Airport Security Arch and Baggage Belt
The class lives a plane trip from start to finish: going through the security arch without touching it, boarding, and on arrival half the group are suitcases rolling down the belt while the other half are travelers picking them up. It works rolling along the body's long axis, fitting the body through a space and taking turns.
How to play
- Check-in: each child gets a large sticker on their clothes (their luggage tag) and waits in a line between cones (2 min).
- Security: go through a hoop the teacher holds at different heights, one at a time, without touching it; if you touch it, “beep-beep-beep” and go through again laughing (3 min).
- Board and fly: sitting in a row, buckle your seatbelt and lean side to side with the plane (2 min).
- We land: half the group are suitcases log-rolling down the baggage belt (mats in a row); the other half are travelers waiting at the end to help their suitcase up (3 min).
- Switch roles: travelers become suitcases and suitcases become travelers (3 min).
- Leave the airport: each traveler walks hand in hand with their “suitcase” to the door and they say goodbye (1 min).
Rules
- At security, one at a time.
- On the belt, one suitcase rolls after another, leaving space.
- Travelers wait at the end of the belt, not on it.
- Everyone is a suitcase and everyone is a traveler.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, keep the security hoop at one height and the belt short; an adult helps with rolling.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, change the hoop's height and roll the whole belt.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, suitcases roll with arms stretched overhead and travelers find their suitcase by sticker color.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the child can be the security officer holding the hoop or a traveler collecting suitcases.
- Autism: the child can be a suitcase that gets up alone at the end, with no one touching them.
- Visual impairment: roll down the belt with an adult alongside, and the traveler calls the child's name at the end.
Learning goals
- Roll along the long axis while keeping direction.
- Adjust posture to pass through a space without touching it.
- Take turns and switch roles.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Hoops: 2
- Floor mats: 4
- Cones: 6
- Large stickers: 25
Teacher tip
Butt the mats together in a straight line with no height difference. If someone gets dizzy rolling, they can do the belt crawling like a suitcase on wheels.
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