Cardboard Binoculars: Up, Down, Far Away
Using binoculars made from cardboard tubes, explorers roam the playground and react with their bodies to what the teacher spots up high, down low or far away. They warm up with varied movements and train the eyes they'll use for searching.
How to play
- Each explorer gets binoculars and tries looking through them while standing still: at the tree, the door, the teacher (1 min).
- Walk around the playground looking through the binoculars; on “A bird up high!”, rise onto tiptoe and flap your wings (1 min).
- On “A mouse down low!”, squat down and waddle, looking at the ground (1 min).
- On “A ship far away!”, lower the binoculars, jog toward the farthest wall and wave (1 min).
- The teacher mixes the calls faster and faster and the explorers switch moves (1 min).
- Head back to camp, set the binoculars down and take a deep breath looking at the sky (1 min).
Rules
- When I run, I lower my binoculars so I can see.
- Every call has its own move.
- I take care of my binoculars: no throwing.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, use only two calls (up and down) and the teacher does the moves too.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, mix all three calls.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, one child is captain and invents a new call with its own move.
Adaptations
- Visual impairment: the calls become sounds (“A bird is singing up high!”) and the child moves holding a buddy's hand.
- Limited mobility: the child does the arm and trunk moves in place and travels at their own pace.
- Autism: show three picture cards beforehand (bird, mouse and ship) and hold one up with each call.
Learning goals
- Warm up with traveling and changes of level.
- Direct the eyes up, down and far away.
- Respond to verbal cues with movement.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Cardboard tube binoculars: 25
Teacher tip
Make the binoculars in art class a few days earlier by taping two tubes together (no neck strings). The usual mistake is running while looking through the tube; insist they lower it to move.
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