Stop and Go on Can Stilts

Students walk on can stilts inside a marked area and follow a stoplight made of colored cards: green means go, yellow means slow down and red means freeze in balance. The activity builds dynamic and static balance, reaction to signals and arm-leg coordination.

How to play

1. Give each student a pair of can stilts; they adjust the strings so they reach the hands with arms straight, then stand inside a 20 x 20 m (65 x 65 ft) square marked with cones (3 min).
2. Get comfortable: walk freely around the area, pulling the strings up each time you lift a foot (3 min).
3. The teacher holds up cards: green, walk; yellow, tiny slow steps; red, full stop and hold for a count of five without stepping off the cans (4 min).
4. Add special cards: blue, half turn in place; white, three steps backward while looking over the shoulder (4 min).
5. In pairs, one student without stilts is the stoplight and the other follows the signals for one minute; switch roles and repeat twice (4 min).

Rules

• Keep the strings tight: pull up at the same moment you lift your foot.
• If you lose your balance, step off the cans; never jump on the stilts.
• Stay at least two meters (6 ft) away from others so nobody collides.
• On a red card everyone stops, even in the middle of a turn.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: be the main stoplight holding the cards, or move through the area in a wheelchair following the same signals.
• Hearing impairment: all signals are already visual, and each color also gets an agreed arm signal.
• Low balance skills: practice first with one stilt and one foot on the floor, or with a partner's shoulder for support.

Learning goals

• Control balance while walking raised on a small base.
• React quickly to visual signals while staying stable.
• Coordinate the arms and legs while moving.

Equipment for a class of 25

• can stilts (pairs): 25
• cones: 4
• colored cards: 5

Teacher tip

Check beforehand that the cans have no sharp edges and that the strings are tied securely. Use them on smooth, dry surfaces, since cans sink into sand or grass.

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