The Heel-to-Toe Train

In small groups, children travel along ropes on the floor placing one heel right against the other foot's toes, to the beat of a made-up chant. It is the hardest walk for balance and gets the body ready for the rest of the lesson.

How to play

1. Teach the close step: "Your heel gives a little kiss to the toes of your other foot" (1 min).
2. Try it standing on the rope: one step and freeze, another step and freeze (1 min).
3. Move forward in lines of three, each on a section of rope, saying the chant: "Heel to toe, toe to heel, slow little train on its wheels" (1 min).
4. At the end of the rope, turn around with tiny steps and come back (1 min).
5. Do it with arms out wide, then with hands on hips (1 min).
6. Last trip very slowly, whispering the chant (1 min).

Rules

• My heel touches my toes, no gap.
• I go slowly; the train is in no hurry.
• I leave space for the friend in front.
• If I lose my balance, I put my foot down anywhere and keep going.

Variations

Adaptations

• Blind or low-vision students: thick rope and bare feet so they can feel it, with the friend in front chanting to guide them.
• Students with limited mobility do the close step holding a wall bar or an adult's hand, or keep the beat with claps.
• Students who need more support keep one hand on the shoulder of the friend in front.

Learning goals

• Walk heel to toe along a line while keeping balance.
• Match their steps to the rhythm of a chant.
• Focus on where they place their feet.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Jump ropes: 9

Teacher tip

This is a calm warm-up: use it before a balance lesson, not after running games. Watch for kids sneaking forward on tiptoe, which is the usual shortcut.

More activities like this

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