The Kind Judge Holds Up a Smiley Face
In small groups, children jump along a path of hoops while a classmate acts as the kind judge: they watch one rule only and hold up the smiley face when it's followed or say 'Try again, you can do it!' Children practice jumping, following a rule and encouraging others.
How to play
- Set up five paths of two hoops and two cones. The teacher shows the jumping rule: 'I land with both feet inside the hoop' (2 min).
- The teacher plays the kind judge: she watches, smiles and raises the card when a child lands with feet together; otherwise she says 'Try again, you can do it!' (2 min).
- Each group picks a judge who stands beside the path with the card; the others jump one at a time (3 min).
- On a clap, the judge goes to jump and another child takes the card; keep going until almost everyone has judged (4 min).
- Change the rule: now the judge checks that we land 'quietly, like cats', and keep rotating (2 min).
- All the judges hold up their cards to the whole group and we give ourselves a round of applause (1 min).
Rules
- The judge watches one rule only.
- The judge says kind things: 'Great!' or 'Try again, you can do it!'
- Nobody is out: if it doesn't work, you try again.
- Everyone gets to be judge.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, the teacher is the judge most of the time and children just try holding up the card.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, judges rotate in each group with the feet-together rule.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, the judge explains what they saw: 'You landed on both feet' or 'One foot was missing.'
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: their path uses big hoops they can roll or step into, and the rule is 'I stop inside the hoop.'
- Autism: let them take the judge role when they choose and give them one set phrase to say.
- Hearing impairment: the judge always raises the card or signs 'again' with a hand, without relying on voice.
Learning goals
- Jump with feet together and land inside a hoop.
- Give kind feedback on a classmate's try.
- Accept trying again without getting upset.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Smiley-face cards: 5
- Hoops: 10
- Cones: 10
Teacher tip
Rehearse the judge's two phrases beforehand and ban 'bad': there's only 'Great!' and 'Try again!' The common slip is judges shouting; teach them to say it up close with a smile.
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