Chalk Sidewalks and Street
A wide chalk street is drawn in the middle with a sidewalk on each side; children are pedestrians walking on the sidewalk or cars jogging on the street, depending on the call. It teaches the parts of a street and warms up with changes of pace.
How to play
- Before starting, the teacher has drawn a wide street and two sidewalks in chalk; we walk them together and name each area (1 min).
- "We're pedestrians!": everyone walks on the sidewalks without stepping on the street (1 min).
- "We're cars!": everyone jogs on the street holding an imaginary steering wheel, all going the same way (1 min).
- The teacher switches between "pedestrians" and "cars" with the drum; on a loud beat, everyone freezes right where they are (2 min).
- We finish as pedestrians, strolling slowly along the sidewalk and waving to the neighbors (1 min).
Rules
- Pedestrians stay on the sidewalk.
- Cars stay on the street, all going the same way.
- On the loud beat, everybody freezes.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, use one wide sidewalk and one street, and the teacher leads as a car or a pedestrian.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, use two sidewalks and the street, and switch faster.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, add "Park the car!": cars find a sidewalk and crouch by the curb without stepping onto it.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a child using a wheelchair or walker gets the widest lane and others leave it clear.
- Autism: color the sidewalk and street differently, and show a pedestrian or car picture before each switch.
- Visual impairment: a buddy holds hands, and the curb is marked with a rope on the ground they can feel underfoot.
Learning goals
- Tell the sidewalk from the street.
- Change pace on cue.
- Move around while keeping to one direction of traffic.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Sidewalk chalk: 10
- Hand drum: 1
Teacher tip
Draw the curb with a thick line: it's the boundary kids find hardest. A common issue is "cars" going every which way; mark the direction with big arrows.
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