Boats That See the Lighthouse and Hear the Foghorn
Children sail around like little boats and respond to two different signals: when the lighthouse lights up (a yellow card) they hurry to the harbor, and when the teacher's foghorn sounds they turn around and sail the other way. It practices telling a visual signal from a sound signal and reacting to each.
How to play
- Spread hoops along one side of the space: they're the harbor moorings; the rest is the sea. Children sail with arms as sails (2 min).
- Introduce the lighthouse: when the teacher holds up the yellow card, the boats hurry to dock at a hoop, and several fit in each hoop (2 min).
- Introduce the foghorn: the teacher goes "Oooooh!" and the boats turn around and sail the other way (2 min).
- Mix the lighthouse and foghorn without warning and in any order (3 min).
- Night falls: the teacher slowly lowers the lighthouse and the boats sail slower and slower until they fall asleep in the harbor (1 min).
Rules
- Lighthouse: I go to the harbor. Foghorn: I turn around.
- Several boats fit in a hoop, so I make room.
- I sail without crashing into other boats.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, practice only the lighthouse, then only the foghorn, without mixing them.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, mix lighthouse and foghorn.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, add a storm: the teacher waves their arms and the boats crouch and rock in place.
Adaptations
- Hearing impairment: pair the foghorn with a circling arm gesture; the lighthouse is already visual.
- Visual impairment: also announce the lighthouse with a little bell, and a buddy walks the child to the harbor.
- Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair has a big mooring nearby and turns the chair for the foghorn.
Learning goals
- Tell a visual signal from a sound signal.
- Choose the right response for each signal.
- Move with quick changes of direction.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Yellow construction paper: 1
- Hoops: 6
Teacher tip
Do it very slowly at first so they understand there are two different signals. Fewer hoops means more sharing, but never take hoops away during the game.
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