A Day at the Fun Fair
The fun fair opens its rides: the slide (scooting down the wedge), the roller coaster (crawling up and over mats), the ghost train (tunnel), the trampolines (hops in hoops) and the ring-toss-style bottle stand. Each ride earns a sticker, and children talk about which ones felt exciting, funny or a little scary.
How to play
- The teacher opens the fair and shows the rides: slide (foam wedge), roller coaster (folded mats in a row), ghost train (play tunnel), trampolines (hoops) and bottle stand (plastic bottles to knock down with balls) (2 min).
- The teacher tries each ride like a kid at the fair, making excited faces (2 min).
- Fair's open with music: each child goes to any ride and, after finishing it, gets a sticker from the teacher or an adult (7 min).
- Everybody on the fair train: in a line, hands on shoulders, ride every attraction together, slowly and without letting go (4 min).
- The fair closes: sitting down, everyone shows their stickers and uses their face to show which ride felt funny, exciting or a little scary (3 min).
Rules
- On the slide, sit and go feet first.
- On the roller coaster, one at a time on hands and knees.
- At the bottle stand, throw from the line.
- If a ride feels scary, you can watch and choose another.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, keep the slide short, make the roller coaster two mats, and have the teacher lead the fair train.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, open all rides with bottles three steps from the line.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, add a turn on the last trampoline hop and throw with the non-dominant hand at the bottle stand.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: on the slide, go down with an adult; the bottle stand and roller coaster (going up the wedge with help) adapt to the child's pace.
- Autism: let the child watch each ride first and choose with picture cards; the ghost train can be done with the tunnel open.
- Hearing loss: pair the music with a light or colored cloth to show when the fair starts and ends.
Learning goals
- Link sliding, crawling on all fours, jumping and throwing.
- Recognize and name feelings experienced during play.
- Choose freely and take turns at each ride.
Equipment for a class of 25
- cuña de gomaespuma: 1
- colchonetas: 6
- túnel de tela: 1
- aros: 6
- botellas de plástico vacías: 10
- pelotas: 10
- pegatinas: 125
- música
Teacher tip
Always put a thick mat at the bottom of the wedge and an adult beside it. Don't make anyone go on the ghost train: choosing another ride is a healthy way to handle fear. Keep stickers at every ride so there's no line in one place.
PatioLab has "A Day at the Fun Fair" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More main activities for Elementary
"Al Pasar la Barca" Parachute Rowing
Sitting around the parachute, children row by pulling the fabric toward them and letting it go toward the middle to the rhythm of the traditional Spanish song "Al pasar…
"Corro de la Patata" Parachute Circle
Children circle with the parachute while singing the traditional Spanish song "Al corro de la patata" (Potato Circle), and on "achupé, achupé" everyone sits down…
"El Patio de Mi Casa" Parachute Song
Children sing the traditional Spanish ring song "El patio de mi casa" while circling with the parachute and lowering it to the ground on "agáchate" (squat down).
"Que Llueva" Parachute Rain
Using the traditional Spanish children's song "Que llueva, que llueva" (Let It Rain), children make rain, clouds and sun with the parachute, and some hide underneath as…
«A la Zapatilla por Detrás»: The Slipper Behind Your Back
Sitting in a circle with eyes covered, one child walks around the outside with a slipper singing the traditional Spanish rhyme «A la zapatilla por detrás» («the…
«A Tapar la Calle»: The Chain That Blocks the Street
Half the class forms a hand-in-hand chain that walks forward singing the traditional Spanish song «A tapar la calle» («Block the street so nobody passes»), while the…