Putting the Town Signs Away

When the town closes, children stroll very slowly around the playground collecting cones and signs, saying the name of each sign before putting it away. It helps them calm down, review what they learned and take care of the equipment together.

How to play

1. In a circle, the teacher announces that the town is closing and the night crew picks up the signs walking on tiptoe (1 min).
2. In pairs, go get one sign or cone, very slowly and quietly (1 min).
3. Before putting it away, the pair shows it to the group and says what it means: "It's STOP, you have to stop" (1 min).
4. We put everything in the baskets gently, without making noise (1 min).
5. Come back to the circle, sit down and take three deep breaths (1 min).

Rules

• We walk on tiptoe, no running.
• Each pair carries one thing.
• We set the signs down gently.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a child using a wheelchair collects a sign a friend brings over and carries it on their lap.
• Autism: a clear task that's always the same: they collect the cones of one color and stack them.
• Visual impairment: the child collects with a guide buddy and recognizes the signs by feeling their shape.

Learning goals

• Calm down after the activity.
• Remember what simple signs mean.
• Help take care of the equipment.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Cardboard signs: 6
• Cones: 10
• Basket: 2

Teacher tip

Spread the signs out on purpose so there's a little strolling to do. If kids speed up, slow things down with "The town is sleeping, don't wake it up."

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