Stuffed Animal Rides in a Box Car

Each child puts their stuffed animal in a cardboard box tied to a rope and takes it for a ride around the room, between cones, along straight and curvy paths. It builds walking while pulling an object, steering and taking care of the toy.

How to play

1. Each child sits their stuffed animal in its box car and buckles a pretend seat belt (1 min).
2. Take the stuffed animal for a slow walk around the room, looking back to make sure it's okay (2 min).
3. The teacher sets out cones and we zigzag the stuffed animal between them (3 min).
4. Take the stuffed animal to visit places: the window, the door, the mat, and tell it about each one (3 min).
5. Give a friend's stuffed animal a ride while they give yours one, then swap back (2 min).
6. Park the box car by the wall and lift the stuffed animal out with a hug (1 min).

Rules

• We walk, not run, so the stuffed animal doesn't fall out.
• If it falls out, we stop and sit it back in.
• Each box car goes its own way without crashing.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: tie the rope to the wheelchair so the stuffed animal rides behind the child.
• Autism: if the child doesn't want to lend their stuffed animal, skip the swap and keep riding their own.
• Visual impairment: the child follows a guide rope on the floor or holds a classmate's hand.

Learning goals

• Walk while pulling an object and steer it.
• Plan a path around obstacles.
• Take care of a beloved object.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Cardboard boxes: 25
• Short ropes: 25
• Stuffed animals from home: 25
• Cones: 8

Teacher tip

Ropes should be about 2 feet long and never wrapped around a wrist or neck. Ask families for boxes ahead of time; low boxes work best so the toy doesn't tip over.

More main activities for Elementary