The Castle's Invisible Stairs
Children climb up and down the imaginary stairs, rope ladders and towers of a castle, copying the teacher. It warms up arms and legs to get the body ready for climbing.
How to play
- In a circle, the teacher explains that today we're visiting a castle full of hidden stairs (1 min).
- We climb the spiral staircase: knees up, one then the other, turning slowly in place (1 min).
- We climb the rope ladder: hands grab higher and higher while the feet go up (1 min).
- We go down to the basement by crouching little by little, then come back up on tiptoes (1 min).
- When we hear "The tallest tower!" we stretch as high as we can, then go down step by step until we sit (2 min).
Rules
- Everyone climbs their own stairs in their own spot, no bumping.
- Hands hold the pretend rope tight.
- When the teacher says "Freeze on the landing!", we stop.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, just two kinds of stairs (regular and rope), copying the teacher very slowly.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, add the spiral staircase and the basement.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, a child picks which stairs we climb and the teacher changes the speed with their voice.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: climbs the rope ladder with arms only from the chair.
- Autism: preview a picture of the castle and its stairs before starting.
- Hearing impairment: each staircase has a set gesture taught beforehand.
Learning goals
- Warm up arms and legs before climbing.
- Coordinate alternating hand and foot movements.
- Follow directions by imitation.
Teacher tip
Exaggerate grabbing with the whole hand: it's the same grip they'll use on the wall bars later. The usual mistake is running around the room; make it clear each staircase stays in its spot.
PatioLab has "The Castle's Invisible Stairs" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More warm-ups for Elementary
«Ahora que Vamos Despacio»: The Silly-Fibs Stroll
We stroll very slowly singing the traditional Spanish song «Ahora que vamos despacio» («Now that we're going slowly, let's tell some fibs»), and on each «tralará» we…
«El Cocherito Leré»: The Hopping Carriage
We're carriages trotting around the yard, and on every «leré» in the traditional Spanish song «El cocherito leré» («the little coachman») we jump with feet together.
«Sal de Ahí, Chivita»: The Get-Out-Little-Goat Chain
The little goat won't leave the field, so in this traditional Spanish cumulative song we call the wolf, the dog, the stick, the fire, the water and the ox.
A Bandage Where I'm Tagged
A few children tag holding a scarf; anyone tagged puts on a “bandage” by placing a hand exactly where they were touched and keeps running that way, and after a second…
A Walk Through the Pole Forest
We stand plastic poles upright in cones with holes and the playground becomes a forest of tall trees.
Achoo, Into Your Elbow!
Children move around like animals and when the teacher goes “Ah… ah… achoo!”, they stop and hide their face in their elbow as if sneezing or coughing.