I Follow the Road My Friend Drew
On a long strip of butcher paper, one child draws a curvy road and the others travel along it, walking right on the line like cars. Children work on following a path with their feet and connecting a drawing to movement.
How to play
- Tape several long strips of butcher paper to the floor, one for each group of four or five children (2 min).
- The teacher draws a gently curving road with a chunky crayon on the first strip and everyone walks it, stepping on the line (2 min).
- In each group, one child draws their own road from end to end: straight, curvy or zigzag (3 min).
- The others take turns walking on the line, like cars that stay on the road (4 min).
- Switch artists and ways to travel: backward, crawling with one hand on the line, or on tiptoe (4 min).
- Hang the papers on the wall and look at all the class roads (1 min).
Rules
- The car always stays on the road.
- Wait until the car in front is far ahead.
- Each artist chooses their road, and everyone else respects it.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, straight roads or one big curve drawn by the teacher, walking normally.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, children draw roads with two or three curves.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, add signs drawn on the road (circle = jump, X = stop) that must be followed.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: draw a wider road (two lines) for a wheelchair or walker, or trace it with a finger on a table.
- Visual impairment: make the line with thick raised tape or a string taped on top so it can be felt with the feet.
- Less drawing control: the teacher holds the paper or draws hand-over-hand with the child.
Learning goals
- Follow a path with the feet, adjusting steps.
- Connect a flat drawing to real movement.
- Wait for a turn and respect a classmate's route.
Equipment for a class of 25
- butcher paper roll: 1
- chunky crayons: 12
- masking tape: 1
Teacher tip
Use thick, dark crayons so the line is easy to see from above. Remind everyone before starting to walk barefoot or in socks so shoe soles don't rip the paper.
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