Hand Turn Signals

Children drive around as cars with a scarf tied on their right wrist; before turning, they flash their turn signal by opening and closing the hand on that side. It builds left-right awareness and listening while warming up.

How to play

1. The teacher ties a scarf on each child's right wrist: "This is the scarf hand, the right" (1 min).
2. Practice standing still: "Right turn signal!" We open and close the scarf hand saying "tick, tock"; then the other hand (1 min).
3. Drive at a walk; the teacher says "Turning right!" and everyone signals and turns that way (1 min).
4. Same with left turns, mixing in an easy jog and stops on the drum (2 min).
5. Finish with both hands at once, the hazard lights, and stop in the circle (1 min).

Rules

• Signal first, then turn.
• We turn without bumping into anyone.
• When the drum sounds, we freeze.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair signals with the hand and turns the chair or just the upper body.
• Hearing impairment: the teacher holds up a big cardboard arrow pointing the way to turn.
• Autism: same colored scarf on the same wrist every time, and always the same phrases.

Learning goals

• Tell right from left on their own body.
• Link a signal to a change of direction.
• Warm up with varied movement.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Scarves: 25
• Hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

If you give directions facing the group, your right is their left: turn your back to demonstrate. Many kids flash both hands at first; that's fine early on.

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