The Circle Crosses the Bridge
Never letting go of hands, the circle goes through a short course: a narrow hallway, a river to jump and a cave to duck into. It builds solving together how to change the circle's shape and coordinating the whole group's movement.
How to play
- The teacher sets up the course (a hallway of cones, a rope on the ground as a river, a rope tied between two chairs at waist height as a cave) and we walk through it freely to get to know it (2 min).
- The circle reaches the narrow cone hallway: to get through, we stretch into a long sausage without letting go, then become round again (3 min).
- The river: the circle lines up over the rope on the ground and, on three, everyone jumps across at the same time (3 min).
- The cave: the circle passes under the rope between the chairs, each child ducking at their turn, without letting go (3 min).
- Do the whole course in one go, with the teacher calling out each part (2 min).
- The circle gets home and celebrates by raising joined hands and shouting "We did it!" (1 min).
Rules
- We never let go: if we do, we stop and hold hands again.
- We wait for friends who are slower.
- In the cave we duck down; don't touch the rope.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, make the hallway wide, use a painted line as the river, and allow letting go briefly in the cave.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, do the whole course without letting go, with the teacher leading.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, make the hallway narrower, use two ropes apart as the river, and let the circle figure out how to get through each part.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: make the river a line on the ground and raise the cave rope so the wheelchair fits under.
- Autism: show a photo or drawing of the course beforehand and always keep the same order.
- Visual impairment: classmates on each side call out "river!" and "cave!" and the teacher stands at each obstacle.
Learning goals
- Work out as a group how to change the circle's shape to get past obstacles.
- Coordinate walking, jumping and ducking with the group.
- Help and wait for classmates.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Cones: 8
- Jump ropes: 2
- Chairs: 2
Teacher tip
Tie the cave rope with a knot that comes loose easily if someone trips. The typical mistake is the leaders speeding up: put the teacher or a calm child at the front.
PatioLab has "The Circle Crosses the Bridge" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
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