Duo Ladder: Two-Person Figures by Level

Five stations with two-person figures ordered from easiest to hardest; each pair moves up a rung at its own pace once it masters the figure. It works balance and the independence to pick the right challenge.

How to play

1. Explain the system: each cone with its poster board is a rung with two partner figures (level 1: supports on the floor; level 5: flyer standing on the base's thighs with no hands). To move up, hold the figure 5 seconds twice in a row (4 min).
2. Free work up the ladder. Pairs move up when they succeed and move down if a figure feels unsafe (10 min).
3. Mandatory role switch: the flyer becomes the base and starts again from rung 2 (8 min).
4. Each pair picks its best figure and shows it to the pair next to it, who checks the 5 seconds (6 min).
5. Quick tally on each rung's poster of how many pairs reached it (2 min).

Rules

• Move up when the figure is clean, not because you're in a hurry.
• On levels 4 and 5, someone from another pair acts as the spotter.
• Flyer barefoot or in clean sneakers; the base may wear sneakers.
• Moving down a rung is a good decision, not a failure.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: bases level 1 and 2 figures while seated or in a wheelchair, with the flyer's hands on their shoulders.
• Nervous students: may stay on one rung all ten minutes and do it with different partners.
• Visual impairment: the partner describes the figure on the poster and guides hand placement before any weight goes on.

Learning goals

• Master partner figures of increasing difficulty.
• Choose your own level of challenge sensibly.
• Hold a figure steady for 5 seconds.

Equipment for a class of 25

• gym mats: 14
• poster boards: 5
• cones: 5

Teacher tip

Draw the figures as simple stick figures; if you're short on time, photos from the last class work too. Put rungs 4 and 5 near you so you can supervise them better.

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