Roll, Roll to the Color

On a mat area, children roll to the scarf whose color the teacher calls out. They practice rolling in a chosen direction and finding their way in space.

How to play

1. We push mats into a big square and place a colored scarf on each side (2 min).
2. Everyone lies in the middle: we roll a little to one side and back to try it out (2 min).
3. The teacher calls a color and the kids roll toward that side, no rush (3 min).
4. New challenge: roll there and touch the scarf with a hand or a foot (3 min).
5. One child picks the color for everyone (2 min).

Rules

• I roll toward the color that was called.
• If I bump gently into someone, I wait and keep going.
• When I get there, I sit up.
• There's no winner: we all get there.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child picks and calls the colors, or moves however they can around the outside of the mats.
• Blind or low vision: an adult on each side makes a different sound, named along with the color.
• Less coordination: the child may crawl instead and roll just the last stretch.

Learning goals

• Roll in a chosen direction.
• Recognize colors and sides of the room.
• Make decisions about their path.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Mats: 4
• Colored scarves: 4

Teacher tip

Keep it to about six rollers at once; with more kids, use two groups that take turns. If anyone gets dizzy, they sit and breathe.

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