Head, Shoulders, Knees, Cone!
In pairs, facing each other with a flat disc cone between them, students touch the body parts the teacher calls out, and on Cone! they try to grab it before their partner. It is a gentle warm-up that trains focus and reaction time.
How to play
- Form pairs standing face to face, one step apart, with a flat disc cone on the floor between them.
- The teacher calls out body parts: head, shoulders, knees, ankles. Partners touch them with both hands as fast as they can.
- At any moment the teacher shouts Cone!: whoever grabs the cone first scores a point.
- After each point, the cone goes back to the middle. Play 1-minute rounds with 4 or 5 cone calls.
- At the end of each round, everyone jogs around the space for 20 seconds and finds a new partner.
- In the last rounds, add movements such as squat, jump, or spin to raise the intensity a little at a time.
Rules
- Hands can't hover near the cone before the call.
- Grab the cone without slapping or bumping heads: each player bends toward their own side.
- If both grab it at the same time, each gets a point.
- You must finish the called move; if you don't, the point doesn't count.
Variations
Easier
Call only three body parts, and the teacher raises an arm right before saying Cone!
Standard
A mix of body parts, 1-minute rounds, and jogging to a new partner.
Harder
Use trick words like cobra or cookie, and start seated on the floor.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: place the cone on a chair or bench at the student's hand height.
- Hearing impairment: the teacher points to the body part and holds a cone up high for Cone!
- Fitness level: a student who needs less effort walks instead of jogging between rounds.
Learning goals
- Stay focused on changing verbal cues.
- Identify and name body parts.
- React quickly to a specific signal.
Equipment for a class of 25
- flat disc cones: 13
Teacher tip
Tell students to grab the cone from their own side to avoid head bumps. Vary the pace of your calls: long pauses build a lot of excitement.
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