Light Every Lamp Before the Song Ends

Tipped-over cones are dark street lamps scattered around the yard, and the whole class has to stand them all up, lighting them, before the song ends. Then they switch them off again, practicing running with changes of direction toward a shared goal.

How to play

1. Scatter as many tipped-over cones as there are children. The teacher explains: “It's nighttime and the lamps are off; we turn them on by standing them up” (1 min).
2. The song plays and everyone runs to stand up lamps one at a time until none are left lying down (1 min).
3. Now it's morning: switch them all off by tipping them over before another song ends (1 min).
4. Repeat with a new way of moving: hopping, sideways or on all fours (2 min).
5. Last round: the teacher sneakily tips over a few lamps while the class works, and the class still has to beat the song (1 min).
6. Sit next to a lit lamp and breathe slowly (1 min).

Rules

• I light one lamp at a time.
• I don't undo a lamp a friend already lit.
• I watch where I run so I don't bump anyone.
• When they're all lit, we celebrate together.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: put some cones on a low bench at the child's height; they count for the challenge too.
• Autism: show the yard with all lamps standing at the start so the child sees what “done” looks like.
• Visual impairment: use brightly colored cones in a smaller area, with a buddy guide.

Learning goals

• Warm up with short runs and changes of direction.
• Cooperate to reach a whole-group goal.
• React to the music starting and stopping.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Cones: 25
• Music

Teacher tip

Count the cones beforehand; having more cones than kids works best. A common hiccup is a child undoing someone else's work, so make the “on” and “off” instructions very clear.

More activities like this

More warm-ups for Elementary