Bottomless Box Train Cars

Each child steps into a bottomless box and holds it at waist height: that's their train car. The cars hook up in a line by holding the box in front, and travel around the yard at different speeds without the train coming apart.

How to play

1. Everyone steps into their car, holds the edges, and practices alone: forward, slow, fast, and stop (2 min).
2. We couple up in pairs: the back child holds the edge of the front child's box and we walk together (3 min).
3. We build trains of four or five cars; the engine leads and the rest follow without letting go (3 min).
4. The train stops at cone stations: the teacher calls “All aboard!” and the engine moves to the back (3 min).
5. Slow freight train and fast express: we change speed when the teacher calls “Choo-choo!” (2 min).
6. We pull into the train yard: cars uncouple one by one and park in a row (1 min).

Rules

• My car always stays at my waist.
• I follow the engine at its speed, without pushing.
• If the train breaks apart, everyone stops and we hook up again.
• Everyone gets a turn as the engine.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the wheelchair is the train car (decorated with box sides) and the child is the engine, setting a pace that works for them.
• Autism: the child keeps the same spot in the train and the same partner behind; speed changes are previewed with a picture card.
• Visual impairment: the child rides in the middle of the train and the car in front calls out stops.

Learning goals

• Match their own pace to classmates'.
• Coordinate walking with an object around the body.
• Cooperate so the train stays together.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Large cardboard boxes: 25
• Masking tape: 2
• Cones: 6

Teacher tip

Prep the boxes ahead of time: remove bottoms and flaps and tape the edges so they don't scratch. The classic mistake is the engine taking off at a run; remind them the whole train is behind them.

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