The Bridge That Gets Skinny

Two parallel ropes on the floor make bridges that start wide and end so narrow only one foot fits. Children cross without stepping on the ropes, adjusting their steps and balance to a path that keeps getting thinner.

How to play

1. Make four or five bridges from two ropes that come together like a funnel: "The river is underneath, the ropes are the railings" (2 min).
2. Walk through each bridge without touching the railings, from the wide end to the narrow end (3 min).
3. Now cross the other way, narrow to wide, and notice when it feels easier (2 min).
4. Each child picks a bridge and crosses any way they like: slowly, on tiptoe, sideways (2 min).
5. In pairs: one crosses while the other waits at the end for a high five and tells them if they touched a railing (2 min).
6. Bring the ropes together until the bridge is a single rope and everyone crosses it in a train (1 min).

Rules

• I don't step on the railings.
• One friend per bridge at a time.
• If I bump a rope, I fix it and keep going.
• I wait at the end of the bridge for the next friend.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students who use a wheelchair: make a wide bridge that narrows to the width of the wheels.
• Blind or low-vision students: thick ropes and bare feet so they can feel the railings.
• Students ready for more cross backward or keep their eyes on a spot at the end.

Learning goals

• Adjust their steps to the width of the path while keeping balance.
• Compare different challenges and choose their own.
• Help and cheer on a classmate during play.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Jump ropes: 10

Teacher tip

Set the bridges up before the kids come in; building them in front of the class eats the lesson. Keep the funnel very gentle for three-year-olds, because if it gets too narrow they step on the ropes and get frustrated.

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