The Jumping Traffic Light
The teacher is a traffic light: on red, everyone freezes; on yellow, jump in place; on green, jump forward. Children warm up while practicing forward jumps and following signals.
How to play
- Introduce the traffic light: red, freeze; yellow, jump in place; green, jump forward (1 min).
- Try each color slowly, everyone watching the light (1 min).
- Play all around the yard, changing colors every few seconds (2 min).
- The light gets silly: it changes colors super fast, then super slow (1 min).
- A child becomes the traffic light while the teacher jumps with the group (2 min).
Rules
- On red, I freeze like a statue.
- On yellow, I jump without leaving my spot.
- On green, I jump forward without pushing.
- I always keep my eyes on the light.
Variations
Easier
At age 3, only red and green; on green they can walk or jump.
Standard
At age 4, all three colors, jumping with feet together.
Harder
At age 5, add a blue card: hop on one foot.
Adaptations
- Visual impairment: call out each color too, with its own sound (clap, soft whistle, "Go!").
- Limited mobility: on green, move forward in a wheelchair or walking; on yellow, clap.
- Autism: give the child a small card showing the three colors and their pictures to check.
Learning goals
- Jump forward with feet together.
- React to visual signals.
- Follow the rules of the game.
Equipment for a class of 25
- colored cardstock: 3
Teacher tip
Laminate the cards and draw the action on each one (statue, spring, arrow) for kids who still mix up colors. Don't switch too fast at first.
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