Fair is Fair

The Book

Can I Play Too?

Written & illustrated by Mo Willems, published by Hyperion Books for Children

Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems is a heartwarming and humorous story about friendship, inclusion, and problem-solving. When a new friend, Snake, wants to join Elephant and Piggie’s game of catch, the duo faces a challenge—how can someone without arms play? Through their creativity and determination, the friends work together to find a way for everyone to be included.

This engaging story provides an opportunity for children to practise personal and social skills to interact respectfully with others (AC9HPFP02 – Foundation Year, Health and Physical Education). Teachers and students can explore how characters experience exclusion, discuss why it happens, and consider ways to make activities more inclusive. With its simple yet expressive illustrations and playful dialogue, Can I Play Too? fosters inclusion, empathy, problem-solving, and cooperation, making it a valuable resource for early childhood social-emotional learning.

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Resource creator

Kristina Wood

Subject

Health and Physical Education,

Level

Foundation,

Description

In this activity, children will explore feelings of exclusion and inclusion through a read-aloud of Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems and a modified game of Duck, Duck, Goose. They will reflect on their own experiences and discuss ways to ensure everyone feels included in play.

📍 Outdoor Learning Opportunity:
This activity is best done outdoors. Sitting outside for the story provides a refreshing change of environment and encourages engagement. The open space also allows for a more active and inclusive game of Duck, Duck, Goose.

Learning Intentions

• We are learning to understand how it feels to be excluded and to think of ways to include others in play.

Successful Criteria

✅ Recognise when someone is feeling left out.
✅ Describe how it feels to be included or excluded.
✅ Think of ways to make sure everyone feels welcome in a game.

Curriculum Alignment

AC9HPFP02 9.0 (Health and Physical Education Foundation): Practise personal and social skills to interact respectfully with others

• explaining their reasons and actions in response to challenging situations in shared play experiences
• identifying characters in texts who have been excluded from a group, exploring why they have been excluded and discussing how other characters could have been more inclusive
• cooperating, collaborating and negotiating with others when participating in physical activities to achieve agreed outcomes
• identifying behaviours that may be disrespectful and cause hurt or harm to others during play

Materials

The book:Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems
Pegs

Instructions

Read-Aloud & Discussion

Gather the children outside in a comfortable, shaded area.
Read Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems aloud to the class.
Pause to discuss key moments, focusing on how one character feels excluded and how the friends find a way to include them.
Ask children:
- “How do you think the character felt when they were left out?”
- “What did the friends do to help?”
- “Have you ever felt left out? What happened?”

Duck, Duck, Goose Game

Play Duck, Duck, Goose in an open outdoor space, adding a small twist:
- Each time a child is chosen as the “goose,” they receive a peg to put on their shirt.
After a few rounds, pause the game and discuss:
- “How does it feel to have a peg?”
- “How does it feel to not have one yet?”
- “What can we do to make sure everyone feels included?”

Reflection & Inclusion Ideas

Encourage children to share ideas on how to make sure everyone feels included in games and activities.
Emphasise kindness, taking turns, and making space for others.
Connect back to Can I Play Too?—what solutions did the characters find, and how can we do the same in our own games?