Sun or Tree Shade

In an open area of the park with trees, children run freely in the sun and, when the teacher calls 'To the shade!', they take cover in a tree's shadow. It works on reaction speed and the habit of protecting themselves from the sun.

How to play

1. Look at the ground: 'Where is it sunny and where is it shady?' and point to the trees' shadows (1 min).
2. Stroll in the sun like lizards warming up; on 'To the shade!', walk to the nearest shady spot (2 min).
3. Now move in the sun in different ways (jumping, on tiptoe, galloping like horses) and run to the shade on the signal (3 min).
4. In the shade, do something cool: fan yourself, pretend to drink, sit and rest counting to five (2 min).
5. Finish together in the biggest patch of shade, drinking real water from our bottles (2 min).

Rules

• Everyone fits in every shady spot: nobody pushes anyone out.
• We run looking ahead so we don't bump into anyone.
• We only use the shady spots in the teacher's area.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair gets a closer shady spot of their own, and the area is chosen with no bumps or slopes.
• Hearing loss: the signal is holding up a fan or a big scarf.
• Autism: warn that the signal will be called loudly and let them always go to the same shady spot.

Learning goals

• React quickly to a signal.
• Move in different ways without bumping into others.
• Build the habit of seeking shade and drinking water on hot days.

Teacher tip

On very hot days, keep the time in the sun very short and end the game with a drink. Don't use shady spots next to bike paths or at the park's edge.

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