Reverse Gear on the Tape

Children are cars driving along a tape road; depending on the drum, they go forward, back up or slide sideways. It builds balance while changing direction without leaving the path.

How to play

1. Each child stands on a tape line holding an imaginary steering wheel (1 min).
2. One drum beat: drive forward; two beats: reverse, slowly, looking over your shoulder (1 min).
3. Rub the drum: the car parallel parks, stepping sideways along the tape (1 min).
4. Mix the three signals without stopping, slowly at first and then a bit faster (1 min).
5. The car backs very slowly into the garage and turns off the engine with a big blow (1 min).

Rules

• I listen to the drum before I move.
• When I back up, I go slowly and look behind me.
• Cars don't crash.
• My feet stay on the road.

Variations

Adaptations

• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: replace the drum with arrow cards (forward, back, sideways).
• Blind or low-vision students hold hands with a "co-pilot" classmate who walks on the tape beside them.
• Students ready for more carry a beanbag on their head as the car's cargo.

Learning goals

• Change direction while keeping balance on a line.
• Move backward and sideways with control.
• Tell sound signals apart and respond with movement.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Colored masking tape: 2
• Hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

Backing up feels a little scary to three-year-olds, so let them look back as much as they want. Practice each signal on its own before mixing them.

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