Everything in Its Place: A Calm Cleanup

At the end of the session, children calmly put the equipment away, placing it inside, on top of, under, or next to its spot as the teacher whispers directions. It brings energy down and reviews spatial concepts.

How to play

1. With soft music playing, the teacher explains that the equipment is tired and wants to go home; everything has its place (1 min).
2. The teacher whispers directions: "Hoops inside the big box." "Cones on top of the low shelf." The children carry them over slowly (3 min).
3. More directions: "Balls under the bench." "Ropes next to the door" (2 min).
4. We take one last tiptoe walk checking with our eyes: what goes inside is inside, what goes on top is on top (1 min).
5. We sit away from the equipment, on the rug or in a circle, and check that everything is in its place (1 min).

Rules

• I carry things slowly, walking.
• The teacher whispers, so I listen closely.
• I set each thing down carefully; I don't throw it.
• When I'm done, I sit quietly.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child carries items on the lap or checks that everything is in place.
• Autism: tape a photo of the right equipment at each storage spot.
• Hearing loss: the teacher points to the spot and gestures the position instead of whispering.

Learning goals

• Bring energy levels down at the end of the session.
• Apply spatial concepts in a real task.
• Care for shared equipment and space.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Equipment used in the session
• Soft music

Teacher tip

Have the boxes and shelves ready before you start. Whispering works better than shouting: if it gets noisy, pause the music and wait quietly.

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