Expedition to Treasure Island

A bench obstacle course leads kids to Treasure Island: they row the boat, cross the bridge, go through the cave, slide down the hillside and jump onto the island, where there's a gold scarf for each of them. It reviews every way of moving with the bench in one shared story.

How to play

1. The teacher sets up the course: a bench boat, a bench bridge, a cave (two benches with a mat on top), a bench hooked onto the wall bars, and a low bench with mats in front; at the end, the treasure box (3 min).
2. We walk the course with the teacher, who tells the story and shows how each part works (2 min).
3. First expedition: we row sitting astride the boat, walk across the bridge and crawl through the cave (3 min).
4. Next we slide down the hillside sitting feet first and jump onto the island with a cat landing (3 min).
5. Second full expedition; at the end each pirate takes a gold scarf from the box (3 min).
6. We celebrate on the island dancing with our scarves, then sit in a circle and share our favorite part (1 min).

Rules

• Pirates go in a line, leaving space behind the one ahead.
• On the hillside, sitting and feet first.
• Treasure comes at the end: one for each pirate.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: adapt each part (seated boat, the bridge along the floor holding a friend's hand, the hillside with an adult), and they always reach the treasure.
• Autism: a picture strip with the five parts of the course to check off.
• Visual impairment: a buddy guide announces each change: "Bridge now," "Cave now."

Learning goals

• Link different movements over and under the bench.
• Finish a course with a shared goal.
• Keep the line and wait for classmates.

Equipment for a class of 25

• banco sueco: 5
• espaldera: 1
• colchonetas: 10
• caja grande: 1
• pañuelos: 25

Teacher tip

Place one adult at the hillside and another at the jump, the two tricky spots. Send kids off one at a time every few seconds so they don't bunch up.

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