Extension project “Little bunny comes out of the burrow”

Introduction: University Extension Projects characterize a continuous educational, social, cultural, scientific, or technological action with a specific objective and a determined timeframe, involving interaction between the University and society. It's a transformative interaction where academic knowledge benefits society, and societal knowledge contributes to the construction of knowledge within the university. Objective: Report on a playful activity conducted with children from the Early Childhood Education School - EMEI Dora de Arruda Mendes - at Parque Flamingo, in the "Gavioli Sports Gymnasium," through a University Extension Project. Method: This was a play-based pedagogical action carried out in 2022 by first-year medical students from Padre Albino University Center - UNIFIPA, Catanduva, SP. The activity was named "Little Bunny Comes Out of the Burrow." In the activity, after instructions and explanations, children are divided into groups of 3: two children hold hands to form the burrow, while the third child stands in the middle, representing the bunny. The "burrows" are spread around the play area, and two or more children without a burrow stand in the center. When everything is ready, someone says, "Little bunny, come out of the burrow!" Children without a burrow move to the center, and the activity restarts. In the end, only one child emerges as the winner and is applauded by the others. Results: The activity involved 32 children of both sexes, Preschoolers I and II, aged 5-6 years, 02 UNIFIPA faculty members, 09 UNIFIPA students, 04 EMEI teachers, and the director. The action took place in the sports court of the Gavioli Gymnasium and also utilized hula hoops, colored crayons, and children's songs. Children who couldn't enter a burrow were embraced by a group of students and engaged in creating drawings on the court floor. Participants demonstrated a lot of joy and satisfaction, showing movement, attention, reasoning, and integration. Among all activities conducted at EMEI, this was the most requested and repeated multiple times. Conclusion: The victorious child's victory lap to the sound of the victory theme music was celebrated by everyone - faculty, teachers, director, students, and other children - resulting in an explosion of joy and interaction. Extension projects of this nature are enriching and leave a positive mark, filling the lives of children and participants with joy and emotion.