Patio Corner Tour

Children ride a pretend train around the playground's play corners (the wall, the hopscotch, the tree, the bench) and do a different movement at each stop to wake up their bodies. They warm up while learning where each game lives and how to get there at recess.

How to play

1. Before going out, the teacher tapes a picture card at each corner: wall, hopscotch, tree and bench (1 min).
2. Line up behind the teacher like a train and walk to the first corner chanting “choo-choo, off to recess” (1 min).
3. At the wall, push hard as if to move it, then reach up and touch it as high as you can (1 min).
4. At the hopscotch, bunny-hop all the way around it without stepping on the lines (1 min).
5. At the tree, stretch tall like its branches; at the bench, sit down and stand up three times (1 min).
6. Go back to the meeting spot; the teacher asks “Where's the wall?” and everyone points to it with a straight arm (1 min).

Rules

• The train goes slowly and nobody lets go.
• Each corner has its own move, and we all do it together.
• When you hear “Home!”, head back to the meeting spot.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the train takes the flat paths and each move is adapted to the arms.
• Autism: show a photo of each corner beforehand, in the order you'll visit them.
• Visual impairment: a buddy guides by the arm, and at each corner the child touches the card, the wall or the tree bark.

Learning goals

• Warm up the body with traveling and big movements.
• Learn the names and locations of the playground's play corners.
• Return to the meeting spot on a signal.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Picture cards of the play corners: 4
• Tape: 1

Teacher tip

Keep the same meeting spot all year: it becomes the home base kids return to at recess. Trains tend to break apart at corners, so slow down on the turns.

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