Stay in Your Lane

We lay ropes on the ground to make lanes like a running track, and each child runs in their own lane, changing speed with the drum. It works on keeping to your own space and changing pace without racing.

How to play

1. The teacher lays parallel ropes on the ground to make wide lanes and explains that each athlete stays in their lane without stepping on the lines (1 min).
2. In small groups per lane, we walk from one end to the other and walk back on the outside (1 min).
3. Slow drum: we jog gently in our lane; fast drum: we run a little faster (2 min).
4. Silent drum: we brake and freeze inside the lane with our feet together (1 min).
5. We walk back down the lane with giant steps, then ant steps (1 min).
6. We finish by raising our arms like athletes crossing the finish line, all together (1 min).

Rules

• I run in my lane, no stepping on the ropes.
• Nobody wins: we all reach the finish.
• When the drum goes quiet, we brake.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a wider lane for a wheelchair or walker, playing the same speed game with their own way of moving.
• Visual impairment: a guide partner holding hands and thick ropes that can be felt underfoot.
• Hearing impairment: a green card for run, yellow for jog and red for stop, along with the drum.

Learning goals

• Keep direction inside a marked space.
• Change speed and stop on a signal.
• Warm up the body gradually.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Ropes: 6
• Hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

Make lanes at least three feet wide with no more than four kids per lane at a time. The typical mistake is running while watching the child next door, so ask them to look at the end of their lane.

More activities like this

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