Earn-a-Block Challenge Tower

Groups complete movement challenges at four stations, and each success earns a shoebox to build their tower. At the end all the boxes join into one giant class tower. Students practice basic skills and cooperation.

How to play

1. Put all the shoeboxes in the center (the quarry) and set four stations around it, 10 yards away.
2. Stations: hop through 5 hoops on one foot, knock down a cone with soft balls, jump rope 10 times and a partner slalom holding hands.
3. Make 5 groups of 5, each starting at a station; the fifth group starts at the quarry building.
4. Each time a student beats the challenge, they go to the quarry, take one box and add it to their group's tower.
5. Each station lasts 4 minutes, and groups rotate on the whistle (20 min); if a tower falls, rebuild it without losing boxes.
6. Finish (5 min): all groups combine their boxes into one class tower and count how many they can stack.

Rules

• Walk to the quarry and carry one box at a time.
• Touch only your own group's tower.
• Use jump ropes with clear space around you.
• If the tower falls, help rebuild it without blaming anyone.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: throws from a wheelchair and serves as the architect who places the boxes.
• Autism or shyness: may stay building at the quarry and do the challenges at their own pace.
• Lower fitness: choose between two challenge levels at each station.

Learning goals

• Practice a variety of jumps, throws and locomotor skills.
• Cooperate to build a shared tower.
• Handle frustration when the tower falls.

Equipment for a class of 25

• shoeboxes: 40
• hoops: 5
• cones: 6
• soft balls: 10
• jump ropes: 5

Teacher tip

Ask families to send in shoeboxes well ahead of time; 40 is plenty. Make the final class build a moment of celebration.

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