Shape Traffic Light: Tuck, Pike and Straight

Students jog around the gym and, when a colored card goes up, take the matching gymnastics shape on the floor or in a jump. It reviews the three basic shapes used in rolls, jumps and turns.

How to play

1. Easy jog between cones with arm and neck mobility (2 min).
2. Red card: tuck sitting; yellow: pike sitting; green: straight lying. Take it within 3 seconds (2 min).
3. Same shapes in the air with a small straight jump and soft landing (2 min).
4. Face-down shapes: straight plank, pike as an upside-down V, tuck on knees (2 min).
5. Two cards in a row: link both shapes without stopping (2 min).

Rules

• When the card goes up, stop near a mat, not on top of someone.
• Land jumps with bent knees and quietly.
• Pointed toes in pike and straight.
• Jogging pace, not sprinting.

Variations

Adaptations

• Deaf students: works as is with cards; agree on a stop signal.
• Limited mobility: shapes with arms and torso from a wheelchair or sitting.
• Ankle injury: floor shapes only, no jumps.

Learning goals

• Recognize and name tuck, pike and straight.
• Warm up the whole body progressively.
• React to visual signals.

Equipment for a class of 25

• body-shape cards: 3
• mats: 15
• cones: 10

Teacher tip

Laminate the cards on large sheets so they can be seen from far away. Typical mistake: bent knees in pike; show it with a stick behind the legs.

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