Spring Planting Potato Race

A spring take on the classic potato race: in relay style, one runner plants potatoes in the garden rows and the next one harvests them, changing the way they travel depending on the weather card. Students practice running with changes of direction, stopping, and coordination.

How to play

1. Form 6 teams of 4 in lines. In front of each line set 4 hoops in a row at 13, 26, 40, and 53 ft (the garden rows) and a bucket with 4 bean bags (the potatoes) at the start (3 min).
2. First leg: the runner takes the bucket, plants one bean bag in each hoop starting with the farthest, and comes back with the empty bucket. Then they high-five the next runner.
3. The second runner harvests: they collect the bean bags and bring them back to the bucket, either one potato per trip (harder) or all at once depending on the level.
4. The third runner plants and the fourth harvests. When everyone has run, the team sits down and shouts "Harvest done!" (4 min per round).
5. Before each round, the teacher draws a weather card: sun means run; rain means two-foot jumps; wind means slide sideways; storm means bear crawl.
6. Play 3 rounds. Award points to the first team and also to the team that placed its potatoes most neatly inside the hoops (11 min).

Rules

• Each potato must end up inside the hoop; if it lands outside, fix it.
• Tag off behind the start line with a high five.
• Place the potatoes, don't throw them.
• Slow down before bending at each hoop to avoid falls.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: move the hoops closer and give the student using a wheelchair a bucket at lap height.
• Hearing impairment or autism: weather cards have a clear picture and are shown in a fixed spot.
• Fitness level: teams can have lines of 5 for more rest between legs.

Learning goals

• Travel in different ways with changes of direction and stops.
• Coordinate bending down and getting back up while racing.
• Follow the order and rules of a relay.

Equipment for a class of 25

• hoops: 24
• bean bags: 24
• buckets: 6
• cards: 4

Teacher tip

Line up the hoops neatly and leave space between lanes so runners don't cross paths. At the end, talk about what gets planted in a school garden in spring to link the game to the theme.

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