PatioLab
Home › Activity library › Warm-ups for Elementary › Don't Let the Bubble Touch Me

Don't Let the Bubble Touch Me

The teacher blows bubbles and the children move around the playground so none of them touches them. It builds agility, changes of direction, and spatial awareness.

Illustration of the PE activity Don't Let the Bubble Touch Me
PhaseWarm-up
Duration7 min
Ages3–6
SpaceOutdoor yard
EquipmentBubble wand
IntensityHigh

How to play

  1. The teacher shows the bubble wand and explains that today's bubbles are ticklish, so we dodge them (1 min).
  2. The teacher blows bubbles slowly and the children walk out of the way so none touches them (1 min).
  3. More bubbles, faster: we dodge by running, ducking, or turning (2 min).
  4. The teacher walks around blowing and everyone runs away from the bubble cloud (2 min).
  5. The last bubble is allowed to touch us: we stand still and let it land (1 min).

Rules

Variations

Easier

For 3-year-olds, they dodge by walking and the teacher blows only a few bubbles at a time.

Standard

For 4-year-olds, they dodge by running and ducking.

Harder

For 5-year-olds, they must dodge without leaving a cone-marked zone that keeps getting smaller.

Adaptations

Learning goals

Equipment for a class of 25

Teacher tip

Blow with the wind at your back so the bubbles drift toward the group. The typical mistake is chasing them instead of running away: keep saying "the bubbles are ticklish."

Add this activity to your lesson

PatioLab has "Don't Let the Bubble Touch Me" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.

More activities like this

More warm-ups for Elementary

«Ahora que Vamos Despacio»: The Silly-Fibs Stroll

⏱ 7 min👥 Ages 3–6📍 Outdoor yard
Equipment: No equipment

We stroll very slowly singing the traditional Spanish song «Ahora que vamos despacio» («Now that we're going slowly, let's tell some fibs»), and on each «tralará» we…

speed control Moderate intensity

«El Cocherito Leré»: The Hopping Carriage

⏱ 6 min👥 Ages 3–6📍 Outdoor yard
Equipment: No equipment

We're carriages trotting around the yard, and on every «leré» in the traditional Spanish song «El cocherito leré» («the little coachman») we jump with feet together.

two-foot jumping High intensity

«Sal de Ahí, Chivita»: The Get-Out-Little-Goat Chain

⏱ 8 min👥 Ages 3–6📍 Outdoor yard
Equipment: No equipment

The little goat won't leave the field, so in this traditional Spanish cumulative song we call the wolf, the dog, the stick, the fire, the water and the ox.

copying movements Moderate intensity

A Bandage Where I'm Tagged

⏱ 7 min👥 Ages 3–6📍 Outdoor yard
Equipment: Scarves

Unos pocos niños pillan con un pañuelo en la mano; quien es tocado se pone una «tirita» con la mano justo donde le han tocado y sigue corriendo así, y al segundo toque…

body awareness on the move Moderate intensity

A Walk Through the Pole Forest

⏱ 6 min👥 Ages 3–6📍 Outdoor yard
Equipment: Poles, Cones with pole holes

We stand plastic poles upright in cones with holes and the playground becomes a forest of tall trees.

spatial orientation Moderate intensity

Achoo, Into Your Elbow!

⏱ 5 min👥 Ages 3–6📍 Any space
Equipment: No equipment

Children move around like animals and when the teacher goes “Ah… ah… achoo!”, they stop and hide their face in their elbow as if sneezing or coughing.

reaction speed Moderate intensity