Mushroom Picking on the Forest Trail

Children walk along a rope trail and, without stepping off, crouch to pick the mushrooms (small cones) growing along the sides. Squatting down and standing back up mid-walk really tests dynamic balance.

How to play

1. Make a long trail out of ropes and scatter small cones along both sides, an arm's length away: they're mushrooms (2 min).
2. Walk the trail without picking anything, spotting where the mushrooms are (2 min).
3. Each child takes a basket, walks the trail and crouches to pick mushrooms without moving their feet off the rope (4 min).
4. At the end, walk back "planting" the mushrooms along the trail, crouching again (3 min).
5. The teacher sets some mushrooms farther away or on the other side, so you have to reach without stepping off (2 min).
6. Count all the mushrooms together and set them out at the "market" (1 min).

Rules

• My feet stay on the trail.
• I pick one mushroom at a time.
• I leave mushrooms for friends: I don't take them all.
• If I step off, I get back on the trail and keep going.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students who use a wheelchair: place mushrooms on chairs or low tables beside a wide trail so they can reach them while seated.
• Blind or low-vision students: use mushrooms that rattle (small, tightly closed bottles with rice) and give "hot or cold" hints.
• Students who need more support can crouch with one hand on an adult's shoulder.

Learning goals

• Keep their balance while crouching and standing up during a walk.
• Follow a marked path without stepping off while doing another task.
• Learn about the forest as a natural place and take care of it (leaving mushrooms for others).

Equipment for a class of 25

• Jump ropes: 10
• Small cones: 30
• Baskets: 6

Teacher tip

It's a good moment to explain that in a real forest we never pick mushrooms without an adult who knows them. Set out the mushrooms before the kids come outside and keep a few spares handy.

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