Pit Stop: Cars Warm Up Their Wheels

Children are race cars warming up their wheels around the track and, when the teacher shouts “Pit stop!”, they pull up at a cone and shake out their legs and arms as if getting new tires. It warms up the body with running at different speeds and mobility breaks.

How to play

1. Spread the cones around the playground: they're the pit stops. Each car starts its engine with a “vroom” (1 min).
2. The cars roll slowly around the track, turning the wheel on the curves (1 min).
3. At “Pit stop!”, each car stops by a cone and shakes one leg, the other leg and the arms: new tires! (1 min).
4. Leave the pit faster and zigzag between the cones without touching them (1 min).
5. Alternate fast laps and pit stops, and the last time park slowly beside a cone (2 min).

Rules

• Several cars fit in a pit stop: no need to get there first.
• Cars don't crash: if someone crosses in front, we brake.
• Cones aren't touched; we steer around them.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: drive in a wheelchair or walker on the wider outer lane, and shake arms and hands in the pit.
• Hearing impairment: “Pit stop!” comes with a raised flag or scarf.
• Autism: the child can have their own pit stop, always the same cone.

Learning goals

• Alternate running and stopping.
• Dodge obstacles by changing direction.
• Loosen up joints during the stops.

Equipment for a class of 25

• conos: 12

Teacher tip

Set out more cones than half the class so the pits never get crowded and nobody pushes. Explain that nobody wins this race: what matters is having nice warm wheels.

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