Swap Corners Hand in Hand

A family version of the four-corners game grown-ups used to play: each child-and-grown-up pair stands in a house (a big hoop) and, at the tambourine, every pair switches houses, hurrying hand in hand. Nobody is left out because houses are shared. It works spatial orientation, quick decisions and responding to a signal.

How to play

1. A grown-up explains how they played four corners on their street; the teacher spreads big hoops around as houses (1 min).
2. Each pair stands in or next to a hoop, holding hands; two or three pairs fit in each house (1 min).
3. When the tambourine sounds, every pair hurries to a different house hand in hand; you can't go back to the same one (3 min).
4. The teacher calls a color or a way of moving ("To the red house, hopping!") and pairs do it (3 min).
5. Now the child decides which house to go to and how, and the grown-up follows without letting go (3 min).
6. Finish with all the families squeezed into one house, counting to ten together (1 min).

Rules

• Change houses only when the tambourine sounds.
• Hold hands the whole way.
• Everyone fits in the houses: nobody is left out.
• Look before you go so you don't bump into anyone.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: place houses closer together and let the pair go at their own pace; the child can point to the house they choose.
• Hearing impairment: along with the tambourine, the teacher holds up a colored card for the switch.
• Visual impairment: each house has its own sound (a bell, a maraca) played at the switch to help them find it.

Learning goals

• Find their way in space and choose a destination quickly.
• Respond to the start signal and the way of moving.
• Share space and cooperate so nobody is left out.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Large hoops: 6
• Tambourine

Teacher tip

A common mistake is grown-ups pulling the child along too fast; ask them to let the child set the speed. Leave plenty of space between houses so pairs don't collide.

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