Control Tower Says Go

Planes wait in their colored hangars and only take off when the control tower raises a scarf in their color. It builds reacting to a color signal, waiting for your turn and moving with control.

How to play

1. Each plane tucks a colored scarf in their waistband and sits by the hangar (hoop) of that color (2 min).
2. The control tower (the teacher) raises a scarf: only planes of that color take off, fly a lap with arms out and land in their hangar (3 min).
3. The rest wait with engines running: they go "brrr" with hands on their knees (2 min).
4. Two colors at once and a long flight: they fly around the playground without bumping other planes (3 min).
5. All colors together: final takeoff and a soft landing in the hangar (2 min).

Rules

• Only your color takes off.
• We fly with arms out without bumping.
• We land slowly, no diving to the floor.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: fly in the wheelchair with a buddy of the same color, or fly with the arms from the hangar.
• Visual impairment: the tower calls the color out loud and the plane flies holding a buddy's hand.
• Autism: explain that waits can be long and give a hangar job, like counting the planes that come back.

Learning goals

• React to a color signal.
• Wait for a turn with the group.
• Run and land with control.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Colored scarves: 25
• Hoops: 4

Teacher tip

Place the hangars far apart so groups don't cross when landing. If a color hasn't gone in a while, call it next: the waiting should be shared.

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