now the ehomaki has turned into a metal club (kanabō), so from here, let’s enjoy mamemaki (bean-throwing)!
Gymnastics! Oni Ranger
In Setsubun, demons are the villains, but some kids might secretly think the demons’ strength is cool.
Here’s a gymnastics song that those kids are sure to enjoy: “Oni Ranger.” In this song, three heroes of justice appear: Red Oni Ranger, Blue Oni Ranger, and Pink Oni Ranger.
Pick your favorite Oni Ranger and try dancing along.
Since it’s a gymnastics routine, focus on making big, full-body movements.
During the instrumental break, you can move freely.
Gymnastics! The Tango of the Red Ogre and the Blue Ogre
Let’s try dancing to “The Tango of the Red Ogre and the Blue Ogre”! Since it has solid choreography, it’s also great as a performance for Setsubun events.
After tapping your knees and shoulders, quickly open both arms overhead, or keep both arms extended to the sides and do a one-foot jump with a full turn.
The powerful moves match the song perfectly and are part of the appeal.
If two or more people are dancing, it’s nice to show off each person’s signature pose.
The choreography itself repeats, so kids can imitate it and have fun dancing along.