Tap the Ribbon with Your Elbow
Colored ribbons are tied at different heights along the playground fence or wall bars; the teacher calls a color and a body part, and children run to touch a ribbon of that color with that part: elbow, knee, head or foot. It builds body awareness, running with changes of direction and matching height to body part.
How to play
- We walk along the fence naming the ribbon colors and how high they are: some low, some at the waist, some up high (2 min).
- The teacher calls just a color: we run to touch a ribbon of that color with a hand and come back to the middle (2 min).
- Now color and body part: "Red with your elbow!" "Blue with your knee!" (3 min).
- Low ribbons get touched with a foot or knee, high ones with a hand or head while stretching on tiptoe: which works best? (3 min).
- Easy round: we walk and touch with any body part, saying out loud which one (2 min).
Rules
- There are lots of ribbons of each color: if one's taken, I find another.
- I touch the ribbon gently, without pulling it.
- When I hear the drum, I go back to the middle.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, use only color and hand, then very familiar parts (foot, tummy, head).
Standard
For 4-year-olds, use color and body part, with ribbons at three heights.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, call two parts in a row ("Red with your elbow, then green with your heel") or the body part on the side of their wrist ribbon.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: also tie ribbons at wheelchair height, and the child touches with hand, elbow, shoulder or head.
- Visual impairment: a classmate guides the child, and each color of ribbon has a different texture.
- Hearing impairment: the teacher shows the color with a scarf and points to the body part on themselves.
Learning goals
- Identify and use different body parts.
- Run with changes of direction and stops.
- Match an object's height to the body part that can reach it.
Equipment for a class of 25
- lazos de colores: 30
- pandero: 1
Teacher tip
Tie lots of ribbons (at least one per child) spread along the whole fence so kids don't crowd one spot. If the fence has spikes or wire, use a rope strung between two posts instead.
PatioLab has "Tap the Ribbon with Your Elbow" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
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