Doors and Windows in the Cardboard House

Several huge boxes have doors and windows cut in different sizes and heights; children go in, come out, and poke different body parts through them on cue. It works on body awareness and fitting the body to each opening.

How to play

1. Meet the houses: each has a big door, a small door, and high and low windows (1 min).
2. We go in through the big door and out the small one, figuring out how to make ourselves small (3 min).
3. We poke out what the teacher says through the windows: head, one hand, a foot, an elbow (3 min).
4. Neighbors game: one child inside and one outside say hi through the window with a hand or foot high five (3 min).
5. Each child chooses where to go in and out and says it: “I'm going in the low window, feet first” (2 min).
6. We close the windows with our hands because night is coming, and sit down next to the house (1 min).

Rules

• I go in and out slowly, without pulling on the house.
• Only one body part pokes out a window at a time.
• If the house is full, I wait at the door.
• We don't tear the house walls.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: one house has a wall removed so a wheelchair can roll in, with windows at hand height.
• Autism: a house just for the child as a calm hideout, to peek out of whenever they like.
• Visual impairment: door and window edges are lined with textured tape so they're easy to find.

Learning goals

• Recognize and name body parts.
• Fit the body to the size of an opening.
• Enter and leave spaces with control.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Large cardboard boxes: 4
• Box cutter (adult only): 1
• Masking tape: 2

Teacher tip

Cut the openings with the box cutter before class, out of children's reach, and tape the edges so they don't scratch. Washer boxes fit two or three kids at once.

More activities like this

More main activities for Elementary