Nobody Finishes Until Everyone Does

We cross the playground with one special rule: the group only crosses the finish line when everyone is together, so we wait for the slowest and help them. It builds matching your pace to the group, cooperation and accepting that the fastest doesn't win.

How to play

1. Mark the start with cones and the finish with a rope on the floor. The teacher explains the special rule: 'We only cross the finish when we're all here' (1 min).
2. First trip walking: the teacher stops before the finish and asks 'Is everyone here?'; we count and cross together (2 min).
3. Second trip, any way you like (hopping, crawling, sideways): early arrivals wait at the rope cheering the others on (3 min).
4. Third trip in pairs holding hands: no pair crosses until all the pairs have arrived (2 min).
5. Last trip, the whole group holds hands in one long chain, adjusting their steps so no one lets go (3 min).
6. Celebrate by crossing together with a big jump over the rope (1 min).

Rules

• If I get there first, I wait for my friends and cheer them on.
• Nobody crosses the finish alone.
• If someone falls behind, we go get them.
• We all win when we all arrive.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the group matches its pace to theirs and a buddy holds their hand alongside.
• Autism: they can wait at the finish in a fixed marked spot and join the final jump.
• Visual impairment: in the chain they go between two friends who announce changes of direction.

Learning goals

• Match one's own pace to the group's.
• Wait for and help slower classmates.
• Experience a shared goal with no winners or losers.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Long rope: 1
• Cones: 8

Teacher tip

Fast runners struggle at first: give them a job while waiting, like 'finish-line cheerleaders.' If someone crosses alone, don't scold; just ask them to go back for the others.

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