Mole Course: Over and Under

A course of boxes and tunnels where children are moles going under (tunnels and box arches) and over (flattened boxes to step on and low boxes to jump). It strings together slithering, crawling, stepping, and jumping in one continuous route.

How to play

1. We walk the course with the teacher: fabric tunnel, box arches, path of flattened boxes, and a row of low boxes (2 min).
2. First lap at calm mole speed: under means crawl, over means step carefully (3 min).
3. Second lap: the low boxes get jumped with feet together (3 min).
4. The moles carry a worm (a scarf) in one hand without dropping it the whole way (3 min).
5. Together we change the order of the stations and do the course again (3 min).
6. The moles go back to their burrow (the tunnel) and stay inside, still, counting to five (1 min).

Rules

• Under, I crawl; over, I walk.
• I wait until the child ahead clears the station.
• Low boxes get jumped, not stepped on.
• If a box moves, I put it back and keep going.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a version with tall arches to roll under and boxes to push instead of jump.
• Autism: show the course with photos in order and always start at the same station.
• Visual impairment: each station has a sound (shaker, clap) made by a classmate to orient by.

Learning goals

• Link different movement skills in one route.
• Adapt the body to going over and under.
• Keep the order and space between classmates.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Large cardboard boxes: 6
• Medium cardboard boxes: 8
• Fabric play tunnels: 1
• Mats: 3
• Scarves: 25

Teacher tip

Jump boxes must be low (produce crates or cut to about a hand's height) and empty so they give if someone lands on them. Make arches from a big box with top and bottom removed, set on its side, with a beanbag on each leg.

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