Slalom Through the Chair Forest

Chairs set in rows are trees in a forest, and children weave around them in a zigzag without touching, first walking and then other ways. It works on changing direction, spatial awareness and body control near obstacles.

How to play

1. Set up three rows of five chairs a big step apart, with a tape line at the start (2 min).
2. The teacher walks the zigzag slowly saying “Right side, left side,” then each child takes a turn on a row (2 min).
3. Zigzag on tiptoe, sideways like crabs, and backward very slowly with a hand on each chair back (3 min).
4. Now circle each tree all the way around before going to the next one (2 min).
5. The 5-year-olds invent a new way to cross the forest and everyone copies it (2 min).
6. At the end, everyone hugs the last tree in the forest and sits on it to breathe (1 min).

Rules

• We don't touch the trees with our feet.
• I wait until the person ahead passes two trees before I go.
• If I bump a tree, I set it straight and keep going.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a row with chairs spaced wide enough for their wheelchair or walker.
• Visual impairment: follows the row touching each chair back, with a buddy calling “Tree!”
• Less skilled children: only two or three trees, then walk back around the outside.

Learning goals

• Change direction with control.
• Move near obstacles without touching them.
• Use right and left while moving.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Chairs: 25
• Masking tape: 1

Teacher tip

Face all the chairs the same way (toward the start) so the backs are always on the same side. The usual mistake is starting right on the heels of the child ahead, so signal with your hand when the next one can go.

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