Rescue the Puppy From the Box Maze

Big boxes set on end make a maze of corridors and dead ends, and a stuffed puppy is lost in the middle. Children find their way in, rescue the puppy, and carry it out the exit, deciding which path to take.

How to play

1. Beforehand, the teacher builds the maze with standing boxes as walls, and shows the entrance (green tape) and exit (red tape) (1 min).
2. We explore the maze in small groups, walking, with no puppy yet, to learn the paths (3 min).
3. The teacher hides the puppy in a corner: pairs go in to find it and carry it out to the exit (4 min).
4. The puppy moves to a new spot and kids who already rescued it give clues: “Turn right,” “Keep going straight” (3 min).
5. Together we move two or three boxes to make a new path and rescue the puppy again (3 min).
6. We take the maze apart, carrying each box to the wall, and the puppy thanks everyone (1 min).

Rules

• We walk in the maze; no running.
• We don't climb over or knock down the walls.
• If I hit a dead end, I turn around and try another way.
• We carry the puppy gently in our arms.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: make the paths wide enough for a wheelchair or walker and give the child a route without tight turns.
• Autism: let the child see the maze from outside first and give them a drawn map of the route.
• Visual impairment: walls have a textured tape strip at hand height to trail, and the puppy has a big bell sewn on.

Learning goals

• Find their way through a space with paths and turns.
• Make choices about the route and correct them.
• Give and follow directions.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Large cardboard boxes: 20
• Stuffed animal: 1
• Painter's tape: 1

Teacher tip

Appliance or moving boxes work best; if wind knocks them over, put a water jug or sandbag inside. Keep walls below adult eye level so you can always see every child.

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