The Brick Road to the Castle
Children build and travel a path of plastic bricks laid flat that leads to the castle, a corner decorated with fabric and hoops. It builds balance on small, slightly raised steps, plus teamwork to build the path.
How to play
- Tell the story: "The king has lost the road to his castle, and the only way there is by stepping on bricks" (1 min).
- Together, lay the bricks flat in a line all the way to the castle, close together (3 min).
- Travel the road stepping only on bricks, with an adult near the trickiest parts (4 min).
- The teacher turns some bricks on their side or spreads them out a bit to make "mountain" sections (3 min).
- Each child carries a piece of fabric to the castle as a gift for the king, without leaving the road (3 min).
- Once everyone arrives, the castle is decorated, and we take the road apart by passing bricks down a chain (1 min).
Rules
- I only step on bricks.
- I leave one brick of space with the friend in front.
- If a brick moves, I fix it and keep going.
- I help anyone who asks for my hand.
Variations
Easier
Age 3: bricks lying flat and very close, set in pairs to make a wide step.
Standard
Age 4: flat bricks in a line with a turn or two.
Harder
Age 5: sections with bricks on their side and bigger gaps, always with an adult beside them.
Adaptations
- Students with limited mobility travel a parallel brick path flat on the floor on hands and knees or with a walker.
- Blind or low-vision students: bricks in colors that contrast strongly with the floor, and a classmate ahead clapping to guide them.
- Students with autism: give them the job of "head builder" who places the bricks before the class walks the road.
Learning goals
- Keep their balance stepping on small, raised supports.
- Build a course as a group with a shared goal.
- Adjust their steps to supports that are spaced and turned in different ways.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Plastic balance bricks: 30
- Hoops: 4
- Fabric pieces: 25
Teacher tip
On a slick floor, set the bricks on a rug or thin mat so they don't slide. Bricks on their side only for five-year-olds, and only with you within arm's reach.
PatioLab has "The Brick Road to the Castle" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
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