How to make balls fall out of a bag by pulling a rope

[Asleeponasunbeam]

A strange, confused title for a strange, confused post. I want to recreate the bit in 'Handa's Surprise' where the tangerines fall out of the tree. (A goat pulls on his rope and bumps into the tree, shaking them down). This is for a drama/ sensory story.

So my idea is that we pull on a rope, and this somehow opens a bag or box so that the tangerines fall down.

Any ideas how I could make this?

What about making a bag, bit like a traditional PE bag,,, but dont secure the string (rope) which pulls it shut so that when you pull it it will basically just come out of the channel and, if upside-down, hopefully the balls will tumble out. Does that make any sense? Or a box with a not too sticky tape which you pull off - you could make it look ropeish.

I think I'll just have a box, painted as a tree with lightly tapes flaps underneath - pull an attached rope and the balls will fall out...

Maybe?

If I was feeling extra generous, and didn't have to repeat the lesson weekly, I could make a piñata and they could all bash at it like the goat hitting the tree. New twist for an end of term surprise?

With real tangerines.